J. Roy Rowland Papers: Collection Summary

Descriptive Summary
Title: J. Roy Rowland Papers: Collection Summary
Creator: Rowland, J. Roy (James Roy), 1926-2022
Inclusive Dates: 1982-1999
Language(s): English
Extent: 468 box(es) (222.25 linear feet, 272 items)
Collection Number: RBRL112JRR
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: J. Roy Rowland is a doctor who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1976 to 1982 and the U.S. House of Representatives from 1982 to 1994 and who was active in public policy related to health care. Rowland's papers document his political career and include constituent  correspondence, legislative and subject files, press files, and schedules.

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Collection Description

Biographical Note

James Roy Rowland, Jr., was born in Wrightsville, Johnson County, Georgia, on February 3, 1926, to Superior Court Judge and Mrs. J. Roy Rowland, Sr. He attended Wrightsville Primary School and Wrightsville High School, graduating in 1943. He was also an Eagle Scout. Rowland briefly attended Emory University at Oxford, Georgia, as a pre-med student prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army, serving from 1944 to 1946. He achieved the rank of sergeant and earned a Bronze Star. After returning from Europe, he attended South Georgia College, the University of Georgia, and eventually enrolled in the Medical College of Georgia where he earned his M.D. in 1952. Soon after, he established a family medical practice in Dublin, Georgia, which he maintained until 1980.

In 1976, Rowland ran for the 119th District seat (part of Laurens County) in the Georgia House of Representatives. He was elected and served three terms until 1982.

In 1982, he defeated incumbent Billy Lee Evans for the 8th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and served for six consecutive terms as a Democrat. In 1994, he chose not to seek reelection. When Rowland was elected in 1982, the 8th District consisted of the following thirty counties in middle and south Georgia, including the city of Macon: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baldwin, Bibb, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Dodge, Glascock, Greene, Hancock, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Laurens, Monroe, Pierce, Putnam, Taliaferro, Telfair, Treutlen, Twiggs, Ware, Washington, Wheeler, Wilcox, and Wilkinson. After redistricting in 1992, Rowland was reelected to the new 8th District in November. The district then comprised thirty-two counties, now including the cities of Macon, Warner Robins, Albany, and Valdosta: Atkinson, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Echols, Houston, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Jones, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Lowndes, Pulaski, Telfair, Tift, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Wheeler, Wilcox, and Worth.

As one of the few medical doctors in Congress (the only doctor in Congress from 1985 to 1988), Rowland capitalized on his experience as a family physician in a largely rural district of Georgia to develop new legislation and contribute to commissions, coalitions, caucuses, and task forces. Rowland belonged to the following House committees and subcommittees: Energy and Commerce Committee (1989-1994), Health and the Environment subcommittee, Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Competitiveness subcommittee, Transportation and Hazardous Materials subcommittee; Veterans' Affairs Committee (1983-1994), Hospitals and Health Care subcommittee (chairman, 1993-1994), Housing and Memorial Affairs subcommittee; Public Works and Transportation Committee (1983-1989), Airports and Aviation subcommittee; Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families (1983-1994).

Rowland also served on a number of boards (e.g. Biomedical Ethics Board), coalitions (e.g., Rural Health Care Coalition), task forces (e.g., Conservative Democratic Forum: Education Task Force), caucuses (e.g., Congressional Sunbelt Caucus, Congressional Arts Caucus) and commissions, including many that were related to health care. Of particular note is his service on the National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), an independent, bi-partisan commission charged with making recommendations to Congress and the president towards the creation of a uniform national policy on AIDS and HIV. Rowland drafted the legislation for the commission's founding (H.R. 2881) and Vice President George H. W. Bush appointed Rowland a member of the commission in 1988. Rowland was also appointed to the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality by the Speaker of the House Thomas P. O'Neil in 1987, and served as vice-chairman. This commission was charged with developing a uniform policy and making recommendations to Congress about infant mortality.

Rowland has received numerous awards, including Peace through Strength Award for his support of defense issues, the Guardian of Small Business Award, and the Legislator of the Year Award in Georgia (1986). In 1998, the Dublin Federal Courthouse was renamed the J. Roy Rowland Federal Courthouse in his honor.

