Georgia House of Representatives Communications Office Records, 1971-2006

Summary

Creator:
Georgia House of Representatives Communications Office
Date:
1971-2006
Extent:
41 box(es) (41 linear feet and 7.75 megabytes)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Georgia House of Representatives Communications Office Records, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Background

Scope and content:

The Georgia House of Representatives Communications Office Records document the relationship between the House and local and national media outlets. Series VII: Photographs and VIII: Audiovisual Materials (see separate AV finding aid) account for the bulk of the collection and document the regular and special sessions of the Georgia House of Representatives. The audio reels primarily document the daily activities on the floor of the House during regular and special sessions from 1975 to 1998. The audio cassettes, from 1974 to 2004, focus more extensively on budget hearings and committee meetings, most notably those of the Appropriations Committee. Biographical sketches, press releases, directories and photographs document House members from 1975 to 2003. The collection also includes speech outlines, research files, slides, and scripts maintained by the office to assist House members with the creation of presentations. The majority of this collection highlights the years 1975 to 2000; however, the collection at large spans over three decades from 1971 to 2006.

Biographical / historical:

The House Communications Office, previously known as the Georgia House Public Information Office, provides media credentials and workspace for journalists who cover the Georgia House of Representatives and serves as the direct liaison between the Office of the Speaker and media outlets in the state. The Director of Media Relations for House Communications, under the direction of the Director of Media Services, supervises the Communications staff to facilitate the coverage by reporters of legislative activity.

Communications staff provides bill texts and reports of pending legislation and disseminates press releases and calendars of business to accredited reporters. A Daily Report is prepared for Members of the House, the press corps, and House staff detailing the legislative action of the House.

In addition, the office maintains the system on which taped excerpts from floor debates are recorded for audio pickups by radio stations. Daily activity feeds are also available through the Georgia Legislative Network.

Information from the Georgia House Communication's website, http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/house/communications/communicationmain.htm.

Processing information:

Clippings and thermo fax papers have been photocopied on bond paper to preserve content. Audiovisual materials, photographs, and negatives have been separated for preservation purposes.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into eight series: I. Legislative Reports; II. Press Relations/Media Activities; III. Member Files; IV. Speech Files; V. Research Files; VI. Presentations; and VII. Photographs.

Access and use restrictions

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Series II, Series IV, and Series VI contain digital files. To access these files, please request the folders you would like through the finding aid using your research account. An archivist will be in contact with you to explain how to access the files. Please note that not all file formats are currently supported by the library for research use.

Reference copies of the audiovisual recordings are available upon request. Research requests will be filled as soon as possible and will be dependent upon the condition of the recordings.

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:

Georgia House of Representatives Communications Office Records, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.