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Mell Traylor Papers

Mell Traylor Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: Mell Traylor Papers
Creator: Traylor, Mell Randolph, 1949-
Inclusive Dates: 1960-2000
Bulk Dates: 1974-1977
Language(s): English
Extent: 4 box(es) (4.50 linear feet), including 31 photographs and 1 moving image
Extent: (4.50 linear feet)
Collection Number: RBRL160MT
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: The Mell Traylor Papers documents the career of the former State Senator who served two terms from 1974 to 1978. At the age of 25, Traylor became the youngest Georgia to get elected to the State Senate in 1974. This collection includes papers which document Traylor's involvement with politics as a high school student when he was a summer intern for Herman E. Talmadge to his involvement with the Young Democrats at the University of Georgia. Other papers in this collection include campaign material from his 1974 bid for the Senate, correspondence, reports, photographs, and state government publications.

Collection Description

Biographical Note

Mell Traylor was born on August 13, 1949 in South Georgia. From an early age, Traylor was involved with politics in Georgia. As a high school senior, Traylor was selected by Senator Herman E. Talmadge to become a summer intern for the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C. As a freshman at the University of Georgia, Traylor was elected President of his class and he was also selected to be an alternate delegate to the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Traylor was involved with the Young Democrats and he directed the youth division of Senator Talmadge's re-election campaign.

At the age of 19, Traylor worked full-time as a United States Senate Doorkeeper in the Senate Chamber. Traylor eventually graduated with a BA in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland and returned to Georgia to open a gift shop on River Street in Savannah. In 1974, he bought the Pembroke Journal county newspaper and started Traylor Realty and Construction Company. In 1974, Traylor became the youngest Georgian ever to be elected to the Georgia State Senate in at the age of 25 for the 3rd Georgia Senate District in Pembroke. He won reelection to the seat in 1976 and chose not to seek reelection in 1978.

Traylor was involved with Jimmy Carter's campaign for president in 1976. After an unsuccessful bid for position of the Georgia Public Service Commission in 1980, Traylor left public service until 1999 when Jimmy Carter asked him to become involved with the Carter Peace Center. Traylor campaigned for Lewis Massey, Roy Barnes, and Mark Taylor in their 19998 races for elected office in Georgia. In 1999, under the auspices of the Carter Center, Traylor and his wife traveled to Mozambique as official election monitors. Traylor resides on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Scope and Content

This collection document the political career of Senator Mell Traylor from his earliest involvement as a high school student in the mid-sixties through his years at the University of Georgia to his time as State Senator in the mid-1970s. The papers include mainly campaign material and correspondence and memoranda related to committees Traylor served on. There are some papers related to his second term as senator in 1976. This collection also includes several clippings, state government publications, and photographs.

Organization and Arrangement

The papers in this collection have been arranged loosely by format and subject and then chronologically.


Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

None.

Preferred Citation

Mell Traylor 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.

User Restrictions

Library acts as "fair use" reproduction agent.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2012.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Audiovisual materials
Campaign paraphernalia -- Georgia.
Georgia -- General Assembly -- Senate.
Georgia -- Legislature.
Georgia -- Politics and government -- 1951-
Pembroke (Ga.)
Savannah (Ga.)

Related Collections in this Repository

Herman Talmadge Collection


Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 
boxfolder
11[Campaign Mock-Ups, Ad Slicks], [1974?]
 
12Campaign Advertisement Financial Records, 1974
 
13'74 Campaign - News Releases, 1974
 
14Slides of Campaign Photos (8), 1974
 
15Mell Traylor campaign bumper stickers and buttons, [1974?]
 
16Jimmy Carter Presidential Campaign bumper stickers, Carter Mondale button, 1976
 
17I'm a Georgia Democract bumper sticker (2), undated
 
18John F. Kennedy campaign pamphlets, Eugene McCarthy campaign pamblets, [1960?]
 
