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Gilbert C. Fite Collection of Richard B. Russell, Jr. Research Files

Gilbert C. Fite Collection of Richard B. Russell, Jr. Research Files

Descriptive Summary

Title: Gilbert C. Fite Collection of Richard B. Russell, Jr. Research Files
Creator: Fite, Gilbert Courtland, 1918-
Inclusive Dates: 1971-1984
Language(s): English
Extent: 7 box(es) (6.5 linear feet)
Collection Number: RBRL089GF
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: The collection consists of oral histories and notes Dr. Gilbert C. Fite used in conducting research for the biography, Richard B. Russell, Jr., Senator from Georgia.

Collection Description

Biographical Note

Gilbert C. Fite was born in 1918 on a farm in South Dakota. He, along with twelve other students, graduated from the Free Methodist Secondary School in Wessington Springs in 1935. He attended the Free Methodist junior college where both his parents attended and where his mother was a secretary. At the junior college, Fite majored in history for two years before enrolling at Seattle Pacific College, a larger Free Methodist school, in 1937. He then enrolled at the University of South Dakota where he received his Master of Arts degree in 1941. He went on to receive his Ph.D. at the University of Missouri with an emphasis in American history. More specifically, Fite focused on United States agriculture, especially the impact of technology, economics, and politics on Midwestern and Southern farming from the late 19th century to the present.

Dr. Fite has been honored with two prestigious Fulbright Awards, as well as the Ford Fellowship and the Guggenheim Fellowship. He is past president of the Agricultural History Society, The Southern Historical Association, and the Western History Association. Also, he is past president of Eastern Illinois University and held the Richard B. Russell Professorship of American History at the University of Georgia. Dr. Fite was very active in the Phi Alpha Theta Fraternity and served as its president from 1981 to 1983. Fite authored nine books and over sixty articles, co-authored seven books, and edited of three volumes.

Gilbert Fite married his wife, June, in 1941, after graduating from The University of Missouri. They have two sons and grandchildren. The Fites currently reside in Fort Myers, Florida.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of materials Dr. Gilbert Fite gathered while conducting research for the biography, Richard B. Russell, Jr., Senator from Georgia. The collection contains twenty-three interviews, two folders of correspondence and research notes related to Russell's service as a United States Senator from 1933 to 1971.

Organization and Arrangement

The papers are organized into two series: I. Oral Histories and II. Notes. Series two is divided into five sub-series: presidential libraries, Russell's school records, other papers, student course papers, and research material.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Gilbert C. Fite Collection of Richard B. Russell, Jr. Research Files, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Processing Notes

The collection was re-foldered in acid free folders and re-housed in archival boxes during processing. Clippings, telegrams and thermo fax paper have been photocopied onto bond paper. Paperclips, rubber bands and binder clips have been replaced. Photographs, artifacts, audiovisual materials and oversize items have been separated from manuscript materials for preservation and storage.

User Restrictions

Library acts as "fair use" reproduction agent.

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 on: 2008.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Agriculture -- Georgia
Biographers.
Brooks, D. W. (David William), 1901-1999
Civil rights movements -- Georgia.
Fite, Gilbert Courtland, 1918-
Georgia -- Politics and government -- 1951-
Governors -- Georgia -- Biography.
Gowen, Charles Latimer
Harris, Roy Vincent, 1895-1985
Landrum, Philip M.
Legislators -- Georgia.
Legislators -- United States -- Biography.
New Deal, 1933-1939.
Oral histories.
Russell, Richard B. (Richard Brevard), 1897-1971
Stennis, John C. (John Cornelius), 1901-1995.
Talmadge, Herman E. (Herman Eugene), 1913-2002
United States -- Congress -- Senate -- Biography.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1933-1945.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1945-1989.
Young, Milton Ruben, 1897-1983.

Related Collections in this Repository

Richard B. Russell, Jr. Collection

Charles L. Gowen Papers

D. W. Brooks Oral History Collection

Herman E. Talmadge Collection

Roy Vincent Harris Papers

John C. Stennis Papers, Mitchell Memorial Library, Mississippi State University

Milton R. Young Papers, Elwyn B. Robinson Department Of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota


Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

I. Oral histories

0.5 box(es)
(.5 linear feet)
This series consists of twenty-three interviews with various individuals, including Herman Talmadge, D.W. Brooks, Robert G. Stephens, Roy V. Harris, John Stennis and Phil Landrum, about Richard B. Russell, Jr.'s personal life and political career. All of the interviews, except the oral history with Senator Milton Young, were conducted by Gilbert Fite between 1981 and 1982. Also included in this series is one folder of correspondence, 1983 to 1984, between Fite and various congressmen and businessmen regarding Senator Russell.
boxfolder
11Phil Landrum, 1981 September 18
12Wm. C. Harris, 1981 December 1
13Sen. Jennings Randolph, 1983 June 7
14Sen. John Stennis, 1983 June 7
15Jasper Dorsey, 1981 September 28
16Sen. Herman Talmadge, undated
17D. W. Brooks, 1981 July 20
18Charles Gowen, undated
19Phil Campbell, 1982 January 27
110Lawton Calhoun, 1981 December 1
111Wm. K. Meadow, undated
112Robert G. Stephens, 1982 July 26
113Morris Bryan, 1982 May 11
114Dr. Gordon Futral, 1982 June 10
115Dr. Woodruff, 1982 June 10
116Harold Davis, 1981 July 20
117Earl Leonard, 1981 September 15
118Margaret Shannon, 1982 June 7
119Harry L. Wingate, Jr., 1982 February 25
120Mrs. Hugh Peterson, Sr., 1981 November 30
121Roy V. Harris, 1982 June 4
122Burt Struby, 1982 May 28
123Sen. Milton Young (Johnson Library), 1978 June 18
124Senator replies for Russell biography, 1983-1984
 

