Archival Research: Political Parties at the Richard B. