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Jacquelyn H. Barrett Papers

Jacquelyn H. Barrett Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: Jacquelyn H. Barrett Papers
Creator: Barrett, Jacquelyn H., 1950-
Inclusive Dates: 1972-2004
Language(s): English
Extent: 12 box(es) (12.5 linear feet), including 25 photographs
Collection Number: RBRL289JHB
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: The Jacquelyn H. Barrett Papers document her career as Sheriff of Fulton County where she managed the operation of Georgia's largest Sheriff's Department and oversaw the operations of the Fulton County Jail. The papers include speech and event files, policy and procedural manuals, photographs, reports, campaign files, schedules, and plaques and awards.

Collection Description

Biographical Note

Jacquelyn Harrison Barrett (Washington) was born in 1950 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She began her career as a curriculum specialist at the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, progressively rising through the ranks to eventually become the Assistant to the Executive Director developing content for executive training for Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs in Georgia. She also served as a liaison to the National Association of State Directors of Law Enforcement Training and participated in the establishment of operational standards for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Barrett went on to serve as Director of the Fulton County Public Safety Training Center where she developed a Sheriff's Elect Training Course.

In 1992, Barrett became the first African-American woman elected to the office of Sheriff in the United States. As Sheriff of Fulton County, she managed the operation of Georgia's largest Sheriff's Department and oversaw the operations of the Fulton County Jail. During her tenure the Fulton County Sheriff's Department received the Triple Crown Accreditation from CALEA. Under her leadership the Sheriff's Department opened the South Fulton Precinct, the department reserve added seventy-five volunteers to provide support to charitable organizations, the Chaplaincy Corp added fifty volunteers, and an AARP program was implemented to provide personal safety training to seniors. Barrett also participated in the Olympic Security Partnership responsible for securing the venues during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Despite Barrett's many accomplishments as Sheriff, a "reverse discrimination" suit was filed against her by 16 white deputy sheriffs in 1996. Also, her final term was overshadowed by accusations that she mishandled public funds and did not properly disclose campaign contributions. In July 2004, Governor Sonny Perdue suspended Barrett from office for the remainder of her term.

After twenty-eight years in the criminal justice profession, Barrett became Director of Programs at the Cascade United Methodist Church until 2008, when she began teaching at West Georgia College and Spelman College. Throughout her career, Barrett was very active in professional and civic organizations. She served on the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, Georgia Board of Public Safety, State Judicial Nominating Committee, and the Georgia Commission on Children. She was also very active in the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and was the first woman to serve as president of the organization.

Scope and Content

The papers primarily consist of speech and event files containing drafts and copies of speeches Barrett delivered to various professional, civic, and religious organizations from 1993 to 2004. These events and others are documented in her appointment books (1995-2003). There are also a small number of photographs, campaign files, and files documenting her responsibilities overseeing the Fulton County Jail. The papers include speech and event files, policy and procedural manuals, photographs, reports, campaign files, schedules, and plaques and awards.

Organization and Arrangement

The papers are organized by topic and format.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Jacquelyn H. Barrett 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.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2012.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

African American women
African Americans -- Georgia
Fulton County (Ga.)
Jails -- Georgia.
Jails -- Overcrowding.
Photographs.
Sheriffs -- Georgia.
Women.

Related Collections in this Repository

George Ervin (Sonny) Perdue Official Papers

Zell Miller Papers, Series IV: Governor of Georgia

Related Collections in Other Repositories

Maynard Jackson Mayoral Administrative Records, Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center

Executive Department, Governor's Subject Files, Georgia Archives


Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 
boxfolder
11GALES speech outline, 1993 February 23
 
12Georgia Women in Law Enforcement, 6th Annual Banquet, speech, 1993 April 16
 
13Increase the Peace: Race Relations; Association for Multi-cultural Counseling and Development; University of Georgia Black Faculty and Staff speeches, 1993 April
 
14A. Phillip Randolph Institute 25th Anniversary, 1993 April
 
15Running a Good Race: Campaign Strategy, sponsored by the Stennis Center, 1993 May 3
 
