Iris F. Blitch papers, 1954-1985, (bulk 1954-1962).

ArchivalResource

Iris F. Blitch papers, 1954-1985, (bulk 1954-1962).

Iris F. Blitch Papers document her two terms representing Georgia's Eighth District in the United States Congress from 1955 to 1963, and, to a lesser extent, her campaigns and personal life. The majority of the collection consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings, legislative bills, research and campaign materials, scrapbooks and photographs. Well-documented throughout the entire collection, particularly in the Legislative and Subject series, are the issues that were important to Blitch and to the twenty counties that composed the Eighth District, including agriculture and environmental issues. Bills sponsored or supported by Blitch include: Okefenokee conservation bill (secured funding for water conservation and fire protection in and around the swamp); Small-watershed bill (allowed the building of small watershed projects with government grants and loans to conserve water for farmers, municipalities, industry, recreation and the conservation of fish and wildlife); Water pollution bill; forestry development; anti-subversive activities; improved drug laws; livestock sales; and benefits to beekeepers, among others. Additionally, the papers provide insight into the political climate for women in the second half of the 1950s and the early 1960s as well as into social mores regarding their participation. Blitch's personal beliefs and opinions regarding women's roles and responsibilities in government and politics are evident in the speeches and interviews she gave throughout her career. To a lesser extent, and primarily through correspondence found in the Personal series, is information relating to her immediate and extended family as well as her fragile health, which ultimately forced her retirement in 1963. Correspondents include the following prominent Georgians: D.W. Brooks, Phil Campbell, John J. Flynt, Jr., E.L. Forrester, Ed Friend, Henderson L. Lanham, Herman E. Talmadge, John Leonard Pilcher, Prince Preston, and Richard B. Russell, Jr.

161 boxes (80.5 linear ft.)

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7884138

Related Entities

There are 12 Entities related to this resource.

Blitch, Iris, 1912-1993

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6ps8mbx (person)

Iris Faircloth Blitch (April 25, 1912 – August 19, 1993) was a United States Representative from Georgia. A Democrat, she was the fourth woman to represent Georgia in the Congress, and the first to win a regularly scheduled general election. Blitch was a vocal advocate both for women's rights and racial segregation. Born Iris Faircloth near Vidalia, Georgia, she was raised in Frederick, Maryland after her parents' deaths, returning to Georgia to attend the University of Georgia at Athens. Aft...

United States. Congress. House

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6r31sjr (corporateBody)

U.S. House of Representatives is the lower house of Congress. From the guide to the Subscription lists, 1870, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections) The first session of the Congress of the United States, under a resolution passed by the Congress of the Confederation, on September 13, 1788, was called to meet in New York City on March 4, 1789. On the appointed day only 13 Members of the House were present and, as this number did not constitute a quorum, the sessions...

Lanham, Henderson Lovelace, 1888-1957

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zk8q6s (person)

Henderson L. Lanham (1888-1957), lawyer, Georgia State Legislator, and U.S. Representative for the 7th District (1946-1957), born in Rome, Georgia. From the description of Henderson Lovelace Lanham papers, 1947-1957. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38477207 ...

Talmadge, Herman E. (Herman Eugene), 1913-2002

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6db8520 (person)

Herman E. Talmadge (1913- ), Georgia Governor (1947-1955) and U.S. Senator (1956-1980), born near McRae, Georgia. From the description of Herman E. Talmadge senatorial papers, 1945-1987. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38477028 Herman E. Talmadge (1913- ), Georgia Governor (1947-1955) and United States Senator (1956-1980) born near McRae, Georgia. T. Rogers Wade served as administrative assistant, fund raiser, and chairman of the 1980 U.S. senatorial campaign for Senator Talm...

Forrester, E. L. (Elijah Lewis), 1896-1970

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6wt8dvc (person)

E.L. "Tic" Forrester (1896-1970), politican, lawyer and U.S. Representative, born in Leesburg, Georgia. From the description of E.L. Forrester papers, 1920-1970. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38477467 ...

Friend, Ed, 1912-1991

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qc0j2n (person)

Ed Friend (1912-1991) was a photographer for the Georgia Game and Fish Commission and for the Office of the Governor. From the description of Ed Friend visual materials, 1918-1990 (bulk 1943-1990). (University of Georgia). WorldCat record id: 45808482 ...

Brooks, David William, 1901-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6ff70dc (person)

David William Brooks (1901- ), farmer, cooperative executive, born in Royston, Georgia. From the description of D.W. Brooks papers, 1901-1990. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38477800 From the description of D.W. Brooks oral history collection, 1987. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38477775 ...

Preston, Prince H. (Prince Hulon), 1908-1961

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67t0w2x (person)

Prince Hulon Preston, Jr. (1908-1961), attorney, state legislator, and U.S. Representative, born in Monroe, Georgia. From the description of Prince H. Preston, Jr. papers, 1946-1960. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38477410 ...

Pilcher, John L. (John Leonard), 1898-1981

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gt6mnp (person)

John Leonard Pilcher was born in a two-room log cabin near Meigs, Georgia on August 27, 1898. Although Pilcher's father died when he was five, and Pilcher had to support his mother and two young sisters, he completed seven grades of public school and graduated from Massey Business College. In 1922, he married Dorothy Covington of Moultrie, Georgia. They had two sons: John Leonard, Jr., who in 1946, at the age of seventeen, was killed in a plane crash while serving as an ROTC air cadet at the Uni...

Russell, Richard B. (Richard Brevard), 1897-1971

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64j0jvd (person)

Richard B. Russell (1897-1971), lawyer and politician, born in Winder, Georgia. Served as State Representative (1921-1931), Georgia Governor (1931-1933), and U.S. Senator (1933-1971). From the description of Richard B. Russell Jr. MacArthur hearing files, 1951-1953. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38477265 Bill Westmoreland was a Clerk in the Superior Court of Gilmer County, Georgia. From the description of Bill Westmoreland letter from Richard B. Russell, 1965. (...

Flynt, John James, 1914-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61h06wf (person)

John James Flynt, Jr. (1914- ), U.S. Representative for the Sixth District of Georgia (1954-1978), born in Griffin, Georgia. From the description of John J. Flynt, Jr. papers, 1954-1978. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38477792 ...

Campbell, Phil (Vocalist)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6md266g (person)