 Christopher Lee Morris Collection of Political Materials
Collection DescriptionHistorical NoteEugene Talmadge (1884-1946) was involved with Georgia politics from 1926 to 1946. He served three terms as state commissioner of agriculture (1926-32) and three terms as governor (1933-1937, 1941-1946). During his tenure as governor, Talmadge forced the University System Board of Regents to remove two faculty members, claiming that they were undermining the state's racial status quo. The incident would become known as the Cocking affair which caused the Southern association of Colleges and Schools to vote to withdraw accreditation from the state's white colleges. In 1946, Eugene Talmadge died before he was able take office for his fourth gubernatorial term. His death resulted in a political battle known in Georgia history as the "three governor's controversy." In January 1947, the General Assembly finally elected Eugene Talmadge's son, Herman Taldmadge, as governor which served until the state supreme court overturned his legislative election in March. Homer C. Parker (1885-1946) was born in Appling County, GA and served as mayor of Statesboro (1917-1922). He was appointed adjutant general of Georgia (1927-1931) and elected to the 72nd Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative Charles G. Edwards. Parker was reelected to Congress in 1973 and served as chair of the Committee on Elections. After failing for re-nomination to Congress in 1934, Parker went on to serve as comptroller general of Georgia (1936-1937, 1940-1946). Parker passed away on June 22, 1946 in Atlanta, GA. Henry A. Wallace (1888-1965) started out his career in politics in 1933 when he was appointed Secretary of Agriculture in the Cabinet of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. He served this position until 1940 when he became Vice President of the United States (1941 to 1945). He was appointed Secretary of Commerce from 1945 to 1946. In 1948, he ran an unsuccessful bid for President of the United States as a Progressive candidate. After retiring from politics, Wallace returned to his farming interests and died in Danbury, Connecticut in 1965. Carl E. Sanders(1925-) started his career in politics in 1956 when he won a seat in the Georgia State Senate. He was appointed Senate Floor Leader by Governor Vandiver and served as president pro tempore of the Senate from 1960 to 1962. Sanders took the next step in his political career by running for governor in 1962 against Marvin Griffin. As a moderate candidate, Sanders focused on issues that eliminated corruption of state government, improved education, and brought industry to Georgia, With his positive campaign, Sanders won the election at the age of 37 making his the youngest governor in the country at the time. Throughout his tenure as governor, Sanders sought to draft a new state constitution and created the Governor's Commission to Improve Education. In 1967, he retired back into private life and started a law firm in Atlanta. In 1970, Sanders reemerged to run for governor of Georgia for a second time against Jimmy Carter, who ultimately won the election. Sanders still lives in Atlanta and practices law with Troutman Sanders LLP. Jimmy Carter (1924-) started his career in politics in the 1960s when he won a seat in the Georgia State Senate. Carter served two terms and in 1970 was elected Governor of Georgia in a race against former governor, Carl Sanders. He attracted attention by emphasizing ecology, efficiency of government, and the removal of racial barriers. In 1974, Carter announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States and began a two-year campaign to the White House. In 1976, Carter campaigned against President Gerald Ford and won the presidency. Since his presidency ended in 1981, Carter established the Carter Center in Atlanta, GA to advance human rights and to alleviate human suffering. His post-presidency efforts with human rights and diplomacy have led to him being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Scope and ContentThis collection is comprised of political material relating to Eugene Talmadge's Senate race, Carl Sanders gubernatorial campaign from 1972, copies of "Will the Real Jimmy Carter Please Stand Up?" from the 1972 gubernatorial campaign, a brochure for Homer C. Parker for Comptroller General, and a 1948 "Jim Crow Must Go" flyer for Henry A. Wallace's presidential campaign for the Progressive Party. Organization and ArrangementThe materials in this collection are arranged chronologically. Administrative InformationPreferred CitationChristopher Lee Morris Collection of Political Materials, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641. 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. User RestrictionsLibrary acts as "fair use" reproduction agent Finding Aid PublicationFinding aid prepared on: 2012. Related Materials and SubjectsSubject TermsRelated Collections in this Repository
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