16NOBLE 17th Annual Conference, 1993 July 20
 
17Groveway Community Group, 50th Anniversary, 1993 September 24
 
18Hillside International Faith Center, 22nd Anniversary, A Vision of Faith Leads to a Destination of Success, 1993 September
 
19Wings of Faith Church, speech, 1993 October 31
 
110Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Salute to African American Women Achievers, 1993 December
 
111First Corinth Missionary Baptist Church Woman's Day; St. Luke A.M.E. Church, 1993
 
112NOBLE budget and policing seminars, 1993-1994
 
113C. H. Gullat Elementary School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Dinner, 1994 January
 
114Law Enforcement Issues [notes and clippings], 1993-1994
 
115Annual Banquet Martin Luther King, Jr., 1994 January 8
 
116Buckhead Business Association, 1994 March
 
117Speech, Greenwood, South Carolina, 1994 February 4
 
118John Jay College, Closing the Law Enforcement Gender Gap, 1994 February 17
 
119Griffin-Spaulding Civic Improvement League annual banquet, 1994 March 4
 
120Women's History Month/Annual Federal Women's Program, 1994 March 31
 
121University of Georgia Black Faculty and Staff speech, 1994 April 16
 
122Mike Roberts Roast, 1994 May 1
 
123League of Women Voters, Secretary' Week, 1994 May 21
 
124Commencement address, Atlanta Area Tech, 1994 June 15
 
125Boat Rock second annual law enforcement appreciation day, 1994 August 28
 
126Peachtree Road U.M.C midweek program, 1994 August
 
127Communications Workers of America National Equity Conference, 1994 September
 
128Red Ribbon Campaign, Toccoa, 1994 October 30
 
129Hungry Club speech, 1994 November 9
 
130NOBLE chapter development, history, mission, 1994
 
131Georgia Law Enforcement Exchange Program, Israel National Police Delegation; American Cities Against Drugs, 1994-1995
 
132Law Enforcement Day - Peachtree Presbyterian, 1994-1995
 
133Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, 1995 February 16
 
134Wives and Widows of Pastors address, 1995 February 19
 
135Carnegie-Mellon University Black History Month, 1995 February 28
 
136Salute to Women of Achievement/YWCA Academy of Women Achievers, 1995 May 12
 
137Prayer for Law Enforcement Day, Peachtree Presbyterian Church, 1995 May 21
 
138Bronner Brothers speaking engagement, 1995 May 23
 
139Marion E. Barnes Scholarship Banquet, 1995 August 2
 
140North Fulton County Bar Association, 1995 September 28
 
141Salute to Black Mothers, 1995 November 17
 
142General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Inc., 1996 July 23
 
143Mount Olive Baptist Church/Women's Day Observance, 1997 February 9
 
144American Institute of Architects, Committee on Architects for Justice, Outlook for Securing Public Facilities into the 21st Century, 1997 February 27
 
145Ohio Crime Prevention Association/Community Policing Conference, 1997 December 16-17
 
146Community Oriented Policing Seminar, 1997 December
 
147Chief Herman Walker's Retirement, 1998 March 27
 
14819th Annual Black Women of the Year Awards Banquet, 1998 April 1
 
149Caring Communities Solving Problems (CCSP) Program Graduation, 1998 April 2
 
150Stennis Center, Southern Women in Public Service, 1998 November 20
 
151Deputy Sheriff Richard Kinchen Eulogy, 2000 March 21
 
152Women's History Month, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2000 March 29
 
153Southside Ministry Association monthly meeting, 2000 October
 
154Possible Woman Leadership Conference, Jamaica, 2001 January 18-21
 
155Georgia Women in Public Safety, Georgia Commission on Women, 2001 March 5
 
156Beaver College Commencement address, 2001 May 17-18
 
157Preventing Crime in the Black Community, 2001 May 31
 
158Delta Black Employees, Black History Month Observance, 2002 February 1
 
159100 Black Men of America, 16th Annual National Conference, 2002 June 5-9
 
160Delta Sigma Theta 46th National Convention, 2002 July 19
 
161Lake City Community College Celebrating an Evening of Diversity, 2002 February
 
162Emmaus Road Ministry Baptist Church, 7th Pastor's Anniversary, 2003 October 18
 
