Ben Blackburn Congressional Papers, 1968-1974

Summary

Creator:
Blackburn, Benjamin Bentley, 1927-
Date:
1968-1974
Extent:
52 box(es) (25.75 linear feet), including 41 photographs and 20 negatives
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Ben Blackburn Congressional Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Background

Scope and content:

The Ben Blackburn Papers consist of files from Blackburn's career as United States Congressman. The years represented are 1969 to 1974, and activities documented are congressional. The types of materials in this collection include correspondence, clippings, speeches, printed materials, reports, photographs, and maps.

Biographical / historical:

Benjamin Bentley Blackburn was born in Atlanta, Georgia on February 14, 1927. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1947 and from Emory University School of Law in 1954. During World War II, Blackburn served in the United States Navy, 1944 to 1946, and again during the Korean Conflict. He retired as a lieutenant commander in the United States Naval Reserve.

After returning to Georgia, Blackburn served in the state attorney general's office from 1955 to 1956. From 1956 until 1966, Blackburn had his own private law practice. He was elected as a Republican to the Ninetieth and to the three succeeding US Congresses (1967 to 1975) from Georgia's fourth district. While in Congress, Blackburn served on several committees, including Banking and Currency, the Housing Subcommittee, the Joint Economic Committee, the Subcommittee on International Trade of the Bank and Currency Committee, and the Housing and Domestic Finance Committee. In 1974, he was defeated in the general election.

Blackburn served as president of the Southeastern Legal Foundation from 1976 until 1985. In 1980, Blackburn served as Team Captain of the Reagan Presidential Transition Team. He later served as regional representative for the United States Department of Transportation from 1985 to 1989.

Blackburn has been a member of the American, Georgia, and Decatur-DeKalb Bar Associations, the Atlanta and Federal Bar Associations, and the Heritage Foundation. He served as chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Heritage Foundation from 1974 until 1982.

In 1952, Blackburn married Mary A. Pandora and they have four children, Michael, Robert, Kathryn and David. Blackburn currently resides in Jasper, Georgia.

Processing information:

Photographs separated for preservation.

Arrangement:

The papers are divided into six series: I. Subject Files, II. Constituent Correspondence, III. Green Forms, IV. General Correspondence, V. Committee Files, and VI. Photographs.

Access and use restrictions

Terms of access:

Library acts as "fair use" reproduction agent.

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.

Preferred citation:

Ben Blackburn Congressional Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.