19"Pierre Howard for Lieutenant Governor" bumper sticker and pamphlet. "Sam Nunn for Senator" pamphlet, 1978, 1990
 
110Photograph of John F. Kennedy taken by Mell Traylor at State Capitol, Columbus, S.C., 1960 October (1 (8x10") b/w)
 
111[Group of unidentified men and women at a meeting at UGA?], [1968?] (4 (4.5x3.5") b/w)
 
112S. Ernest Vandiver and Betty Vandiver posing outside Vandiver Vanwagon Bus, 1972 (1 (8x10") b/w)
 
113Mell Traylor talking to unidentified woman and two children inside store, [1974?] (1 (5x7") b/w)
 
114Mell Traylor walking in field [for campaign ad], 1974 (1 (8x10") b/w)
 
115Mell Traylor, William Sartain, Ms. Edith Smoack, and Senator Roscoe Dean in Senate Chamber, 1976 (1 (5x7") b/w, 1 (8x10") color)
 
116President Jimmy Carter "A Profile in Worldwide Respect" by Mell traylor [facsimile of bust?], undated
 
117Mell Traylor sitting with his son, Bryan, in Senate House, [1974?] (2 (5x7") b/w)
 
118Mell Traylor, George Busbee, and two unidentified men in Governor's office, [1974?] (1 (8x10") color)
 
119Group Photograph of Small Business Advisory Council: Mell Traylor, Bert Blackstock, Kenneth Birdsong, John Dillard, J.W. Roberts, Edward Enous, and George Busbee, [1974?] (1 (5x7") b/w)
 
120Portrait of Mell Traylor, [1974?] (1 (3.5x5") b/w)
 
121Group Photo with Mell Traylor, two unidentified men, one unidentified woman, and Ms. Edith Brooks, 1970s (1 (8x10") color)
 
122Mell Traylor shaking hands with [G.M. Somner?], 1970s (1 (8x10") color)
 
123Mell Traylor and unidentified man standing outside Pepsi-Cola machine, 1974 (1 (8x10") b/w)
 
124Group photograph of twelve men at State Capitol including Mell Traylor and Zell Miller, 1974[?] (1 (8x10") b/w)
 
125Mell Traylor standing outside main street of unidentified town, 1974 (1 (8x10") b/w)
 
126Photograph of Sam Nunn, 1970s (1 (5x7") b/w)
 
127Laminated photograph of Herman Talmadge and child, [1990s?] (1 (6x6") color)
 
128[Photograph of Mell Traylor?], 1990s (1 (4x6") color)
 
129Eugene Talmadge of Georgia [Biography?], undated
 
130Alpha Phi Certificate, 1968 April 7
 
131Georgia Delegrations Bulletin to Democratic National Convention, Member List for Student Government Association, 1968
 
132Letters written to James Bentley, 1968
 
133[Badges, Business Card, & Courtesy Card for Mell Traylor], 1970s
 
134Invitations, 1973-1977
 
135State Senator Mell Traylor's Resume, undated
 
136State Senate Stationary, [1974]
 
1371967 Executive Appointment Book [pages photocopies for preservation], 1967
 
1381975 Personal Pocket Diary, 1975
 
139Clippings, 1974-1978, 1999
 
140Clippings, 1974-1975
 
141[Lobbyists Registered in the Docket of Legislative Appearance], 1974
 
142[Long County Presentments, Tax Payers Association Proposal, Estate Tax Exemption Correspondence], 1974
 
143[Proposal and Correspondence regarding establishment of Savannah State College as Official Repository for Black History and Culture], 1975
 
144Senate Bills Proposed by Mell Traylor, 1975-1976
 
145Department of Transportation, State of Georgia Report/Correspondence on Roadbuilding Projects in Chatham County, 1975 June 11
 
146Commitee organization & functions in the Georgia Senate Worksheet, [1974]
 
147[Reports on Georgia Rehabilitation Center and Georgia Warm Springs Hospital from the Committee on Human Resources], 1975
 
148[Resolutions and Acts Supported by Mell Traylor including "Adequate Program for Education in Georgia Act", "The Small Business Assistance Act of 1975"], 1975
 
149The Council of State Governments Summary of A Seminar on Privacy, 1975
 
150State Senators Elect 1977-78 Term, 1976 November 3
 
151Executive Orders by the Governor of Georgia, 1977
 
152Summary of Major Legislation Passed by the 1977 Georgia General Assembly, 1977
 
153Financial Disclosure Forms State Senate 3rd District, Georgia, 1974-1976
 
154Mell Traylor vs. The Democratic Party of Georgia, 1977
 
155[List of Supporters], 1980
 
156Affidavit to Qualify for Democratic Party Public Service Commissioner Nomination, 1980 June 6
 
157[Foster Child Report and Case History], 1985, 1992
 
158Notice of Candidacy and Affidavit for the Position of State Senator, 1974, 1976
 