163Georgia Association of Black Attorneys, 2004 January 15
 
164Atlanta Technical College keynote, 2004 January
 
165Benjamin Elijah Mays Southwest High School Alumni Reunion keynote speaker, 2004 January 31
 
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21Campaign, 1992
 
22Re-election announcement speech, 1996
 
23Campaign, 2003
 
24Barrett oath of office and bond of sheriff, 1992
 
25Degrees, B.A. Beaver College and M.A. Atlanta University, 1972, 1973
 
26Clippings, 1992-2003
 
27Assault weapons ban, 1994
 
28Fambro litigation transparencies [conditions Fulton Co. jail], circa 1994
 
29Briefing with Reverend Jesse Jackson, 1995
 
210Sheriffs elect training academy, unusual occurrences, 196
 
211Jail consolidation issues, Fulton Co., 1996
 
212Planning and research, Fulton Co. Jail presentation, circa 1999
 
213Al Gore correspondence, 1999
 
214Fulton County Sheriff's Department CALEA Annual Report, 2003
 
215Fulton County Sheriff's Department Annual Report, 2003
 
216Fulton County jail presentation to Board of Commissioners, 2004 March
 
217Barrett swearing in, Georgia Board of Public Safety photo
 
218U.S. Olympic Basketball Team with Muhammad Ali photo, 1996
 
219Barrett with Sonny Perdue photo
 
220Recording Industry Association of America gives Barrett gold record for Anti-piracy efforts photo
 
221Barrett with Pastor Shirley Caesar photo
 
222Barrett with Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker photo
 
223Barrett at a high school photo
 
224Barrett with Roy Barnes photo
 
225Barrett next to a horse photo
 
226Barrett with Atlanta Commissioner of Public Safety George Napper photo, 1982
 
227Barrett with Hallie Berry and David Justice, Take Back the Night Rally photo
 
228Barrett with Al Gore photo
 
229Gang resistance education and training (GREAT) class with Barrett photo
 
230Newly elected sheriffs being sworn in graduating from sheriff-elect academy photo, 1972
 
231Fulton County Public Safety Training Center photo, 1989
 
232Barrett with Mark Taylor photo
 
233King Day March photo, 1993
 
234Barrett and Joe Lieberman photo, 2003
 
235Barrett welcoming Nelson Mandela photo
 
236Bruni princess visiting U.S. Olympic Games photo, 1996
 
237Barrett with members of Atlanta Chapter of Buffalo Soldiers photo
 
238Barrett with Zell Miller and Ralph David Abernathy III photo
 
239Barrett with John White photo, 1993
 
240South African delegation at Fulton County Jail photo, 1997 October
 
241Barrett with school children, Reading Fundamental program photo
 
242Barrett swearing in photo, 2000
 
243Barrett with Bill Clinton photo
 
244Law Enforcement Day, King Center, Barrett with Coretta Scott King photo
 
245Calvin Smyre, Maynard Jackson, John Lewis, Hallie Dorsey, Roy Barnes, Bill Campbell, Barrett meeting Al Gore
 
246Barrett portraits
 
247Unidentified photographs
 
boxfolder
31Fulton County Sheriff's Department Standard Operating Procedures Manual, 2003
 
32Fulton County Sheriff's Department Field Training Officer's Manual, 1997
 
33Fulton County Sheriff's Department Jail Bureau Policies and Procedures Standard Operations Manual, 2002
 
boxfolder
41Schedule books, 1995-1997
 
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51Schedule books, 1998-2000
 
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61Schedule books, 2001-2003
 
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71Certificate, Commission on Accreditation for Corrections and the American Correctional Association Award, excellent operation of an adult detention facility, 2003
 
72Certificate, Jackie Barrett received 20,143 votes nominating her to run in the General Election for Sheriff, 1992
 
73Plaques
 
boxfolder
81Plaques, name plates, awards, Atlanta Olympics buttons and security team pins
 
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91Clipping, Barrett as Sheriff [framed]
 
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OS 1Biographical Sketch of Sheriff Jaquelyn A. Barrett [includes photo] [oversize]
 
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10Sheriff's uniform
 
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11Sheriff's hat
 
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12Sheriff's shoes