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.

Program collections include video tape interviews with the following:

Gov. Ellis Arnall 8 tapes Rep. Phil Landrum 8 tapes
Rep. Doug Barnard 2 tapes Rep. Elliott Levitas 6 tapes
Gov. Roy Barnes 1 tape Rep. Jamie Mackay 2 tapes
Rep. Bob Barr 3 tapes Gov. Lester Maddox 6 tapes
Att. Gen. Griffin Bell 2 tapes Sen. Mack Mattingly 7 tapes
Rep. Ben Blackburn 2 tapes Gov. Zell Miller 3 tapes
Cartoonist David Boyd 2 tapes Speaker Tom Murphy 6 tapes
Gov. George Busbee 2 tapes Rep. Richard Ray 7 tapes
Lt. Gov. Garland Byrd 2 tapes Rep. Roy Rowland 2 tapes
Rep. Howard "Bo" Callaway 3 tapes Gov. Carl Sanders 6 tapes
Pres. Jimmy Carter 1 tape Lt. Gov. George T. Smith 6 tapes
Rep. George "Buddy" Darden 6 tapes State Rep. Tracy Stallings 3 tapes
State Rep. Dock Davis 2 tapes Rep. Robert G. Stephens 2 tapes
Rep. John "Jack" Flynt 4 tapes Rep. Pat Swindall 6 tapes
Sen. David Gambrell 3 tapes Ex. Sec. Tom Perdue 2 tapes
State Sen. Wayne Garner 1 tape Sen. Herman Talmadge 36 tapes
GOP National Committeeman Carl Gillis 2 tapes Rep. Lindsay Thomas 6 tapes
State Rep. Denmark Groover 2 tapes Rep. Fletcher Thompson 2 tapes
Gov. Joe Frank Harris 4 tapes Gov. Ernest S. Vandiver 4 tapes
Rep. Charles Hatcher 3 tapes State Sen. Charles Walker 1 tapes
Lt.Gov. Pierre Howard 2 tapes Rep. Charles Weltner 6 tapes
Rep. Ed. Jenkins 3 tapes State Rep. Hosea Williams 2 tapes
Rep. Ben Jones 2 tapes Rep. Andy Young 2 tapes
State Sen. Culver Kidd 2 tapes    

  • Rep. Doug Barnard
    2 tapes
    Rep. Elliott Levitas
    6 tapes

  • Gov. Roy Barnes
    1 tape
    Rep. Jamie Mackay
    2 tapes

  • Rep. Bob Barr
    3 tapes
    Gov. Lester Maddox
    6 tapes

  • Att. Gen. Griffin Bell
    2 tapes
    Sen. Mack Mattingly
    7 tapes

  • Rep. Ben Blackburn
    2 tapes
    Gov. Zell Miller
    3 tapes

  • Cartoonist David Boyd
    2 tapes
    Speaker Tom Murphy
    6 tapes

  • Gov. George Busbee
    2 tapes
    Rep. Richard Ray
    7 tapes

  • Lt. Gov. Garland Byrd
    2 tapes
    Rep. Roy Rowland
    2 tapes

  • Rep. Howard "Bo" Callaway
    3 tapes
    Gov. Carl Sanders
    6 tapes

  • Pres. Jimmy Carter
    1 tape
    Lt. Gov. George T. Smith
    6 tapes

  • Rep. George "Buddy" Darden
    6 tapes
    State Rep. Tracy Stallings
    3 tapes

  • State Rep. Dock Davis
    2 tapes
    Rep. Robert G. Stephens
    2 tapes

  • Rep. John "Jack" Flynt
    4 tapes
    Rep. Pat Swindall
    6 tapes

  • Sen. David Gambrell
    3 tapes
    Ex. Sec. Tom Perdue
    2 tapes

  • State Sen. Wayne Garner
    1 tape
    Sen. Herman Talmadge
    36 tapes

  • GOP National Committeeman Carl Gillis
    2 tapes
    Rep. Lindsay Thomas
    6 tapes

  • State Rep. Denmark Groover
    2 tapes
    Rep. Fletcher Thompson
    2 tapes

  • Gov. Joe Frank Harris
    4 tapes
    Gov. Ernest S. Vandiver
    4 tapes

  • Rep. Charles Hatcher
    3 tapes
    State Sen. Charles Walker
    1 tapes

  • Lt.Gov. Pierre Howard
    2 tapes
    Rep. Charles Weltner
    6 tapes

  • Rep. Ed. Jenkins
    3 tapes
    State Rep. Hosea Williams
    2 tapes

  • Rep. Ben Jones
    2 tapes
    Rep. Andy Young
    2 tapes

  • State Sen. Culver Kidd
    2 tapes
     
     

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