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Mac Collins papers, 106 Congress

 Collection
Identifier: POL-0022-05

Scope and Contents note

This portion of the Mac Collins collection includes constituent inquiries, constituent requests, constituent correspondence, grant files, and miscellaneous correspondence pertaining to Mac Collins' fifth term in the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2001.

Dates

  • Majority of material found within Bulk, 1999-2001
  • 1997-2003; bulk 1999-2001

Creator

Conditions Governing Access note

Open to all users; no restrictions

Conditions Governing Use note

Copyright has been transferred to the University of West Georgia Library.

Biographical/Historical note

Mac Collins was born on October 15, 1944 in Jackson, Georgia. He attended Jackson High School, and afterwards he worked for his dad’s (Henry Collins) concrete company rather than attend college. He developed a passion to run a small business as a result of the success of his dad’s concrete mixing business. This decision also allowed him to marry his high school girlfriend, Julie Watkins. They had four children together. Mac Collins incorporated Collins Ready Mix Concrete, Inc., to Collins Trucking CO., Inc., and thus his business became focused on hauling timber. At its peaks, Collins Trucking CO., Inc., operated over thirty trucks that hauled timber for Georgia Pacific as part of an exclusive contract. In 1992, his son Michael (Mike) Collins purchased the company from him. Mac Collins was also a member of the Georgia Army National Guard from 1964 to 1970.

Mac Collins began his political career in 1977 as a Democrat, and he won election to the Butts County Commission. He served on the Butts County Commission until 1980 when he switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. He lost election to the Georgia State Senate in the 1984 and the 1986 elections. These defeats did not demoralize him, as he won election for the Georgia State Senate’s seventeenth district in 1988. His districted contained the counties of Butts, Clayton, and Henry. At the start of the 140 Georgia General Assembly, he was only one of eleven Republicans in the Georgia State Senate compared to forty-five Democrats.

Mac Collins served on the Special Judiciary committee, and he fought for stricter drug laws as part of the war on drugs. He sponsored different bills that would result in longer prison sentencings for those who were convicted of drug selling and trafficking. He also served on the Corrections committee, and he argued that more money need to be spend on the prison system. According to him, the granting of early parole allowed for many dangerous criminals to be released back into society. He worked on the Education committee and asked for more state funding for school programs that work effectively.

In 1992, the Georgia General Assembly redistricted the Six Congressional District which was the old district of Republican Newt Gingrich. This act moved much of the former territory of Newt Gingrich to the district in which Mac Collins lived. Immediately, Collins declared himself a candidate for the United States House of Representatives, and he defeated Paul Broun in the Republican primary. He later won by over ten points versus incumbent Congressman Richard Ray in the General Election. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1993-2004. In 2004, he ran unsuccessful in the Republican primary versus Johnny Isakson for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate. Mac Collins died on November 20, 2018, near Jackson, Georgia.

Extent

29.0 Linear feet (29 boxes)

Language

English

Overview

The legislative papers of Congressman Mac Collins covering the years 1999-2001. He served on the Ways and Means Committee.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Gift of Mac Collins March, 2009. The first transfer of papers occurred in December, 2004.

Processing Information note

The constituent inquiries have been sampled for historical content and value. Those that were removed did not have substantial content. In 2023, the Mac Collins papers were weeded to discard materials that did not warrant retention. In POL-0022-05, 6 linear feet of clippings were discarded. This collection now consists of 29 boxes. The boxes were previously numbered 78-113, but are now 1-29.

Title
Guide to the Mac Collins papers POL-0022-05
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Richard Foster; updated in 2023 by Danielle Jett.
Date
2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English

Repository Details

Part of the University of West Georgia Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Special Collections, Ingram Library
University of West Georgia
1601 Maple Street
Carrollton GA 30118-2000 United States