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Gwen Ingram O'Looney Papers
Descriptive Summary | |
| Title: Gwen Ingram O'Looney Papers | |
| Creator: O'Looney, Gwen | |
| Inclusive Dates: 1981-2010 | |
| Language(s): English | |
| Extent: 8 box(es) (3 linear feet) | |
| Collection Number: RBRL372 | |
| Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies | |
| Abstract: Gwen Ingram O'Looney served as the mayor of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County (1991-1998). Her papers document her service as a member of the Athens City Council and mayor, her political campaigns and activities, and her community engagement as well as the issues facing Athens-Clarke County during the 1980s and 1990s, such as increased growth, historic preservation and the impact of industry. Included are notebooks and journals, speech notes, datebooks, correspondence, campaign and political materials, clippings, programs, and photographs. | |
Collection Description
Historical Note
Gwendolyn Adelle Ingram O'Looney was born December 16, 1947, in Meridian, Mississippi, and grew up on St. Simons Island, Glynn County, Georgia. She attended Furman University before transferring to the University of Georgia where she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and psychology. She married John O'Looney in 1982.
Throughout her life, O'Looney has worked in the area of human and social services. During the Vietnam War, she spent 14 months in Vietnam with the Red Cross organizing non-military programs for American soldiers. In 1971, O'Looney moved to Atlanta, in 1973, took a position with then-Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter as a liaison to the state's Department of Human Resources, advising on mental health issues. When Carter ran for president in 1976, she worked on his campaign. She later moved to New York City where she worked for the Boys Clubs of America (later the Boys & Girls Clubs) and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency.
In 1980, O'Looney moved to Athens to become the director of Neighbors as Helpers, a nonprofit seeking to improve living conditions for those in Athens' public housing projects. In the years that followed, she helped found Athens-based Community Connection and wrote grants to establish the Athens Area Homeless Shelter and Project Safe.
In 1984, O'Looney entered politics with her run to represent the Fifth Ward in the Athens City Council. After serving two terms, in 1990 O'Looney ran for the position of CEO (chief elected officer) of the newly formed Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, which she won in a run-off against E. H. Culpepper.
As CEO and mayor, O'Looney worked to consolidate the city and county governments, restructuring departments, bringing conflicting laws and ordinances into alignment, and equalizing pay for employees. She served two terms (1991-1998), launching several major capital projects, including the Classic Center and the Multimodal Transportation Center, establishing designated historic districts throughout Athens, and preparing the city to host severals events of the 1996 Olympic Games.
In 1998, she stepped down as mayor near the end of her second term to serve as director of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services office in Clarke County. In 2010, O'Looney ran for mayor again but lost to Nancy Denson, then the Clarke County tax commissioner.
As of 2016, O'Looney hosts the weekly radio show, Lunch with Gwen, on WXAG in Athens and remains active locally, serving on the board of the Athens-Clarke County Friends of the Library and participating in local Democratic Party activities.
Source: Online Athens
Scope and Content
The Gwen Ingram O'Looney Papers primarily document O'Looney's service as a member of the Athens City Council and mayor of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, her political campaigns and activities, and her community engagement as well as the issues facing Athens-Clarke County during the 1980s and 1990s, such as increased growth, historic preservation and the impact of industry. The papers include notebooks and journals, speech notes, datebooks, correspondence, campaign and political materials, clippings, programs, and photographs.
Organization and Arrangement
The papers are arranged in three series: I. Athens-Clarke County Government, II. Political, and III. Personal.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research with the following exception: Boxes with restricted materials are identified with an R before the box number. An access restriction note follows each restricted folder title with an explanation of the restriction and when the folder will be open.
Preferred citation
Gwen Ingram O'Looney 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 "fair use" reproduction agent.
Finding Aid Publication
Finding Aid prepared by Mat Darby, November 2016.
Related Materials and Subjects
Subject Terms
Related Collections in this Repository
Athens Oral History Project, AOHP 004 Gwen O'Looney interviewed by Betsy Bean, Part 1
Athens Oral History Project, AOHP 004 Gwen O'Looney interviewed by Betsy Bean, Part 2
Athens-Clarke County (Georgia) Unification Files