 Charles W. Norwood, Jr. Papers
Collection DescriptionBiographical noteCharles W. Norwood, Jr., was born in Valdosta, Georgia, on July 27, 1941. He graduated from Baylor Military High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1959. In 1962, he married his wife, Gloria, and had two sons, Charles and Carlton. He later received his Bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern University in 1964, and a Doctorate in Dental Surgery from Georgetown University Dental School in Washington, D.C., in 1967. Norwood served during the Vietnam War as a captain (1967-1969) where he participated in experimental dental practices. He was one of the first dentists to participate in the Army's Outreach program to deliver dentists to forward firebases instead of transporting patients to rear treatment areas. For his service, he received the Combat Medical Badge and two Bronze Stars. In 1994, Norwood was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 10th District, unseating Democrat Don Johnson and becoming the first Republican since Reconstruction to represent this district. In 2002, as a result of redistricting, Norwood was elected to the renumbered, and reconfigured, 9th District; he would later regain the 10th in 2006. While in Congress, he served on the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, Labor, and Education and the Workforce. He advocated for legislation on tighter immigration control, veterans affairs, and, most notably, for the Patient's Bill of Rights. On February 13, 2007, Norwood passed away at his home in Augusta, Georgia. For his efforts while in office to improve services for veterans, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, was renamed the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in 2008. Scope and ContentThe Charles W. Norwood, Jr. Papers document his service as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Georgia's 9th and 10 Districts and consists of constituent issue mail, materials from his district office in Augusta, legislative research files, daily press briefs, materials from his press secretary, scheduling and chronological personal and political files, photographs, artifacts and audiovisual materials. Some common issues reflected in Norwood's papers are his push for stricter immigration regulations, the Patient's Bill of Rights, education and workforce regulations, labor relations, and energy and commerce, most notably his involvement in the House investigation of the Enron Corporation. Organization and ArrangementThis collection is arranged into seven series: I. Constituent Services, II. Legislative, III. Press, IV. Personal and Political, V. Photographs,VI. Artifacts, and VII. Audiovisual Materials. Administrative InformationConditions Governing AccessThis collection is open for research use. Series III. Press and Series IV. Personal and Political 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 in Series VII. Audiovisual Materials are available upon request. Research requests will be filled as soon as possible and will be dependent upon the condition of the recordings. Preferred citationCharles W. Norwood, Jr. Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641. Conditions Governing Use noteLibrary acts as "fair use" reproduction agent. Copyright InformationBefore 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. Finding Aid PublicationFinding Aid prepared by Kristi Rico, summer intern, 2015. Related Materials and SubjectsSubject Terms | ||||||||||||||||||||||