Virginia Cain

Virginia Cain was born in Brooklyn, New York. She received her B.A. from New York University and an M.Ed. from the University of Delaware. She also did graduate work in guidance and counseling at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Cain moved to Reno in 1964. She is married to Edmund Joseph Cain, Dean Emeritus of the College of Education, University of Nevada, Reno. They have three children and six grandchildren.

Virginia has been a teacher, and employment and personnel counselor. From 1974 to her retirement she was project director of the Child Support Enforcement Judicial Education Project and former curriculum director of the National College of Juvenile Justice.

Cain's active role in the Democratic Party dates back to the early 1960s when she worked for the presidential campaigns of Adlai Stevenson and John F. Kennedy. In 1966 she became a member of the Washoe County Central Committee. She has held many positions at the county, state, and national levels, including Chair of the Nevada State Democratic Party, Treasurer of the Executive Board of the Association of State Democratic Chairs, and member of the Democratic National Committee.  She was a delegate to the 1972, 1980, 1992, and 1996 Democratic National Conventions.

In addition to working with the Democratic Party, Virginia was a founding member of the Anne Martin Political Caucus and the National Women's Political Caucus. She was chair of the northern section of Nevadans for ERA, Inc., and a state board member of the League of Women Voters of Nevada. She served on the Washoe County Community Support and Development Advisory Board, the Governor's Advisory Committee on Youth, the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women and a number of other commissions and boards. She has been the recipient of many awards recognizing her contributions to Nevada and to the Democratic Party.

Scope and Content

The papers of Virginia Cain were donated to the Special Collections Department in 1997 by Mrs. Cain. The collection consists of three cubic feet of materials dating from 1980 to 1996. There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

The collection consists almost entirely of materials related to Virginia's involvement with the Democratic Party, especially at the state and national levels. The collection is divided into six series: the Democratic Party of Washoe and other Nevada Counties, the Nevada State Democratic Party, the Democratic National Committee, other political materials, other organizations, and miscellaneous.

Materials in Series I, the Democratic Party of Washoe and Other Counties consists mostly of documents related to conventions and the Washoe County platform.

Series II, the Nevada State Democratic Party, is the largest of this collection. It corresponds to the period in which Virginia was most active at the highest party levels and much of the material originated with her. Virginia served two terms as First Vice-Chair of the State Party, 1980-1982 and 1990-1992, and as Chair from 1994-1995. As Chair she inherited many problems of the state party, including accumulated debts, no paid staff, no office equipment, and a need for restructuring and reorganization. Numerous materials in this series document the Party's problems and Cain's efforts to resolve those issues. Additionally, there is information about the state conventions party platforms, and delegates.

Cain was also very active in the Democratic National Committee and several subcommittees, including the Democratic Leadership Council, Women's Democratic Caucus, Association of State Democratic Chairs, Western District Caucus, and National Democratic Women's Network.  In addition, Cain was a delegate to several national conventions. Materials related directly to Cain's involvement or to Nevada have been retained; campaign materials or papers related to general party business have been discarded.

The remaining series are very small. Series IV, Other Political materials, document political campaigns for local or state offices or special events. Series V, Other Organizations, consists of programs or brochures for community groups.

Processed by: Susan Searcy
Date: September 4, 1997

The Papers of Virginia Cain have been arranged into the following series:

1. Democratic Party of Washoe and Other Counties
   1. Washoe County
      1. Conventions
      2. Administration
   2. Other Counties
2. Nevada State Democratic Party
   1. Chairman Virginia Cain
   2. General Administration
      1. Bylaws and Legal
      2. Financial
      3. Committees and Members
      4. Meetings
      5. Delegate selection, Platforms
      6. Correspondence
      7. Party Problems and Reorganization
      8. Clippings
      9. Miscellaneous
   3. Conventions
3. Democratic National Committee
   1. Conventions
   2. Organizational Structure and Administration
   3. Democratic Leadership Council
   4. Women's Democratic Caucus
   5. Association of State Democratic Chairs
   6. Western District Caucus of the DNC
   7. National Democratic Women's Network
4. Other Political
5. Other Organizations
6. Miscellaneous

97-21/I   Series I. Democratic Party of Washoe and Other Counties. 1988-1996.   .25 cu. ft.

This series has been subdivided into two parts: one for Washoe County and one for other counties. The Washoe County subseries has been further divided into convention and administrative materials. Most materials relate to county conventions and platforms. Also present are a few issues of the Washoe Democrat newsletter.

Box 1

I/1/1	Series I, Subseries 1, Sub-subseries 1: Washoe County Conventions.
I/1/l/l	Biennial convention. 1988.
1/1/1/2	Biennial convention. 1994.
I/1/1/3	Washoe County Democratic platform. [1994?]
1/1/1/4	County convention. April 1996
1/1/2	Series I, Subseries 1, Sub-subseries 2: Washoe County Administrative.
1/1/2/1	Washoe County Democratic Party affirmative action plan. 1993.
1/1/2/2	Political correspondence. 1994.
1/1/2/3	Contract, executive director.
1/1/2/4	The Washoe Democrat newsletter. 1994-1996.
I/2	Series I, Subseries 2: Carson City Democratic Central Committee meeting. Oct. 1994.

