M. Louise McBee Papers
Collection DescriptionBiographical NoteMary Louise McBee was born on June 15, 1924 in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. She holds degrees from East Tennessee State University, Columbia University, and Ohio State University. Prior to joining the University of Georgia, Dr. McBee taught English in the Netherlands as a part of the Fulbright Scholarship Program. McBee also taught physical education in Virginia for three years, and served as the Dean of Women at East Tennessee State University for two years before joining UGA in 1963. At UGA, Dr. McBee served as the Dean of Women, the Dean of Students, the Assistant Vice President for Instruction, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. In 1968, she served as the Dean of Women for Chapman University's World Floating Campus program. In 1988, Dr. McBee retired from the University of Georgia and participated on an expedition to Mt. Everest. In 1991, McBee ran for a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives representing Athens-Clarke County. Representative McBee served on and chaired several committees, including the Appropriations Committee, the Retirement Committee, the World Congress Center Overview Committee, and the Women's Legislative Caucus. She was elected Head of the Education Committee and contributed to the beginnings of the HOPE Scholarship in addition to working on several House Bills related to higher education. McBee was also instrumental in supporting pension plans including the Teachers' Retirement System as well as advocating against the development of a landfill in Arcade, Georgia. After serving five unopposed terms, Representative McBee retired from the General Assembly in 2004. She has continued to serve the Athens-Clarke County community through her membership on several local organizations including the Athens League of Women Voters, the Athens-Clarke County Chamber of Commerce, the Athens-Clarke County Hospital Authority, the Salvation Army Board, the Youth Empowerment System of Athens, the Arch Foundation, and the Red Cross. She has been recognized and awarded for her services and accomplishments, such as the Outstanding Alumnae Award from Eastern Tennessee State University, the University of Georgia Blue Key Award, Athens Woman of the Year, and the Second Annual Eldridge McMillan Lifetime Achievement Award. McBee passed away on March 2, 2021 at the age of 96. Scope and ContentThe M. Louise McBee Papers documents the political career of Louise McBee who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1991 until 2004. The records in this collection reflect McBee's activities as a legislator for Athens-Clarke County including papers regarding specific legislation and participation in various legislative committees. The collection also includes records documenting McBee's career as an administrator for the University of Georgia as well as personal papers. There is some overlap between series, in particular between Series I. Legislative and Series II. Chronological. The types of records in this collection includes correspondence, research files, copies drafts of State and House Bills, legislative records, campaign materials, photographs, and artifacts. Organization and ArrangementM. Louise McBee Papers is organized into eight series: I. Legislative, II. Chronological, III. Correspondence, IV. Political, V. Personal, VI. Photographs, VII. Artifacts, and VIII. Audiovisual, which can be found in a separate finding aid here. Administrative InformationConditions Governing AccessThese papers are open for research use. Series I. Legislative contains 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. Preferred CitationM. Louise McBee Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641. Processing NotesClippings and thermofax papers have been copied onto bond paper for protection of content. Oversized materials, photographs, and audiovisual materials have been separated for preservation purposes. 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: 2012. Related Materials and SubjectsSubject TermsRelated Collections in this Repository
Athens League of Women Voters Records Zell Miller Papers, Series IV. Governor of Georgia, Subseries E: Personal Political Files Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection Related Collections in Other RepositoriesThe Edith L. Stallings and Louise McBee (Dean of Women 1947-1974) Papers, University Archives, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library The Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Louise McBee Papers c. 1968-1988, University Archives, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library Georgia Association for Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors papers, ms 2646, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library Georgia Commission on the Status of Women, ms 2045, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library Clarke County Board of Education papers, ms 3179, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library |
Special Collections Libraries
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-1641