II. Notes

6 box(es)
(6 linear feet)
This series is organized into five subseries: Presidential Libraries, Russell School Records, Other Papers, Student Course Papers, and Research Material. This series contains annotated research materials compiled by Fite and provides information about Russell's education and school activities, political campaigns and years of public service. Topics include civil rights, Vietnam, Kennedy's assassination, the New Deal, communists, and Cuba.



A. Presidential libraries

( 4 folder(s) )
boxfolder
125Eisenhower Library - photocopies of correspondence and memoranda, 1957-1959
126Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library - photocopies Russell letters, 1932-1942
127Lyndon B. Johnson Library - photocopy of Russell's list of favors requested and granted, 1961-1965
128Lyndon B. Johnson Library - Johnson phone log regarding Russell, 1963-1968



B. Russell's school records

boxfolder
129Gordon Institute - correspondence and photocopies
130University of Georgia - photocopies of Russell's registration card and Pandora



C. Other papers

boxfolder
131Ralph McGill Papers
132Clara E. Smith Papers - Standing Committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives
133Clara E. Smith Papers
134William Fulbright Papers - Little Rock School Crisis



D. Student course papers

boxfolder
135"Crisp-Russell Senatorial Race of 1932" by F. Sheffield Hale,, 1982 June
136"Southern Congressional Opposition to the Voting Rights Act of 1965" by William Cawthon, Jr.,, 1980 November 25
137"Editorial Press Reaction to the Civil Rights Bill of 1964 in Georgia" by Tom Cox, 1979



E. Research material

boxfolder
138Correspondence with Patricia Dwinnell
139Article, "Sen. Randolph to Retire"
140Early Life (folder 1 of 2)
141Early Life (folder 2 of 2)
142Family and Childhood
143State Legislature (folder 1 of 2)
boxfolder
21State Legislature (folder 2 of 2)
221930 Election (folder 1 of 4)
231930 Election (folder 2 of 4)
241930 Election (folder 3 of 4)
251930 Election (folder 4 of 4)
26Governor (folder 1 of 2)
27Governor (folder 2 of 2)
281932 Election (folder 1 of 4)
291932 Election (folder 2 of 4)
2101932 Election (folder 3 of 4)
2111932 Election (folder 4 of 4)
boxfolder
311936 Election
32Political, 1940s
331943 Overseas Trip, WWII [World War II], and Foreign Affairs
341945 Overseas Trip
35Election of 1952
361955 Overseas Trip
37For President 1952 (folder 1 of 4)
38For President 1952 (folder 2 of 4)
39For President 1952 (folder 3 of 4)
310For President 1952 (folder 4 of 4)
311Civil Rights, 1950s
312Foreign Policy, 1950s (folder 1 of 2)
313Foreign Policy, 1950s (folder 2 of 2)
314Early 1960s (folder 1 of 2)
boxfolder
41Early 1960s (folder 2 of 2)
42Politics, 1960s (folder 1 of 2)
43Politics, 1960s (folder 2 of 2)
44Agriculture (folder 1 of 3)
45Agriculture (folder 2 of 3)
46unspecified
47Alex Lawrence Affair
48CIA [Central Intelligence Agency]
49Civil Rights
410[Civil Rights]
411Communists
412Cuba 62-63
413Defense
414Federal Facilities
415Foreign Affairs thru WWII [World War II]
416Foreign Policy
417[Georgia, regionalism]
boxfolder
51Health
52Immigration
53Intraoffice and Personal (folder 1 of 2)
54Intraoffice and Personal (folder 2 of 2)
55Kennedy Assassination
56MacArthur Hearings
57Materials Seen
58New Deal (folder 1 of 7)
59New Deal (folder 2 of 7)
510New Deal (folder 3 of 7)
511New Deal (folder 4 of 7)
512New Deal (folder 5 of 7)
513New Deal (folder 6 of 7)
514New Deal (folder 7 of 7)
515Office
boxfolder
61Oral Histories
62Personal (folder 1 of 2)
63Personal (folder 2 of 2)
64Race Problems
65Richard B. Russell and Democratic Party (folder 1 of 3)
66Richard B. Russell and Democratic Party (folder 2 of 3)
67Richard B. Russell and Democratic Party (folder 3 of 3)
68Russell and Johnson
69Richard B. Russell and Truman
610Richard B. Russell Interviews
611Russell Library
612Richard B. Russell on People
613South
614Supreme Court
615U.S. Senate
616Vietnam (folder 1 of 2)
boxfolder
71Vietnam (folder 2 of 2)
72Conclusion