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Alabama. Governor (1951-1955 : Persons). Administrative files, 1950-1955.

Title: Administrative files, 1950-1955.

The Governor is the chief executive of the state whose function is to administer the laws of the state. One of the activities used to accomplish this function is the administering of executive decisions and actions. This series consists of the administrative files of Governor Gordon Persons. It contains correspondence, reports, photographs, pamphlets, publications, and telegrams. The records consist of correspondence and other material regarding the activities of the numerous state departments and agencies. Among the state agencies and organizations that reflect signficant attention in the Governor's records are the Highway Department, State Docks and Terminals, the Department of Public Welfare, the Department of Public Safety, and the State Planning Board. Persons' appointment of Leonard Hardy as Director of the State Docks in Mobile generated considerable correspondence from constituents and political colleagues. In addition the files contain correspondence from consituents regarding pensions, social services, pardons or paroles for crime convictions, and road repairs or construction. Governor Person's administrative files contain the records regarding legislation and legislative issues that were usually maintained in a separate filing system by his predecessors. Among the legislative issues documented in these files are education, taxation and poll taxes, reapportionment, social welfare programs, highways, and a right-to-work bill that generated an overwhelming response from consituents. Persons' files also contain reports and correspondence by the Water Improvement Advisory Commission regarding the pollution of Alabama waterways. Among the significant legislation achieved by the Governor was the passage of an act in 1953 establishing the educational television system in the state. This series also contains information on two of the most prominent incidents that occurred during the Persons administration: the assassination of Attorney General-elect Albert L. Patterson in Phenix City in 1954 and the Supreme Court decision in the Brown vs Board of Education case. The files contain correspondence from Alabama citizens revaling their reaction to his' events. There is also information regarding the investigation into the Patterson murder, including a telegram from J. Edgar Hoover assuring the Governor that the FBI would assist in the investigation. The bulk of the Phenix City files consists of newspaper clippings. Persons' segregation files include correpondence with city and county superintendents as well as publications, reports, and court decisions.

ArchivalResource: 43 cubic ft. (43 records center cartons).

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122582468 View