97-21/II   Series II. Nevada State Democratic Party. 1980-1996.   1 cu. ft.

This series is the largest of the Cain collection and contains correspondence, reports, election materials, calendars, bylaws, lists of state officers and committee members, convention materials, and clippings. Three subseries were created: 1. Chairman Virginia Cain, 2. General Administration, and 3. Conventions. The General Administration subseries was further divided to include sections on bylaws, financial matters, committees, meetings (other than conventions), delegate selection, correspondence, party problems and reorganization, clippings, and miscellaneous.

Box 1

II/1	Series II, Subseries 1: Chairman Virginia Cain.
II/1/1	Speeches.
II/1/2	Cain's election materials.
II/1/3	Cain's resignation as State Chair. Nov. 1995.
II/1/4	Resignation related correspondence. 1995-1996.
II/1/5	Personal correspondence to Cain.
II/1/6-8	Calendars. 1992-1995.
II/1/9	Project planner notebook for Cain's meetings. 1994­1995.
II/2	Series II, Subseries 2: General Administration.
II/2/1	Series II, Subseries 2, Sub-subseries 1: Bylaws and Legal.
II/2/1/1	Democratic Party of Nevada bylaws. 1992/1994.
II/2/1/2	Democratic Party of Nevada bylaws and amendments. 1994.
II/2/1/3	Property Management and Development Corp. vs the Democratic Party of Nevada. 1995.
II/2/2	Series II, Subseries 2, Sub-subseries 2: Financial.
II/2/2/1	Financial reports. 1991-1993.
II/2/2/2	Memo to 1993 Finance Committee; Proposed Nevada State Party budget. 1994-1996.
II/2/2/3	Audit. 1995.
II/2/3	Series II, Subseries 2, Sub-subseries 3: Committees and Members.
II/2/3/1	Nevada State Democratic Party officers. 1993.
II/2/3/2	Nevada legislative elected officials. 1994.
II/2/3/3	County Central Committee members.  [1994].
II/2/3/4	Standing committees. March, 1995.
II/2/3/5	State Democratic Central Committee, Education Committee. 1995.
II/2/3/6	Democratic Party of Nevada, annual list of officers. 1996.
II/2/3/7	County chairs - committees. n.d.
II/2/4	Series II, Subseries 2. Sub-subseries: Meetings.
II/2/4/1	State Central Committee meeting. 1988.
II/2/4/2	Assembly Democratic Caucus. 1990.
II/2/4/3	State meetings. 1990-1991.
II/2/4/4	Reports and minutes. 1991-1995.
II/2/4/5	State Central Committee and Executive Committee meetings. 1993.
II/2/4/6	State Central Committee meeting. Jan. 1995.
II/2/4/7	Meeting with Governor Miller. 1995.
II/2/4/8	Nevada State Central Committee meetings, Ed Cain's materials. 1995.
II/2/4/9	State Central Committee. 1995.
II/2/5	Series II, Subseries 2, Sub-subseries 5: Delegate Selection, Platforms.
II/2/5/1	Nevada certified delegates to 1980 Democratic convention.
II/2/5/2	Nevada delegate selection plan. 1988.
II/2/5/3	Nevada delegate selection plan. 1992.
II/2/5/4	Nevada members of the Democratic National Committee. 1993.
II/2/5/5	Nevada State Democratic platform. 1994.
II/2/5/6	Delegate selection. 1994-1996.
II/2/5/7	The Cain Report for NSDP. 1995.
II/2/5/8	Nevada Coordinated Campaign Plan.  1995.
II/2/5/9	Nevada delegate selection and affirmative action plan. 1996.
II/2/6	Series II, subseries 2, Sub-subseries 6: Correspondence.
II/2/6/1-4	Correspondence, 1990-1996; n.d.

Box 2

II/2/7	Series II, Subseries 2, Sub-subseries 7: Party Problems. and Reorganization.
II/2/7/1	Internal party problems. 1992-1995.
II/2/7/2	Nevada party reorganization. 1994.
II/2/7/3	Nevada party reorganization. Goal setting workshop. 1995.
II/2/7/4	Trent Hager/executive director. 1995.
II/2/8	Series II, Subseries 2, Sub-subseries 8: Clippings.
11/2/8/1-3	Clippings. 1990s.
II/2/9	Series II, Subseries 2, Sub-subseries 9: Miscellaneous.
II/2/9/1	Lobbyist registration list. 1993.
II/2/9/2	Governor Bob Miller.
II/2/9/3	David Wilhelm Dinner.
II/2/9/4	Pat Clary, candidate for Congress.
II/2/9/5	AFL-CIO Coordinated Campaign.
II/2/9/6	Nevada labor organizations.
II/2/9/7	Voter registration and participation.
II/2/9/8	Media: radio, T.V., papers.
II/2/9/9	Dean Heller appointment of Pamela Crowell. 1995-1996.
II/3	Series II, Subseries 3: Conventions.
II/3/1	State convention. 1988.
II/3/2	State convention. 1992.
II/3/3	State convention. 1993.
II/3/4	State convention. Credential Committee Report. 1994.
II/3/5	State convention. 1996.

