Tag: progressive era to World War II (1900-1945)

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The Georgia Giant

In the annals of Georgia political history, there have been many famous men, including President Jimmy Carter. But no other can surpass or even equal the power and influence of Sen. Richard B. Russell Jr. His career in the U.S. Senate — following service as the youngest governor of Georgia — spanned five decades and six presidents and most of the major political events of the 20th century bear his imprint in some way.

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Russell died on Jan. 21, 1971 and while many young people may not be able to tell you who he was, the last 40 years have not diminished his influence. Following his death, supporters established the Richard B. Russell Foundation, Inc. and they have continued to support activities that exemplify his ideals, including funding the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, chaired professorships, scholarships and teaching awards.  Russell’s name adorns a U.S. Senate office building, the federal building in Atlanta, school buildings (he was the chief sponsor of the National School Lunch Act), a dam, a lake, highways, an airport, among others.

Russell’s entry in the New Georgia Encyclopedia details his many accomplishments, as well as his views on race relations, which many believe kept him from being elected president.

Russell is also featured in the Clifford Baldowski Editorial Cartoon Collection, held in the political library which bears his name, including this one reflecting Georgia’s changing views on race.

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Jewish history in Georgia

The Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, begins at sundown. Meaning “dedication” in Hebrew, the observance celebrates the miracle Jews believe occurred in the Holy Temple when their lamp oil, which they thought would last only one day, provided them with eight days of light. The history, struggle and culture of Jews living in Georgia is represented in the DLG. The most notable resource is the Southern Israelite: established in 1925 as a temple bulletin it also covered news about Jewish people from around the nation and the world. In 1934, the paper began weekly publication. One of the most significant stories it would report on was the Atlanta Temple bombing in 1958 (left). The publication continues today as the Atlanta Jewish Times. The Vanishing Georgia collection documents Jewish citizenry, many of whom located in small towns to operate mercantile businesses and made contributions through civic involvement, including Charles Garfunkel, who was the first Jewish police chief in Savannah (right).

Also documented in Vanishing Georgia is the aftermath of the Leo Frank episode, including a 1915 photograph of the tadalafil governor hung in effigy after commuting Frank’s death sentence. Frank’s appeal for clemency is chronicled in archival records from the Secretary of State’s office.

Temple Mickve Israel (Savannah, Ga.), John Linley Collection, box 8

Georgia’ s temples are represented in the John Linley Collection of historic architecture, including the Temple Mickve Israel (left) in Savannah, home to the third oldest Jewish congregation in the United States, and the oldest in the South.

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