Robert Lindsay Thomas Papers, Series I: District Office

Descriptive Summary
Title: Robert Lindsay Thomas Papers, Series I: District Office
Creator: Thomas, Robert Lindsay, 1943-
Inclusive Dates: 1975-1991
Language(s): English
Extent: 3 box(es) (2.5 linear feet)
Collection Number: RBRL179RLT_I
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: Robert Lindsay Thomas represented the First Congressional District of Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1992. Series I: District Office documents the work of his Savannah District Office and includes constituent correspondence, speeches and press releases, administrative files, and research files.

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Collection Description

Biographical Note

Lindsay Thomas, a Democrat, was elected in 1983 to represent the First Congressional District of Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his terms, he served in different capacities on the Agriculture Committee (1983/1984; 1985/1986), Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee (1983/1984; 1985/1986), and Appropriations Committee (1989/1990; 1991/1992), and served as co-chair for the Wetlands Task Force and the Forestry 2000 Taskforce. Thomas gained a reputation for his middle-of-the-road views and for supporting environmental causes. He chose not to run for another term in 1992.

After leaving the House, Thomas first worked as director of governmental affairs for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. He became president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in 1996, building the organization into a powerful lobbying force for Georgia businesses. From 1998 to 2002, he served as the federal commissioner of the Georgia, Florida and Alabama Tri-State Water Compacts, and in 2002 he became senior vice president of governmental affairs for AGL Resources.

Robert Lindsay Thomas was born on November 20, 1943 in Patterson, Georgia and earned a B.A. degree in English from the University of Georgia in 1965. Prior to his political career, Thomas worked as an investment banker and stockbroker until 1973, when he took over management of a farm he inherited. He also served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966 to 1972.

Scope and Content

Robert Lindsay Thomas Papers, Series I: District Office documents the work of Thomas's district office in Savannah, GA. The series consists of constituent correspondence, interoffice memoranda, printed material, press releases, and speeches. The constituent correspondence, which represents the chief role of the district office, covers topics such as social security, health care benefits, immigration, military service, and FMHA and FHA home loans. The rest of the series includes copies of speeches and press releases, administrative files on staff appointments and running the office, and published materials the office collected on topics of interest to his constituents such as the environment, health, housing, and retirement.

Organization and Arrangement

This series is organized into seven subseries: A. Constituent Services, B. Speeches and Press, C. Administrative Files, D. District Committees, E. Reference Files, F. Event Files, and G. Environmentally Related Files. The rest of Thomas's papers are described in separate finding aids: Series II: Political, Series III: Personal, Series IV: Legislative, Series V: Constituent Services, Series VI: Press Relations and Media Activities, Series VII: Office Administration, Series VIII: Photographs, Series IX: Artifacts, and Audiovisual Materials.

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Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

None.

Preferred Citation

Robert Lindsay Thomas Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

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 by Adriane Hanson, 2012.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in this Repository

Williamson S. Stuckey Papers, Series III: Legislative

Braswell D. Deen, Sr. Papers

Thomas W. Hardwick Papers

J. Roy Rowland Papers, Series II, Subseries A: Legislative Directors' Files

J. Roy Rowland Papers, Series II, Subseries B: Legislative Assistants' Files

Herman E. Talmadge Collection, Subgroup C, Series VIII: Legislation

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

I. District Office, 1975-1991

I. A. Constituent Services

box

folder

Request box

I.1

1

Inter Office Memoranda/ Request for Reply, 1991

I.1

2

Matched Letters/inter-Office Memoranda and Requests, 1991

I.1

3

Answers to Requests, 1986-1987

I.1

4

[Copies Of] Responses to Constituent Mail from District, 1989-1990

I.1

5

Unmatched Reply Letters, 1991

I.1

6

Constituent Requests (Correspondence and Telephone Calls) (Folder 1 of 2), 1986

I.1

7

Constituent Requests (Correspondence and Telephone Calls) (Folder 2 of 2), 1986

I.1

8

Constituent Requests, 1989

I.1

9

Requests and Letters from Constituents (Folder 1 of 2), 1989

I.1

10

Requests and Letters from Constituents (Folder 2 of 2), 1989

I.1

11

Constituent Responses "Against Pay Raises", 1989

I.1

12

Constituent Request Letters, 1991

I.1

13

Washington Office [Copies Of Materials Sent from Savannah District to Central Office in D.C.], undated

I.1

14

A-G 1984 [from Washington, Dc to District Offices (Savannah , Brunswick, Jesup, Statesboro)], 1984

I.1

15

Washington Office [Copies Of Materials Sent from Savannah District to Central Office in D.C. (Contra Aid Reactions)], 1985-1986