After his congressional career, Rowland has continued to be active in public policy and health care. In 2003, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Rowland to the Commission for a New Georgia to assist with health care issues in the state. In 2005, Perdue appointed him to the Board of Directors of Medical College of Georgia Health, Inc. He has also served as an Advisory Board member to Prevent Child Abuse, Georgia.

Rowland married Luella Price in 1945, and they have three children. Following his career in public service, he and his wife settled in Dublin, GA. Rowland died on April 25, 2022 at the age of 96.

Scope and Content

Rowland's papers document his service in the U.S. House of Representatives (1982-1994) and include constituent  correspondence, legislative and subject files, press files, and schedules. The most significant subject is his work with health care, including his service on the National Commission on AIDS and National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality. Other topics include agriculture, education, defense, the environment, foreign affairs, transportation, and veterans.

Organization and Arrangement

This collection is organized into 6 series: Series I. Administrative, Series II. Legislative, Series III. Constituent  Services, Series IV. Press, Series V. Photographs, and Series VI. Audiovisual.

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Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research with the following exceptions:

Case mail and other restricted items are closed for 75 years from date of creation.

Series VI. Audiovisual: Though the collection is open for research, reference copies of the audiovisual recordings are available upon request. Research requests will be filled as soon as possible and will be dependent upon the condition of the recordings.

Preferred citation

J. Roy Rowland Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Copyright Information

Before 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.

Conditions Governing Use

Library acts as a "fair use" reproduction agent.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding Aid prepared by Adriane Hanson and Jordan Graham (student assistant), September 2016.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in this Repository

Charles F. Hatcher Papers

R. Lindsay Thomas Papers

Ben Jones Papers

Ed L. Jenkins Papers

George W. (Buddy) Darden Papers

Sanford D. Bishop Papers

C. Donald (Don) Johnson Papers

Richard Ray Papers

Joe Frank Harris Papers

Doug Barnard, Jr. Papers

Lee Robinson Papers

Related Collections in Other Repositories

Paul D. Coverdell Papers, Georgia College and State University

Sam Nunn Papers, Robert W. Woodruff Library's Special Collections Department at Emory University

Newt Gingrich Papers, University of West Georgia

Culver Kidd Papers, Georgia Southern University

University of West Georgia's Political Heritage Program Oral Histories

J. Roy Rowland, Jr. Commercials, 1988, Political Commercial Archive, University of Oklahoma

National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Records, 1983-1994, Modern Manuscripts Collection, History of Medicine Division, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, MS C 544

Congressional Sunbelt Caucus Collection, Carl Albert Center, University of Oklahoma

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

Series I. Administrative, 1982-1994

63 box(es) (30 linear feet)

The Administrative Series consists of subject files, campaign records, clippings and press releases, bills, voting records, and committee files. Of particular note is Member-to-Member correspondence that reflects Rowland's communication with other representatives seeking support on various issues and requesting to be appointed to particular committees. The legislation files document Rowland's legislative interests, primarily related to health care. Included is a comprehensive list of the bills Rowland introduced as well as printed copies of some of these bills. Though representative of Rowland's membership on committees, caucuses and other groups and forums, Committees/Caucuses files contain primarily meeting and hearing notices and some agendas for the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Public Works and Transportation Committee and the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families. The press files consist of clippings and news releases, arranged chronologically, mostly from 1991 to 1993. The bulk of the collection's news clippings, organized by subject, can be found in Series IV. Press. Campaign files includes records of contributions and letters of support related to Rowland's 1984 re-election campaign. There is some information on how various organizations, such as the AFL-CIO and Christian Voice, interpreted Rowland's stance on specific issues.

The Administrative Series is organized in three subseries: A. Subject Files, B. Invitations, and C. Schedules.

Case mail and other restricted items are closed for 75 years from date of creation.

To view more detailed information or to request materials from this series, visit the finding aid for this series.

Subseries A. Subject Files, 1982-1994 ( 30 box(es) )

This subseries is organized by subject (derived from the office filing system) and arranged alphabetically. The lone exception is Alphabetical Files, an artificial heading designating a distinct group of files arranged alphabetically by Schlein that includes subject matter encompassed within Subject Files. In an effort to maintain original order and keep related files together, small caches of files were organized within each subject heading based on the dates covered by the material.

