 Helen M. Lewis Collection of James V. Carmichael Campaign Material
Collection DescriptionBiographical NoteJames Vinson Carmichael: James Vinson Carmichael was born to Emma Mae Nolan and John Vinson Carmichael on October 2, 1910 in Cobb County, Georgia. He was disabled after being hit by a car at the age of 15, leaving him with a damaged spine, limited leg mobility and chronic pain. He went on to graduate from Emory University Law School in 1933 and later became county attorney. Carmichael was instrumental in building an airport for Cobb County, and in 1944, Bell Aircraft's president, Lawrence D. Bell, made him general manager of his Georgia plant. His other achievements included becoming president of Scripto Pen Company and general manager of Lockheed Martin, and serving on the governing boards of the Georgia university system, Emory University, and the Atlanta School or Art, among others. Carmichael was twice elected unopposed to the Georgia General Assembly, and in 1946 ran for Governor against Eugene Talmadge and E. D. Rivers. More moderate than his opponents and a champion of change and progress for Georgia, Carmichael was popular in urban areas but lost rural votes, and was ultimately defeated by Talmadge. Helen M. Lewis: Helen M. Lewis was born in 1924 in Cumming, Georgia. While at Georgia State College for Women she helped form the Student League for Good Government, in order to campaign for Jimmy Carmichael's 1946 gubernatorial race. When Carmichael lost the race, Lewis went to graduate school at Duke University, but returned to Georgia, where she answered letters for Governor M. E. Thompson. She finished her master's in sociology at the University of Virginia in 1950, and a Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Kentucky in 1970. She was an advocate of integration, and was involved in the Long Civil Rights Movement of the 1940s. As an educator, librarian, and administrator Lewis worked for the University of Virginia's College at Wise, Berea College in Kentucky, and the Highlander Research and Education Center in Tennessee. She has been active in Appalachian issues, including labor, poverty, and education. She is retired. Scope and ContentThe collection contains materials relating to James V. Carmichael's 1946 race for Governor of Georgia. The bulk of the collection consists of promotional materials and leaflets for Carmichael, including pamphlet outlining his campaign platform, as well as letters and clippings about the campaign and candidates. The collection also includes letters addressed to Helen M. Lewis regarding the race and a report by Lewis on her experience working for Carmichael's campaign. Organization and ArrangementThis file is in original order. Administrative InformationPreferred CitationHelen M. Lewis Collection of James V. Carmichael Campaign Material, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641. User RestrictionsLibrary 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 on: 2010. Related Materials and SubjectsSubject TermsRelated Collections in this Repository
Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection | ||||||||||||||||||||