Georgia's Political Heritage Program is a video/ audio tape collection that is designed to capture valuable, but disappearing historical resources. The collection began in 1985 and captures the memory of Georgia's political leaders as they relate their roles in the state's political history.

West Georgia history faculty interviews on video and audio, record key political figures such as former Governors, Lieutenant Governors, U.S. Senators and Congressmen and House Speakers. The collection also includes audio tape of supporting interviews, speeches and presentations.

The archive section of the Ingram Library at West Georgia also serves as the repository for the political papers of Newt Gingrich and Pat Swindall as well as those of political figures of regional interest such as Senators J. Ebb Duncan and Wayne Garner and Representatives Carolyn Lee, John Simpson and Charles Thomas. The archive is in the process of continually broadening its collection. Interviews with all the former governors of Georgia since World War II are included with the exceptions of M.E. Thompson and Marvin Griffin, both of whom were deceased prior to the inception of the program.

The materials collected for the program are housed in the archive section of the Ingram Library and cataloged with the OCLC system, providing ready access to students, historians, scholars and the public. Donations for the public use of this collection are greatly appreciated.

In addition, the Gingrich papers are supported by over 30 video tapes and over 300 audio tapes. The Swindall papers by 6 video tapes and 60 audio tapes, and the Talmadge interview by over a dozen interviews of staff and supports.

Tax deductible donations may be made to the program through the University of West Georgia Foundation. For further information about the program please contact:

Ms. Blynne Olivieri, Director
Georgia's Political Heritage Program
Ingram Library 006 (Ground Floor)
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA 30118
Phone: (678) 839-5455
Email: bolivier@westga.edu

Program collections include video tape interviews with the following: