Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Papers

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1262
Creators:
Lightner, Candy
Dates:
1980-1998, undated
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3.5 Cubic feet
15 boxes
Repository:
This collection contains materials related to the founding and activities of Mother Against Drunk Driving (MADD.) and Candace Lightner from 1980 to 1992.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Collection primarily documents the founding of MAD.D. by Lightner and its growth through the 1980s. Contains administrative papers, promotional material, newspaper and magazine articles, VHS tapes and DVD of television appearances, and photographs of MADD. events and Candace Lightner. The goal of the organization was to enact tougher legislation against drunk driving. There are also materials relating to the death of Carime Lightner, the impetus for founding MADD.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is arranged into four series:
Series 1: Materials Relating to the Death of Carime Lightner, 1980-1992
Series 2: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Organization, 1980-1990
Series 3: Media and Publications, 1980-1990, undated
Series 4: Lightner Family, 1985-1998

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Candace Lightner (born 1946-) is the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Lightner founded the organization after her daughter, Carime Lightner, was killed in a motor accident in 1980 by Clarence Busch, who was drunk at the time of the crash. During her time with MADD, they lobbied for stricter drunk driving laws and raising the legal drinking age. They achieved their goals within the first few years, with many states raising their legal drinking age and creating laws to help fight drunk driving. President Ronald Reagan also signed a law that raised the legal drinking age nationwide to 21 in 1984, thanks in part to MADD. Candace Lightner recieved many awards for her work with MADD., including the Jefferson Award for Public Service in 1983 and an honorary doctorate from Kutztown University in 1987.

Administration

Author
Andrea Bishop and Vanessa Broussard Simmons
Processing Information
Collection processed by Andrea Bishop, intern, 2018. Supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Candace Lightner of Port Orange, Florida in 2012.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Preferred Citation
Mothers Against Drunk Driving Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
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