E. L. (Tic) Forrester Papers, 1918-1970

Summary

Creator:
Forrester, Elijah Lewis (Tic), 1896-1970.
Date:
1918-1970
Extent:
88 box(es) (44.75 linear feet), including 28 scrapbooks, 150 photographs, 3 sound recordings
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

E. L. (Tic) Forrester Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Background

Scope and content:

The papers of E. L. Forrester document his law practice in Leesburg, Georgia, from 1920 through 1969 and his service in the U.S. Congress from 1950 through 1964. Personal papers begin with military training in 1918 and extend to 1970, including accounts of his death and tributes following. The speech file is dated 1926-1970. Types of material are legal files, correspondence, speeches, news clippings, printed material, notebooks, and photographs. Scrapbooks supplement information found in the manuscripts; they consist mainly of clippings. In addition, there are plaques, "commissions", and other honors. Also included are campaign memorabilia and three LP recordings.

Of note are files related to the Rosa Lee Ingram case. Ingram, an African American woman, along with the conviction of two of her adolescent sons, were convicted of murdering their white neighbor John Ethron Stratford. The all-white, all male jury found them guilty and they were sentenced to death, which caused a national outcry and civil rights organizations to protest the verdict. The files include legal documents, correspondence, and clippings.

Biographical / historical:

Elijah Lewis Forrester was born on a farm near Leesburg, Lee County, Georgia, on August 16, 1896. He attended the Leesburg public schools. Forrester passed the State bar examination in 1917. During World War I, he served as a private in the United States Army. He commenced the practice of law in 1919 in Leesburg, Georgia. Forrester served as solicitor for the City Court of Leesburg, Georgia from 1920 to 1933 and mayor of Leesburg from 1922 to 1931. Forrester was county attorney of Lee County (1928-1937), solicitor general, southwestern judicial circuit (1937-1950), delegate to Democratic National Conventions in 1948 and 1952, Democrat to the Eighty-second and to the six succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1951-January 3, 1965).

Forrester returned to Leesburg and resumed the practice of law. He died in Albany, Georgia on March 19, 1970.

Processing information:

Original order of the collection was maintained when possible. Clippings have been copied on bond paper for preservaton of content. Photographs are separated from manuscripts for preservation purposes.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into ten series: I. Law Practice, II. Political, III. Speeches, IV. House of Representatives, V. Personal, VI. Post Office, VII. Photographs, VIII. Artifacts, IX. Audiovisual Materials, and X. Books.

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 permission. 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:

E. L. (Tic) Forrester Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.