George Ervin (Sonny) Perdue Official Papers
Collection DescriptionBiographical noteGeorge Ervin "Sonny" Perdue was born in 1946 in Perry, Georgia, to Ervin and Ophie Perdue, a farmer and teacher, respectively. After graduating from Warner Robins High School, Perdue attended the University of Georgia where he played football and was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree. He remained in Athens to attend the University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine and earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1971. Perdue entered the Air Force following graduation and left in 1974 holding the rank of captain. In 1972, he married Mary Ruff, whom he met while they were both students at UGA. During their marriage, she has worked as a speech pathologist and homemaker and together they have four children and ten grandchildren. After settling back in Georgia in 1974, Perdue became a small business owner in Houston County concentrating in agribusiness and transportation. He became active in public service, including sitting on the Houston County Planning and Zoning Board, during the 1980s. Perdue was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 1990 representing his Middle Georgia district in the General Assembly for the next 11 years. While in office, he chaired the Senate Higher Education Committee and also served as President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader. His other committee assignments during his tenure included Ethics, Finance and Public Utilities, Health and Human Services, Reapportionment, and Economic Development, Tourism and Cultural Affairs. In 2002, Perdue launched a gubernatorial campaign against incumbent Roy Barnes. He campaigned for governor on a platform of restoring public trust in state government and defeated Barnes with 52% of the vote thus becoming the first Republican governor in the state since 1871. From 2003 through 2010, Perdue concentrated his efforts on improving transportation, safety, education and ethics in government. He established the Commission for a New Georgia, which studied management issues within state government and focused on improving customer service in state agencies. His work on conservation culminated in the introduction and subsequent passing of the Georgia Land Conversation Act, which was signed into law in 2005. Together as Governor and First Lady, the Perdues pursued initiatives involving the needs of children in the state, particularly those in foster care. Gov. Perdue won re-election in November 2006 against former Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor. Following his departure from office, the former governor resides with his wife in Bonaire, Georgia. Scope and ContentThe George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue Official Papers consist of files pertaining to Perdue's tenure as Governor of Georgia from 2003 to 2011. Files were generated by Perdue as well as his staff and consist of correspondence, reports, agendas, speeches, proclamations, public commission files, scheduling files, and subject files that address areas such as counties, agencies and organizations, and legislators. Official photographs are present in the form of prints and negatives, digital files, and within an archived website created and maintained through the governor's mansion website. The collection also contains electronic records created by Perdue's staff that pertain to subject, policy, and legislative research as well as programs and special events sponsored by the office of the Governor. Electronic files also contain agendas and minutes from meetings and information about official commissions and committees. Organization and ArrangementThe papers are organized by record group as mandated by the state of Georgia records policy. The primary groups are Executive Files, Legal Division Files, Public Officials Commissions, Official Oath Books, Executive Commission on Fine Arts, and Photographs. Administrative InformationConditions Governing AccessConstituent correspondence of a personal nature and recommendations are closed. This collection contains electronic 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 citationGeorge Ervin "Sonny" Perdue Official Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641. Processing InformationActing as an official branch depository of the State Archives, the Russell Library processed this collection based on the standards set by the state for intellectual control and access. Each record group (see Organization and Arrangement) has a number assigned to it corresponding to similar records in the official papers of other Georgia governors and departments housed at the State Archives in Morrow, Georgia. For example, the Executive Files - Proclamations record group is numbered 001/01/23. Those wanting to view proclamation files from other administrations at the Georgia would visit the State Archives and search using that number. Material already deposited at the State Archives that was generated by Perdue and his administration from 2003 through 2009 was transferred to the Russell Library. Boxes previously at State Archives have a five digit number assigned to them. This number will be located in brackets after the box title. The digital photographs in Series VI. Photographs were sampled. Russell staff selected 1-5 representative images from each event. 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: 2011. Related Materials and SubjectsSubject TermsRelated Collections in this Repository
Georgia House of Representatives Communications Office Records Georgia Republican Party Papers Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection Eva C. Galambos Files on the City of Sandy Springs Georgia Ervin "Sonny" Perdue Personal Papers |
Special Collections Libraries
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-1641