Erwin Mitchell Papers, 1958-1960

Summary

Creator:
Mitchell, Harlan Erwin, 1924-
Date:
1958-1960
Extent:
53 box(es) (28 linear feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

The collection documents Mitchell's term as a U.S. Representative for Georgia's Seventh District (Bartow, Catoosa, Cobb, Dade, Douglas, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties), from 1958 to 1960. The papers include subject files, correspondence, magazine and newspaper clippings, reports, receipts, press releases, and photographs reflecting Mitchell's work on the House of Representatives' Science and Astronautics and Veteran Affairs committees during his one term in office. Of particular interest are his files related to space and labor issues in Series I. General. Noted correspondents throughout the collection include Iris F. Blitch, James C. Davis, S. Marvin Griffin, and S. Ernest Vandiver.

During his term in the House, Mitchell introduced several bills related to veterans, filed in Series III. Bills and Legislation. Significant votes include supporting Hawaii statehood and opposition to fellow Georgia representative Phil Landrum's Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959, which provided for the regulation of internal union affairs.

Biographical / historical:

Harlan Erwin Mitchell was born in Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia, on August 17, 1924. He attended public schools in Dalton, Georgia, and attended The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. He received a LL.B. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1948. During college, Mitchell was a member of the Gridiron Honorary Society, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, and Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity.

During World War II, he served as first lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946 and again in the United States Air Force in 1951 and 1952. Mitchell received the Air Medal with two stars and Pacific Ribbon with two battle stars. He was admitted to the bar on April 17, 1948, and commenced law practice in Dalton, Georgia. He served as solicitor general for the Cherokee Judicial Circuit from January 1, 1953 to December 31, 1956, and from January 1, 1957 to January 8, 1958, he served as a Superior Court judge in the Cherokee Judicial Circuit.

In early 1958, Erwin Mitchell was elected as a Democrat to the 85th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henderson L. Lanham (7th District) in November 1957. In 1958, Mitchell was re-elected to the 86th Congress. In total, he served from January 8, 1958 to January 3, 1961. Mitchell served as the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Patents and Scientific Inventions, with the Committee on Science and Astronautics, and as a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Although Mitchell was not a candidate for renomination to the U.S. House in 1960, he was elected State Senator (Forty-Third District: Whitfield, Gordon, and Murray counties) to the Georgia General Assembly, serving from 1960 to 1961. He did not seek re-election, however, and resumed practicing law in Dalton. In 1996, Mitchell founded the Georgia Project, a teacher exchange program for Spanish-speaking teachers in Mexico and teachers from Dalton, Georgia. In 2001, Mitchell received the National Education Association's George I. Sánchez Memorial Award for his work with the Georgia Project. Currently, he is a resident of Dalton, Georgia.

Memberships include the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and AMVETS.

In September 1943, Mitchell married Helen Jones of Dalton, and they have three children: Harlan Erwin, Jr., Marilyn Helen, and Leslie Lee.

Processing information:

Newspaper clippings and select telegrams have been copied onto bond paper for preservation. Photographs were separated for preservation.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized in ten series, five of which are open for research: I. General, III. Bills and Legislation, VII. Post Office, VIII. Congratulations, and X. Photographs. The Restricted series are II. Yellow Sheets, IV. Veterans, V. Armed Forces and IX. Service Academies, Appointments.

Access and use restrictions

Restrictions:

Case mail and carbon copy series are closed.

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:

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