LibraryGeorge J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives

104.5 linear feet.

Catalog Number: M296

Agency History / Biographical Note:
Thomas Hodge Allen (Bowdoin 1967) was born in Portland, Maine, in 1945, the son of Charles and Genevieve ("Sukey") Allen, who were both deeply involved in civic and social affairs. Allen attended public schools in Portland, Me., and was graduated first in his class at Deering High School. He received a B.A. (magna cum laude) from Bowdoin College in 1967, which was also the alma mater of his father (Bowdoin 1934; hon. LL.D. 1982), an uncle, Neal Woodside Allen, Jr. (Bowdoin 1940), and his grandfather Neal Woodside Allen (Bowdoin 1907). In 1967, Allen was awarded a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University where he received a B.Phil. in politics in 1970. In 1970-1971 he worked on the political campaign and senate staff of Senator Edmund S. Muskie before attending Harvard Law School, where he received a J.D. in 1974.

Allen practiced law with Drummond Woodsum Plimpton and MacMahon from 1974-1993. He was elected to the Portland (Me.) City Council in 1989 and served as mayor from 1991-1992. Allen served as chair of the Maine Clinton-Gore campaign and was a member of the Presidential transition team in 1992. In 1994 he ran for the office of governor of the state of Maine, losing to Joseph E. Brennan in the Democratic primary. Allen was elected as Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives (1st Congressional District of Maine) in 1996, defeating Republican incumbent James Longley, Jr.; he was reelected to five consecutive terms, serving in the 105th-110th Congresses (January 3, 1997-January 3, 2009). At the close of his fifth term in the House, Allen did not seek reelection. Instead he sought but failed to win a seat in the United States Senate, campaigning against Republican incumbent Susan Collins in the 2008 election. In 2009, Allen became president and CEO of the Association of American Publishers, the principal trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry.

Allen and Diana Bell, a high school classmate, married in 1968; they have two daughters, Gwen and Kate.

A more detailed biography is available.

Scope and Content:
Congressional papers of Thomas H. Allen. Chiefly office files created by Allen and his staff in the D.C. and district offices (Portland) concerning legislative matters, constituent work, meeting notes and briefing books, correspondence, remarks and addresses, publicity notices, campaign materials, photographs and audio-visual recordings, and select electronic records (e-mail and campaigning files).

Cite as: Thomas Hodge Allen Papers, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine 04011

Access Restrictions: None.