Clifford Henry Millen (1901-1972) graduated from Cornell College with a B.A. (1922) and joined the Des Moines Tribune in 1923 as a reporter. He became a political reporter in 1928 and an editorial writer for the Des Moines Register and Tribune in 1961. In 1960, he received the Iowa Associated Press Sweepstake award for his story, "Did Iowa Change Nikita?" The Iowa Senate passed a resolution (1961) to acknowledge Millen's years of legislative reporting; stating that the Senators valued his "counsel, fairness, and integrity."

Millen retired in 1967 and became an active member of the Drake University Pre-Retirement Planning Center. Millen died May 23, 1972.

This collection (1920-1971, n.d.) contains materials documenting Millen's life and career including photographs, news clippings, articles, correspondence, speeches, legislative materials and awards. The collection primarily documents Millen's professional career as a political reporter, but also contains materials related to his nonprofessional life.

The newspaper clippings contain articles about Millen (awards, his work, his obituary) and about his wife, Pauline Millen (awards from her auxiliary work). Many of the articles also relate to Millen's subject matter for his articles, including new legislation, voting, and the reapportionment controversy. A few of these articles cite Millen's story "Did Iowa Change Nikita?"

There are several different types of correspondence in the collection. Many are between Millen and the legislature (including various members of the House and Senate) and often discuss both Millen's articles and current legislation. Personal cards and invitations between Millen and legislative members are also included, as well as personal correspondence between Millen and his family and friends.

The collection also contains files and awards created by Millen for the Drake University Pre-Retirement Planning Center. Other materials include his fraternity list, re-apportionment speeches, and a club program and award from the Des Moines Register and Tribune 20-Year club. Photographs of Millen at various events (awards ceremonies, speeches, dinners) are also included as well as information from the League of Women Voters, of which his wife was a member.