159Press Releases by Mell Traylor and Georgia Senate, 1975-1976
 
160Letters to Mell Traylor from various politicians, 1968-1974
 
161Correspondence and Memoranda to Members of General Assembly, 1974-1975
 
162Outgoing Correspondence, 1975
 
163[Speeches and Remarks by Louis Harris, Mell Traylor, and Zell Miller], 1975
 
164[Notes and Memorandum from Georgia General Assembly Committees other local Coastal Georgia Committees], 1975-1977
 
165Letters and Correspondence [Topics include University System of Georgia Board of Regents, Congratulations on winning race, Coastal Georgia Development], 1967-1977
 
1661975 General Assembly Publicity Files (folder 1 of 2), 1975
 
1671975 General Assembly Publicity Files (folder 2 of 2), 1975
 
1681976 General Assembly Publicity Files, 1976
 
169Engineering Experiment Station Report, Georgia No-Fault Insurance Information Kit, 1974, 1975 October
 
170Campaign and Financial Disclosure Act, 1974
 
1711975 Directory of Georgia Municipal Officials , 1975
 
172The Georgia Democrat, Let's Preserve Our Freedom by G.H. Achenbach, 1980
 
173133 Session of Georgia General Assembly, 1975-1976
 
boxfolder
21Sections, Georgia Laws 1975 Session Vol.1 General Acts, [beginning pages] pgs. 1-32; Vol 2. Local Acts and Resolutions, pgs. 2501-2564, cover letter, 1975
 
22Sections, Georgia Laws 1975 Session Vol. 1 General: pgs. 1217-1312; Vol. 2 Local: pgs. 3621-3844; index, 1975
 
23Sections, Georgia Laws 1975 Session Vol. 1 General: pgs. 1313-1440; Vol. 2 Local: pgs. 3845-4036; index, 1975
 
24Sections, Georgia Laws 1975 Session Vol. 1 General: pgs. 1487-1536; Vol. 2 Local: pgs. 4037-4260, 1975
 
25Sections, Georgia Laws 1975 Session Vol. 1 General: pgs. 1537-1600; Vol. 2 Local: pgs. 4261-4516; index, 1975
 
26Sections, Georgia Laws 1975 Session Vol. 1 General: pgs. 1601-1664; Vol. 2 Local: pgs. 4517-4772, 1975
 
27Sections, Georgia Laws 1975 Session Vol. 1 General: pgs. 1665-1887; Vol. 2 Local: pgs. 4837-4804, 1975
 
28Sections, Georgia Laws 1975 Session Acts & Resolutions pgs. 1889-2131; Local & Special Acts and Resolutions pgs. 4869-4932, 1975
 
29Sections, Georgia Laws 1975 Session, General Acts & Resolutions, pgs/ 417-576; Local & Special Acts & Resolutions, pgs. 2821-2980; index, 1975
 
210Sections, Georgia Laws 1975 Session Vol. 2 Local Laws: pgs. 4933-5133 & cover letter
 
211Rules and Regulations, State of Georgia, 1975 April
 
212Rules and Regulations, State of Georgia, 1975 May
 
213Rules and Regulations, State of Georgia, 1975 June
 
214Rules and Regulations, State of Georgia, 1975 July
 
215Rules and Regulations, State of Georgia, 1975 August
 
216Rules and Regulations, State of Georgia, 1976 July
 
217Rules and Regulations, State of Georgia, 1978 October
 
218Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 96th Congress, First Session, 1979 October 11
 
219Voter Registrars 1974, Effingham County 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 1559th Districts, 1974
 
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OS 1Mell Traylor Coastal Georgia's State Senator posters (3), 1974
 
OS 1Senator Traylor Kept His Promises to You! [campaign mailer], 1976
 
OS 1The Liberty County Herald Unofficial County Returns, Primary Election, 1974 August 13
 
OS 1Elect "Bo"Ginn Political Ad, [1972?]
 
OS 1[State of Georgia Office of the Secretary of State Certificate of Citizenship for Mell Traylor], 1968 July 18
 
box
OS 2Scrapbook , 1967-1969
 
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mapcaseKennedy for President, Johnson for Vice President Poster, 1960
 
item
UC RBRL160MT-VHS_00011974 and 1976 Campaign TV Ads, 1974-1976 ( 1 moving_image(s) )
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.