Correspondence dominates the subseries, with much of it routine in nature, such as memos to staff, thank you letters and congratulations. Of particular note is Member-to-Member correspondence that reflects Rowland's communication with other representatives seeking support on various issues and requesting to be appointed to particular committees. Files identified as General Correspondence contain a combination of all these.Legislation includes files documenting Rowland's legislative interests, primarily related to health care. Of particular interest is a comprehensive list of the bills Rowland introduced as well as printed copies of some of these bills. Though representative of Rowland's membership on committees, caucuses and other groups and forums, Committees/Caucuses files contain primarily meeting and hearing notices and some agenda for the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Public Works and Transportation Committee and the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families. The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee material includes a complete roster of committees on which Rowland and the rest of the 103rd Congress served. For more substantial information about legislation and Rowland's committees, see Series II. Legislative.Press consists of news clippings and news releases, arranged chronologically, mostly from 1991 to 1993. The bulk of the collection's news clippings, organized by subject, can be found in Series IV. Press. Campaign includes records of contributions and letters of support related to Rowland's 1984 re-election campaign.Special Projects and Travel are chiefly Schlein's files for planning specific events and trips for Rowland. Files related to voting records, however, contain information on how various organizations, such as the AFL-CIO and Christian Voice, interpreted Rowland's stance on specific issues. Several groups of files (Budget, Interns, Office Equipment, Offices) pertain to office operations and include material related to office expenses and procedures.Casework and County Profiles relate most directly to Rowland's constituents : the former being requests for help in dealing with specific government agencies, the latter containing information on the thirty counties within the 8th District.

Subseries B. Invitations, 1982-1994 ( 26 box(es) )

This subseries includes accepted invitations for the numerous meetings, speaking engagements, fundraisers and other events Rowland attended in Washington, D.C., his home district in Georgia, and across the country.

Arranged chronologically.

Declined invitations were removed and discarded.

Subseries C. Schedules, 1983-1994 ( 7 box(es) )

The schedules, in various configurations, document Rowland's activities throughout each working day. The appointment books are bound, journal-style calendars that include handwritten notes. Computer printouts were printed, presumably, from a scheduling database. Daily schedules, for the most part, are comprised of "clean" sheets with few if any notations and supplementary material. Schedules with background material consist of correspondence, staff notes or additional documentation related to activities on the day in question. While gaps exist throughout each sub-subseries, Rowland's six terms in office appear to be documented in their entirety.

This subseries is organized in four sub-subseries: 1. Appointment books; 2. Computer printouts; 3. Daily; and 4. With background material. Arrangement within each is chronological.

 

Series II. Legislative, 1973-1994

307 box(es) (145.75 linear feet)

The Legislative Series documents the work of Rowland's two legislative directors, Rebecca Brady (1983-1988) and Kathy Bryant Hennemuth (1987-1994), and ten legislative assistants in his Washington, D.C., office. Legislative research and bill files may contain any of the following: background materials about legislative issues, staffer notes, drafts and final copies of bills, "Dear Colleague" letters to/from other members of Congress, Rowland's statements made on the House floor, news clippings, background memoranda from staff to Rowland, hearing statements by Rowland and others, and correspondence from lobbyists. When arranged, files are arranged by committee or topic. Legislative mail contains letters to Rowland from constituents  about legislation and copies of Rowland's responses. Mail files also include responses to constituents ' telephone calls or visits to district offices and inquiries received at Rowland's Washington, D.C., office. Topics in the mail files usually reflect the staffer's assigned legislative topics. Subject files may be either a mix of legislative research files and mail files or just mail files. Often seen in early staffers' filing systems. Speeches and statements files contain speeches and statements Rowland made on the House floor or in his district. See Series IV. Press and Series I. Administrative for additional speeches and statements. The Legislative Series' main strength is health care legislation and related committee work (e.g., Energy and Commerce Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee, National Commission on AIDS, National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality, Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families), and to a lesser extent the topics of transportation (Public Works and Transportation Committee), agriculture, education, defense, the environment, and foreign affairs.

The Legislative Series is organized in two subseries, Legislative Directors' Files and Legislative Assistants' Files. Within each subseries files are arranged according to each staffer's filing system, although most systems are similar.

