This collection (1915-2012) documents Dwight Ink's career in federal government management and related professional activities for seven consecutive presidential administrations. Material types present in the collection include articles, awards, biographical materials, certificates, clippings, correspondence, invitations, legal documents, manuscripts, meeting minutes, memorandums, notes, photographs, publications, reports, subject files, as well as a small number of artifacts and oversized materials. Each series correlates to Ink's time at that institution and contains materials that were either created during that period or collected after his tenure, reflecting the work he engaged in at that organization. The majority of items are in English, with a few in other languages such as Spanish and Japanese. An appendix lists common abbreviations found in the collection and in this finding aid.



Series 1, Early career and U.S. Atomic Energy Commission: This series documents Ink's work with the AEC and includes a small amount of materials related to Ink's early career as a public servant in North Dakota. In addition to work products, the series contains information about nuclear submarines and nuclear laboratories. A photobook depicts a 1962 trip to Los Alamos National Laboratory with President Kennedy. This series is arranged in alphabetical order.



Series 2, Alaskan Reconstruction Committee: In April 1964, Ink took a six-month leave from his AEC position to oversee the reconstruction of much of southern Alaska as the executive director of the Federal Reconstruction and Development Planning Commission for Alaska in the aftermath of a 9.2 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter between Anchorage and Valdez that struck on March 27, 1964. This series documents Ink's role on the reconstruction commission, also known as the Alaskan Reconstruction Committee, related reports and timelines, and his continuing interest in the area and its recovery. The series is arranged in alphabetical order.



Series 3, White House Task Force on Education: This series documents Ink's role on the White House Task Force on Education, acting as Chairman in 1965. The bulk of the materials date from 1965 but also includes related reports, memorandums, writings, and other materials from other years. Materials are arranged in alphabetical order.



Series 4, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was created in 1965 to succeed the Housing and Home Finance Agency. Its first Secretary was Robert C. Weaver, the first African American to hold a cabinet-level position. These records document Ink's role as First Assistant Secretary for Administration, including work regarding the HUD headquarters building's construction, management of local, state, and federal partnerships, and public appearances. Materials are organized in chronological order, with undated materials at the end.



Series 5, U.S. Office of Management and Budget: The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), previously the Bureau of the Budget, helps presidential administrations set budgets and monitors the costs and implementation of programs, policies, and procedures. As Assistant Director for Executive Management, Ink was involved with the Federal Assistance Review to improve national granting processes and other administrative reforms. This series documents those efforts, Ink's involvement in various presidential councils and task forces, continued professional association involvement, and current events such as Nixon's impeachment, the related Watergate affair, and the 1969 moon landing. Materials are arranged alphabetically.



Series 6, U.S. General Services Administration: The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) supports the functions and management of federal government agencies. Ink served the GSA twice: first, as the Deputy Administrator and occasional Acting Administrator from 1973-1976. In 1985, Ink served as Acting Administrator from March to June before his nomination at U.S. AID. As Acting Administrator, Ink was included in a lawsuit brought by sculptor Richard Serra regarding his work Tilted Arc, a public sculpture that had been commissioned for the Jacob Javits Federal Building in New York City, N.Y. Tilted Arc was removed after complaints from the building's inhabitants, and Serra sued the federal government to have it restored. This series documents both tenures, including records regarding congressional testimony, energy resource use, U.S. Civil Service Commission involvement, and the Tilted Arc legal process, and is arranged in alphabetical order.



Series 7, American University: From 1976 to 1980, Ink acted as the Director of American University's Center for Local and State Government as well as its Office of Continuing Education and Sponsored Research. During this period, Ink also served as the Executive Director for the President's Personnel Management Project and as president of the American Society for Public Administration. These responsibilities, as well as a continued interested in civil service reform, are reflected in the series materials, which are arranged in alphabetical order.



Series 8, National Consumer Cooperative Bank: National Consumer Cooperative Bank (NCCB) was created by a congressional act in 1978 to support member-owned organizations across the U.S. Ink served as Vice President for Management from 1980-1981. This series reflects Ink's work at NCCB as well as professional association involvement and his role in the Reagan administration's transition to the White House.



Series 9, U.S. Community Services Administration: The U.S. Community Services Agency (CSA) grew out of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society programs. In June 1981, Ink became Director of the CSA, with a charge to close the agency by September 30. These materials document the close-out, including grant program transition, legal issues, personnel matters, and communications with Congress. The series is arranged in alphabetical order.



Series 10, Synthetic Fuels Corporation: Synthetic Fuels Corporation was a short-lived federal organization that supported the creation of commercial synthetic fuel manufacturing plants. For most of the organization's five-year tenure, Ink acted as Vice President for Administration. These materials document that work, as well as Ink's engagement in professional associations related to public administration. The series is arranged in alphabetical order.



Series 11, U.S. Agency for International Development: From 1985 to 1988, Ink was Assistant Administrator of the U.S. AID Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean. This series reflects that role, including travel to a number of South American and Caribbean countries, and related issues, such as the Iran-Contra Affair regarding controversial U.S. relations with Nicaraguan rebel groups in the mid-1980s. The series is arranged alphabetically.



Series 12, Institute of Public Administration: The non-profit organization Institute of Public Administration promoted effective government through research, consulting, and education regarding policy, administrative, and programs management. Ink led the organization as President from 1989 to 1993, when he retired and became President Emeritus. These materials reflect Ink's work, including continued travel and professional engagement. The series is arranged in alphabetical order.



Series 13, Biographical information and writings: This series is composed solely of biographical material and writings by Ink. Materials are arranged with biographical information first, in chronological order, followed by writings in chronological order. Writings are present in other series as well.