II. Planning and Funding, 1966-1979, 1989
- Extent:
- 8 box(es) and (4 linear feet)
- Scope and content:
-
Clippings, correspondence, photographs, pamphlets, meeting transcripts, notes, government and legal documents, memorabilia, and audio cassettes reflect the progress of the Russell Dam project from its authorization to the start of its construction and beyond. Planning and Funding is the largest series in the Williford files and provides particular insight into the operations of the Russell Dam Steering Committee, and into public and political sentiment towards the dam.
The bulk of materials are newsclippings gathered by Robert Williford and the Army Corps of Engineers. These provide a chronological history of the dam project during its most controversial years. Included are press releases from political figures and newsletters from organizations that opposed the dam. Correspondence comprises the next largest amount of material and reflects much of the personal influence that Mr. Williford and several U.S. Congressional members had in the dam's development. As with the newsclippings, the correspondence dates bulk in 1977 during the height of opposition to the dam.
Public Hearings consists of voluminous, typed manuscripts of meetings held to discuss issues of concern and express opinions on the Russell dam. There is an extensive amount of material under this heading but general descriptions of the meetings can be found in newsclippings corresponding to the dates of the meetings. This heading also includes a number of photographs of unidentified speakers and attendants at these meetings.
Though a relatively small amount, the material under Public Relations provides particular insight into the goals and actions of the steering committee. Of note is a 1977 position paper from an Atlanta public relations firm that describes the tenuous position of the project at that time, and proposes the plan of action used to build support. This heading also contains background information on the project and its history.
Material under Government Activity consists largely of statements of individuals to the U.S. Congress concerning the Russell Dam, and copies of public laws and resolutions concerning water management/federal dam projects in general. There is also information on members of the Georgia and national legislatures. Several political figures, Richard Russell, Wyche Fowler, Bo Ginn, and Doug Barnard, have separate headings under their own names.
Contents
Access and use restrictions
- 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 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.