Case mail and other restricted items are closed for 75 years from date of creation.

To view more detailed information or to request materials from this series, visit the finding aid for this series.

Subseries A. Legislative Director's Files, 1983-1992 ( 151 box(es) )

Subseries B. Legislative Assistants' Files, 1973-1994 ( 156 box(es) )

 

Series III. Constituent  Services, 1983-1994

88 box(es) (41.25 linear feet)

The constituent  mail makes up the majority of this series and contains mail on a variety of topics including form letter lobbies of Rowland and personal letters written about issues of interest to constituents . Correspondence about specific legislation is typically filed in Series II. Legislative with the staff member who handled the topic in question. In this series, however, most constituent  letters do not have a personal reply from Rowland or his staff representative, but received a form reply, which is typically not attached to the letter, but filed with other form responses (see 2. Computer Mail, 103rd Congress for form replies, 1991-1994 and Series II. Legislative, A. Legislative Directors' Files, Kathy Bryant Hennemuth's Legislative Mail for early form responses). The only exception to this type of form reply is Intergovernmental Affairs Mail, which did receive personal responses from a staff member and/or Rowland.

Constituent  Services series is organized in three subseries: A. Academies [Restricted], B. Projects and Grants, and C. Constituent  Mail.

Case mail and other restricted items are closed for 75 years from date of creation.

To view more detailed information or to request materials from this series, visit the finding aid for this series.

Subseries A. Academies [CLOSED]

Subseries B. Projects and Grants, 1983-1989 ( 8 box(es) )

Projects and Grants subseries contains requests from 8th District constituents  for federal funding or grants for projects in the district. These are the files of Karen Mogen (98th-100th Congress, 1983-1988) and Elizabeth Nisbet (100th-101st Congress, 1988-1990) that were created while they were staff assistants.

Files are organized by staff member: Karen Mogan's files are arranged in rough alphabetical order by folder title or topic, and Elizabeth Nisbet's files are arranged alphabetically by county.

Subseries C. Constituent  Mail, 1985-1994 ( 69 box(es) )

This subseries contains mail from constituents  on a variety of topics including form letter lobbies of Rowland and personal letters written about issues of interest to constituents . Correspondence about specific legislation is typically filed in Series II. Legislative with the staff member who handled the topic in question. In Series III., C. Constituent  Mail, however, most constituent  letters do not have a personal reply from Rowland or his staff representative, but received a form reply, which is typically not attached to the letter, but filed with other form responses (see 2. Computer Mail, 103rd Congress for form replies, 1991-1994 and Series II. Legislative, A. Legislative Directors' Files, Kathy Bryant Hennemuth's Legislative Mail for early form responses). The only exception to this type of form reply is Intergovernmental Affairs Mail, which did receive personal responses from a staff member and/or Rowland. Some computer mail is not identified by topic, but numbered with a computer-generated number, which does not provide much guidance to the researcher. In these cases, the date range of the letters in the folder has been supplied. Administrative information about the computer systems used, instructions about handling computer mail replies, and early form replies are located in Series II. Legislative, Subseries A. Legislative Directors' Files, in Kathy Bryant Hennemuth's files, under Legislative Mail.

Constituent  Mail subseries is organized into three sub-subseries: Case Mail, 1987-1992 (Closed); Computer Mail, 1985-1994; and Intergovernmental Affairs Mail, 1983-1986, 1993-1994.

 

Series IV. Press, 1973-1994

9 box(es) (4.5 linear feet)

The Press Series documents Rowland's activities, his legislative priorities, and issues affecting the Eighth District. Of particular interest are the Health Issues clippings, which cover many of Rowland's major initiatives, such as funding for AIDS research, and the Campaign clippings, which cover Rowland's and his opponents' campaign activities and positions on various issues. Also included is correspondence sent to Rowland from constituents  and from colleagues and various organizations. The latter are mostly form letters inviting Rowland to events or announcing upcoming meetings.

The Press Series is arranged in seven subseries: A. News Clippings, B. News Releases, C. Reports from Washington, D. Radio Scripts and Statements, E. Constituent  Mailings, F. Correspondence, and G. Publications.

Case mail and other restricted items are closed for 75 years from date of creation.

To view more detailed information or to request materials from this series, visit the finding aid for this series.

Subseries A. News Clippings, 1982-1994 ( 4 box(es) )

News clippings document Rowland's activities, his legislative priorities, and issues affecting the Eighth District. Of particular interest are the Health Issues clippings, which cover many of Rowland's major initiatives, such as funding for AIDS research, and the Campaign clippings, which cover Rowland's and his opponents' campaign activities and positions on various issues.

Arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically by year within each subject.

Subseries B. News Releases, 1983-1992 ( 2 box(es) )

The releases were submitted to newspapers throughout the Eighth District and cover similar subject matter as the news clippings: rural hospitals, infant mortality, veterans' health care, AIDS, military bases in Georgia's Eighth District, taxes and the economy, environmental concerns, and agriculture.

Arranged chronologically by year.

Subseries C. Reports from Washington, 1983-1994 ( 1.5 box(es) )

Documenting Rowland's stance on various issues over the course of his six terms, these reports were weekly letters his office submitted to be published in newspapers throughout the Eighth District.

Organized by form (typed or printed) and arranged chronologically by year.

Subseries D. Radio Scripts and Statements, 1983-1991 ( 0.5 box(es) )

This subseries includes scripts from weekly radio spots and public service announcements, news releases submitted for broadcast and statements made during news conferences and on the House floor.

Organized by type of document and then by year.

Subseries E. Constituent  Mailings, 1983-1992 ( 0.5 box(es) )

This subseries includes newsletters and printed material sent to Rowland's constituents . The newsletters are particularly noteworthy as they often include statements from Rowland on current issues of interest to his constituents  (similar to those found in the "Reports from Washington") as well as Special Reports focusing on issues such as drug abuse and agriculture. Also included are cards sent announcing town hall meetings and forums.

Arranged chronologically by year.

Subseries F. Correspondence, 1983-1992 ( 0.5 box(es) )

This subseries includes correspondence sent to Rowland from constituents  and from colleagues and various organizations. The latter are mostly form letters inviting Rowland to events or announcing upcoming meetings.

Arranged chronologically.

Subseries G. Publications, 1984-1992 ( 0.5 box(es) )

This subseries consists of newsletters and other publications received by Rowland's office; articles written by Rowland for various publications, most notably a history of physicians who served in Congress; and several articles written about Rowland, primarily focusing on his dual role as a doctor and a congressman, including an interview that appeared in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Arranged alphabetically.

 

Series V. Photographs, 1986-1994

1 box(es) (0.25 linear feet)

The photographs include 106 photo files and 35mm negatives of J. Roy Rowland with constituents and at various events. Of note are the photos of Rowland with Ginger Rogers and Woody Allen.

This series is open for research.

To view more detailed information or to request materials from this series, visit the finding link for this series.

 

Series VI. Audiovisual, 1983-1999

272 item(s)

J. Roy Rowland Papers, Series VI: Audiovisual includes one betacam videocassette, one betamax videocassette, 39 audiocassettes, 81 quarter-inch open reel tapes, 36 3/4" Umatic videocassettes, and 114 VHS videocassettes documenting U.S. House Representative previous hitJ. Roy Rowland next hit (b. 1926) who served twelve years as a Democrat from Georgia, 1983-1994. Rowland represented Georgia's 8th District, which included the cities of Macon (1983-1994), Albany, Valdosta, and Warner Robins (added to district in 1992). Rowland served on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Veterans' Affairs Committee, the Public Works and Transportation Committee, and the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families. He also was significantly involved in the National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality, and the Congressional Sunbelt Caucus in addition to other memberships on boards, task forces, and caucuses. A medical doctor, Rowland's primary legislative interests focused health issues. Rowland also authored or supported legislation in the areas of transportation, agriculture, education, defense, the environment, and foreign affairs. Series VI: Audiovisual includes campaign ads, House of Representatives footage, news footage, interviews featuring Rowland, and policy-related media.

J. Roy Rowland Papers, Series VI: Audiovisual arranged by format.

Though the collection is open for research, reference copies of the audiovisual recordings are available upon request. Research requests will be filled as soon as possible and will be dependent upon the condition of the recordings.

To view more detailed information or to request materials from this series, visit the finding link for this series.