William H. Jordan, Jr. Collection

Descriptive Summary
Title: William H. Jordan, Jr. Collection
Creator: Jordan, William H., 1929-
Inclusive Dates: 1963-1978
Language(s): English
Extent: 3 box(es) (.5 linear feet) and 1 moving image
Collection Number: RBRL207WHJ
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: The William H. Jordan, Jr. Collection consists primarily of articles, newspaper clippings and correspondence relating to Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr. and other associates of Jordan. William Jordan served as Executive Secretary on the staff of Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr. from 1955 to 1968 and is one of the original members of the Richard B. Russell Foundation, Inc.

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Collection Description

Biographical Note

William H. Jordan, Jr. (1929- ), formerly an attorney, graduated from the University of Georgia in 1952 with a LL.B. At the university, Jordan was president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and a member of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity, Interfraternity Council, and Gridiron Secret Society.

Jordan served as Executive Secretary on the staff of Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr. from 1955 to 1968. In April 1968, he resigned to work for the Senate Appropriations Committee and was a member of the committee staff until circa 1982. While on the committee, Jordan served on the subcommittee overseeing the District of Columbia and as chief counsel of the Subcommittee on Foreign Aid.

During his tenure in Senator Russell's office, Jordan helped plan the Senator's patronage program. The program, initiated in 1960 in collaboration with Georgia's 4-H clubs, was called the Russell 4-H Patronage Program, and through an application process, brought Georgia students to work in the Senate and in Russell's office for a summer or semester term. Jordan also met his future wife, Gwen Weant, in Russell's office, and they married on November 15, 1957, in College Park, Georgia.

Jordan is one of the original members of the Richard B. Russell Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the memory of Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr. Among his contributions through the foundation to Senator Russell's legacy, Jordan organized an oral history project that commenced in 1971 after Senator Russell's death and documented the Senator's association with family, friends, and colleagues.

Originally from Monticello, Georgia, Jordan now resides with his wife in Dunwoody, Georgia.

Scope and Content

The William H. Jordan, Jr. Collection consists of manuscripts and photographs relating to Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr. Several of the items relate to the Russell Foundation Oral History Project. The collection also includes articles written by Jasper Dorsey, third chair of the Russell Foundation and former executive with Southern Bell, for several Atlanta newspapers and correspondence of Tom Watson Brown to Tom Teepen. Jordan compiled the collection in his position as a Russell staff member and through personal interests and other activities.

Organization and Arrangement

The collection is organized into five series: I. Richard B. Russell, Jr., II. Correspondence, III. Articles, IV. Photographs, and V. Audiovisual Materials. Each series is arranged chronologically.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

William H. Jordan, Jr. Collection, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Processing Information note

News clippings were checked against the scrapbooks in Senator Russell's collection, and duplicates were removed.

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 permission. 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.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in this Repository

Richard B. Russell, Jr. Collection

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

Clara Smith Collection of Richard B. Russell, Jr. Materials

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

I. Richard B. Russell, Jr.
6 folder(s)
		This series consists of materials relating to Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr., created and collected by William H. Jordan, Jr. including correspondence pertaining to the Russell Foundation Oral History Project, newspaper clippings documenting the death of Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr., printed materials related to Russell sponsored legislation, and a Congressional Record containing references to Senator Russell. This series includes a handwritten recipe (in pencil) for baked onions including an explanation of the recipe's importance, written by Modine Thomas, Senator Russell's long time housekeeper and presented to William H. Jordan, Jr.
box	folder
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1	1	Living History Project [Oral History], February-May 1971
1	2	News clippings, January 1, 1969-January 28, 1971
1	3	Materials regarding Senator Russell, 1963-1980
1	4	Congressional Record, October 5, 1978
1	5	Recipe for baked onions by Modine Thomas (Senator Russell's cook), undated
1	6	Eulogy of the late Senator Richard B. Russell by John C. Stennis, 1971 January 24

 

II. Correspondence

1 folder(s)

This series contains two typed letters (plus one duplicate) from Tom Watson Brown to Tom Teepen, editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Larry McMurtry, author of The Murder of Mary Phagan, defending his great-grandfather Thomas E. Watson.

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folder

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1

7

Letters from Tom Watson Brown, 1984, 1988

 

III. Articles
5 folder(s)
		This series consists of articles/commentaries written by Jasper Dorsey for Atlanta newspapers covering national, state, and local politics and topics. The majority of the articles are in unpublished, manuscript form and each are dated presumably with the date of publication. The series also contains several newspaper clippings from Atlanta newspapers that are not authored by Dorsey.
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1	8	Articles by Jasper Dorsey, December 13, 1987
1	9	Articles by Jasper Dorsey, January-December 1988
1	10	Articles by Jasper Dorsey, January-April 1989
1	11	Articles by Jasper Dorsey, 1986-1987
1	12	Articles and editorial cartoons, 1987-1988

 

IV. Photographs

3 item(s)

This series contains two color photographs, one of Richard B. Russell, Jr. and Congressman Brien McMahon and one of the White House with its flag at half mast in observance of Richard B. Russell, Jr.'s death. Also included is a charcoal drawing of Senator Russell from the image used on the cover of Life magazine.

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3

Richard B. Russell, Jr. and Congressman Brien McMahon ((framed, 8"x10", color))

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Mapcase

White House with flag at half-mast in observance of Richard B. Russell, Jr.'s death ((20" x 24", color))

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drawer

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2

11

Charcoal drawing of Richard B. Russell, Jr. in profile from cover Life magazine ((22"x17"))

 

V. Audiovisual Materials

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.

item

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UC RBRL207WHJ-VHS_0001

Jordan 81-1:28, One of Ours: Young Scoop Jackson, an oral history of Senator Henry M. Jackson and Everett, Washington, from 1892 to 1940, 1989 ( 1 moving_image(s) )

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item

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VHS 0267

RBRL207WHJ-VHS_0001

RBRL207WHJ-VHS_0001 original media