I.1

16

["CC" from] Washington, D.C., 1986

I.1

17

["BC" (Blind Copies)] from Washington, D.C. to Savannah District Office, 1988

I.1

18

Letters Of Reply [from Washington, D.C. Office With "CC" Or "BC" Copies to the Savannah District Office], 1988-1989

I. B. Speeches and Press

box

folder

Request box

I.1

19

Speeches, 1984-1985

I.1

20

News Articles / Press Releases, 1987, 1989

I.1

21

Comments [Position Statements], 1990-1991

I.1

22

Record of Service, 98th Congress, Lindsay Thomas, circa 1984

I.1

23

[Clippings] to D.C., 1985

I.1

24

[Clippings] to D.C., 1986-1991

I.1

25

[Clippings] Faxed from D.C. to Savannah, 1988

box

folder

Request box

I.2

1

[Clippings] Articles, 1991

I.C. Administrative Files

box

folder

Request box

I.2

2

[General Protocol/Organization Of District Offices in Concert With D. C. Office] Legislative Information, undated

I.2

3

[General] Administrative Office Materials, 1986-1988

I.2

4

[Patrick Haynes, Executive Assistant to Lindsay Thomas] Patrick Haynes, 1991

I.2

5

Visitor Register, Savannah Office 10/83-5/10/85; 1/15/88, 1983-1988

I.2

6

Out Of Office Appointments (Folders 1Of 2), 1987

I.2

7

Out Of Office Appointments (Folders 2Of 2), 1987

I.2

8

Invitations, 1990-1991

I.2

9

Miscellaneous Campaign Materials, 1988-1989

I. D. District Committees

box

folder

Request box

I.2

10

Leadership Savannah Study—Military Impact, 1987

I.2

11

Community Forum Planning Committee, 1985-1986

I.2

12

GAEA [Georgia Adult Education Association] Legislative Committee, 1984

I.2

13

Leadership Georgia, 1983-1985

I.2

14

Ronald McDonald House, 1985

I.2

15

The Roosevelt Center, 1989

I. E. Reference Files

box

folder

Request box

I.2

16

"Agent Orange", 1987-1988

I.2

17

Catastrophic Illnesses, 1988

I.2

18

Champus Information [Medical Insurance for Military Personnel], 1986-1987

I.2

19

Counties in the First Congressional District, undated

I.2

20

D.A.R. [Daughters of the American Revolution] Citizenship Manual, 1981

I.2

21

H.U.D. [U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development]—Fair Housing, 1989

I.2

22

Farm Home Administration (FHA), 1975-1978

I.2

23

F.B.I. [Federal Bureau of Investigation] Child Support Enforcement, undated

I.2

24

General Memoranda – Outside Agencies, 1991

I.2

25

Government Publications, 1984-1985

I.2

26

information to Keep: Merchant Marines, Census, CORPS [Army Corps of Engineers], 1988

I.2

27

Missing Child, 1982

I.2

28

L.I.F.E. [Living independence for Everyone], Judy Winters, 1987-1989

I.2

29

Mission on the Move, Rev. Cadle, 1987-1988

I.2

30

Railroad Retirement, circa 1984

I.2

31

Small Business Development Center, 1987

I.2

32

Ten Myths of Civil Service Retirement, undated

I.2

33

Tourist Information, 1983

box

folder

Request box

I.3

1

USDA [U. S. Department of Agriculture] Food and Nutrition Service [1985], circa 1985

I.3

2

Victim Witness Assistance Program, undated

I.3

3

Bills Related to District Activities, 1991

I.3

4

Gene Harlan, "SRP Movie," sent to Washington, D.C. 7/20/89 [Documentary "Building Bombs" about the Savannah River Site Nuclear Bomb Plant], 1989

I. F. Event Files

box

folder

Request box

I.3

5

Military–Operation Desert Shield, 1991

I.3

6

Profile 1989 [and Environmental Impact Scoping (EIS) Project related to Savannah River Nuclear Facility], 1988-1989

I.3

7

60 Minutes "Drugs" [Captain Pearson], 1984

I.3

8

Tea Party information 1989, 1989

I.3

9

Tobacco Legislation, circa 1982

I.3

10

Tour Schedule—Savannah Arts Commission, circa 1991

I. G. Environmentally Related Files

box

folder

Request box

I.3

11

Army Corps/ Sierra Club/ Georgia Conservancy, 1986

I.3

12

Fisheries Management, 1988

I.3

13

Hazardous Waste, 1985

I.3

14

L. J. Hooker, Hutchinson Island, Karatassos, 1988