V. Artifacts

Scope and content:

Subgroup E, Series V: Artifacts include Russell's Senate office furnishings, the chair he used on the Senate Floor, his campaign ephemera, cartoons and artwork, and his official and personal gifts. Of significant interest is his childhood tobacco card collection, approximately 1100 cards dating from the period 1909 to 1913. The majority of the cards (916) depict baseball players of the era with the remaining cards featuring a variety of subject matter, including actresses, boxers, flags of the world, college pennants, and fish and other wildlife. Most cards are in very good condition. [A database of the baseball cards can be found online here.]

Throughout his public service career, Russell received many plaques, citations, proclamations, honorary degrees, resolutions, and presentation certificates. Some of the more prestigious were honorary degrees from Oglethorpe University and John Marshall University, the James Forrestal Award, the Mississippi Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the Great American Award, and others from military, agricultural, business, and civic groups.

Contents

Access and use restrictions

Parent restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Researchers may view Senator Russell's collection of tobacco cards by appointment only. Digital versions of the baseball cards may be viewed online here.

Parent terms of access:
Before material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permissions. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.