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George B. Hamilton papers

 Collection
Identifier: POL-0013

Scope and Contents note

This collection consists mainly of documents, photographs, and newspaper clippings concerning George B. Hamilton’s service as State Treasurer, 1933-1962.

Dates

  • 1932-1971

Creator

Conditions Governing Access note

Open to all users; no restrictions

Conditions Governing Use note

As stipulated by U.S. copyright laws.

Biographical/Historical note

George Bright Hamilton was born August 12, 1891 in Washington, D.C. He married Parrie Leah Livsey and had two daughters and one son.

Hamilton served as Georgia State Treasurer from 1933 to 1962, a term at the time unmatched by any other state treasurer in the nation. In 1933, Hamilton was appointed Georgia State Treasurer upon the death of M.L. Ledford, the previous state treasurer. In 1935, he became secretary for the Georgia Auditors’ Association. In 1936, Governor Eugene Talmadge had Hamilton forcibly removed from office by the National Guard after Hamilton refused to honor a warrant drawn by the governor against state funds without an appropriation bill. Hamilton maintained he had not only upheld the law, he had managed to reduce operating costs of his department and increase revenue. He garnered a landslide victory from the people of Georgia later that year and was officially restored to office by legislative resolutions in 1937. In 1942 Hamilton was violently attacked outside his hotel room in Macon, Georgia. The attackers were suspected to be henchmen of Governor Talmadge. In 1945, Hamilton was elected President of the newly organized National Association of Rural Housing, which aimed to develop a nation-wide program of rural slum clearance and construction of low-cost housing. Hamilton opposed racial integration, and in 1948, he resigned from his post as financial director of the National Democratic Party because party policy favored integration. In 1961, Hamilton threatened to cut off funds to the University of Georgia when it desegregated. In 1962, Hamilton resigned from the office of State Treasurer. He died of cancer in 1971 at the age of 79.

Extent

0.45 Linear feet (1 box and 2 map folders)

Language

English

Overview

George Bright Hamilton served as Georgia State Treasurer from 1933 to 1962.

Arrangement note

Arranged alphabetically by file title.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Donated by George Hamilton III on December 2, 1992.

Related Archival Materials note

Georgia’s Political Heritage collection, POL-0003

Processing Information note

Processed by Shannon Danielle Smith in 2010.

Title
Guide to the George B. Hamilton papers POL-0013
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Written by Shannon Danielle Smith
Date
2010
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