97-21/III   Series III. Democratic National Committee. 1980­1996.   1 cu. ft.

This series contains materials related to the Democratic National Committee, Cain's participation in DNC activities, and DNC materials related to Nevada. Types of materials include correspondence, reports, memos, programs, and directives. The series is divided into seven subseries, five of which consist materials from various subcommittees of the DNC; the others pertain to conventions and to the DNC structure and administration.

Box 2

97-21/III/1	Series III, Subseries 1: Conventions.
III/1/1	1980 convention.
III/1/2-6	1992 convention.
III/1/7-9	1996 convention.
III/2	Series III, Subseries 2: Organizational Structure and Administration.
III/2/1	DNC membership, bylaws. 1996.
III/2/2	DNC meetings. 1992.
III/2/3	Presentation to DNC Executive Committee members. 1995.
III/2/4	DNC summer meeting, resolutions. 1995.
III/2/5	DNC Executive Committee meeting. Mar. 30, 1996
III/2/6	DNC correspondence. 1991-1995
III/2/7	Memos. July 1995.
III/2/8	Coordinated Campaigns. 1990.
III/2/9	Coordinated Campaign training. Oct. 1995.
III/2/10	Memorandum of understanding. 1993.
III/2/11	PAC contributions reports from Eric Berman. Mar. 1995.

Box 3

III/2/12	National Health Care Campaign. 1994.
III/2/13	Clinton administration impact on Nevada. n.d.
III/2/14	President Clinton's message. 1994.
III/2/15	1996 election.
III/3	Series III, Subseries 3: Democratic Leadership Council.
III/3/1	DLC material. 1994.
III/4	Series III, Subseries 4: Women's Democratic Caucus.
III/4/1	Women's Caucus meeting. Oct. 1993.
III/4/2	Women's Caucus meeting. Jan. 1995.
III/4/3	Women's Caucus meeting. Aug. 1995.
III/5	Series III, Subseries 5: Association of State Democratic Chairs.
III/5/1	Membership list, officers, bylaws.
III/5/2	Western regional meeting, Alaska. 1991.
III/5/3	ASDC. 1994.
III/5/4	ASDC meetings. 1994.
III/5/5	ASDC. 1994.
III/5/6	Meetings. 1994.
III/5/7	Meeting. June 1994.
III/5/8	Meeting. Sept. 1994.
III/5/9	Meetings. 1994.
III/5/10	Meeting. Jan. 1995.
III/5/11	Meeting. Dec. 1996.
III/6	Series III. Subseries 6: Western District Caucus.
III/6/1	Western District Caucus meeting. May 1994.
III/7	Series III, Subseries 7: National Democratic Women's Network.
III/7/1	Women's Network handbook. [1994].

97-21/IV   Series IV. Other Political. ca 1994-1996.   4 folders.

This small series contains information about the political campaigns of several politicians, including that of Virginia's daughter, Mary-Ellen McMullen's campaign for election to the Board of Regents; a fundraiser honoring Grant Sawyer; and the constitution of the Democratic Women's Club of Carson City.

Box 3

IV/1	Democratic Women's Club of Carson City constitution. n.d.
IV/2	Mary-Ellen McMullen's campaign for election to the Board of Regents. 1996.
IV/3	Justice Bob Rose's campaign for Nevada Supreme Court. 1994.
IV/4	Tribute to Grant Sawyer. n.d.

97-21/V   Series V. Other Organizations. 1989-1996. 7 folders.

Virginia Cain was active in a number of Reno-based community organizations. This series contains materials related to those groups. During processing, newsletters from organizations for which the Special Collections holds records were removed from the Cain folders and relocated to the appropriate collections.

Box 3

V/1	Community Support and Development Advisory Board. 1994.
V/2	Faculty Wives Club [UNR]. 1991.
V/3	Friends of the College of Education [UNR]. 1995.
V/4	Friends of the [Governor's] Mansion. [1989].
V/5	National Judicial College. [1994].
V/6	Nevada Women's Fund. Women of Achievement Awards programs. 1994, 1996.
V/7	Women and Politics Conference. Oct. 26, 1996.

97-21/VI   Series VI. Miscellaneous. 5 folders.

This series contains materials which did not fit into other series in this collection.

Box 3

VI/1-2	Invitations.
VI/3	Virginia Cain's poetry.
VI/4	Event programs.
VI/5	Certificates.

Manuscripts | Special Collections

Please direct questions to Jacquelyn Sundstrand
Updated October 23, 2008