Harriet Van Norte Papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: Harriet Van Norte Papers
Creator: Van Norte, Harriet
Inclusive Dates: 1970-1999
Language(s): English
Extent: 2 Linear Feet
Collection Number: RBRL370
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: Harriet Van Norte worked as a Director of Community Residential Services for the Georgia Department of Mental Retardation in the 1980s and was the Director of Consumer Affairs for the Georgia Public Service Commission in the 1990s. Her papers document the creation of a separate division to serve individuals with developmental disabilities in the state of Georgia and her work with the Georgia ARC Network.

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Harriet Van Norte worked as a Director of Community Residential Services for the Georgia Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation in the 1980s and was the Director of Consumer Affairs for the Georgia Public Service Commission in the 1990s. Van Norte served as the Vice Chairman for the DeKalb Regional Board for Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse, a regional advocacy community group in 1995 and was a member of the Board of Directors for the Georgia Network in the mid 1990s. Her work as an advocate spans decades and her papers relate to important events and organizations in Georgia's disability rights history. Her papers document the efforts of advocates within state departments as they attempted to separate services for people with developmental disabilities from services related to mental health and substance abuse. Her papers also document the founding of the Georgia Network, an umbrella advocacy network formed in the late 1980s. Van Norte worked as a professional in the field but was an active participant in independent organizations and served on committees and county health boards as an advocate for those with developmental disabilities.

Scope and Content

The Harriet Van Norte Papers contain correspondence, agency reports, position papers, internal memos, financial materials, and newsletters related to her work within state agencies and as a member of several community advocacy organizations in Georgia. Materials in this collection date from 1970 to 1999.

Organization and Arrangement

The Harriet Van Norte papers are arranged into three series: Series I. Division of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Series II. DeKalb Advocacy, and Series III. Georgia Network.

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Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is closed to research during processing.

Preferred citation

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.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding Aid prepared by Angelica Marini, 2016.

General Notes

The inventory of this collection uses terms that could be considered ablelist or otherwise offensive. These descriptors reflect historical usage of the term, not intervention on the part of the archivists or the Russell Library. This language has been retained in order to illustrate the historical context in which the records were created.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in this Repository

Georgia Disability History Archive

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

Series I. Division of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, 1970-1992
		Series I. Division of Mental Health and Mental Retardation documents multiple attempts to create a separate Division of Mental Retardation within the Georgia Department of Human Resources and dates from 1970 to 1992. The series contains correspondence, agency reports, position papers, internal memos, and budget and financial materials related to the investigative studies and advocacy groups that favored separation.
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1	1	unknown container	[Creation of the Division of Mental Retardation], 1983-1991
1	2	unknown container	[Separation of State Departments MH/MR-- Roper Report], 1980-1985
1	3	unknown container	Separate Division, Roper and Rowan Reports, 1983-1985
1	4	unknown container	Reports, 1981-1991
1	5	unknown container	Roper Report, 1985
1	6	unknown container	MR Statistics, 1977-1986
1	7	unknown container	MH/MR Staff, 1984
1	8	unknown container	Plan for Separate Division MH MSRA, 1983
1	9	unknown container	Creative Finance, 1983-1987
1	10	unknown container	Ann - DHR, 1991
1	11	unknown container	Al Burruss 1985 Clippings, 1985
1	12	unknown container	Rich, Ann, 1985-1991
1	13	unknown container	Mental Retardation Section Overview, 1983
1	14	unknown container	[Mental Retardation Community Services], 1983-1988
1	15	unknown container	Information for Legislature, 1983-1988
1	16	unknown container	DHR Separate Division, 1983
1	17	unknown container	[State Commission on Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Service Delivery- Reports]
1	18	unknown container	Georgia's Mental Health Program, circa 1970
1	19	unknown container	[MHMRSA Commission], 1992

 

Series II. DeKalb Advocacy, 1995-1997

Series II. documents Van Norte's work with the DeKalb Regional Board for Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse and the Developmental Disabilities Council of DeKalb County. Materials include meeting minutes, agendas, correspondence, and reports and date from 1995 to 1997.

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folder

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1

20

unknown container

Harriet Van Norte Regional Board, 1995

1

21

unknown container

Center for Housing Alternatives, 1996

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22

unknown container

MR Meeting- DeKalb Advocacy Alliance, 1996

1

23

unknown container

[Newsbrief] December 18, 1997, 1997

 

Series III. Georgia Network, 1986-1999
		Series III. documents Van Norte's involvement with the Georgia Network, which formally incorporated in 1991 as an umbrella organization that advocated for people with developmental disabilities. They educated and promoted the rights of their community through working with service organizations and governmental agencies. The Georgia Network sponsored an annual "Legislative Day" that facilitated greater networking throughout the state for individuals and organizations, as state legislators met with their constituents in the disabilities community. The materials in this series contain newsletters, correspondence, pamphlets, founding documents, board meeting minutes, conference programs, and materials related to the annual legislative days, and date from 1986 to 1999.
box	folder	box
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2	1	unknown container	1989 Network-- Fact Sheet, Legislative Day, 1986-1989
2	2	unknown container	[Legislative Day], 1986-1991
2	3	unknown container	Georgia TASH, 1987
2	4	Georgia Network, 1989-1991
2	5	unknown container	1992-- DHR/Ga. Network, 1991-1993
2	6	unknown container	Lt. Governor and Governor, 1990
2	7	unknown container	Georgia Network, 1991-1997
2	8	unknown container	Georgia Network Information Package, 1994-1996
2	9	unknown container	Georgia Network 1996, 1996
2	10	unknown container	Network 1996 Survey, 1996
2	11	unknown container	Georgia Network, 1997
2	12	unknown container	Georgia Network By-laws, 1997
2	13	unknown container	MH/SA Subcommittee, 1997
2	14	unknown container	Network [Waiting List] Campagn, 1998
2	15	unknown container	Network, 1998
2	16	unknown container	Georgia Network, 1998
2	17	unknown container	GARC Network, 1999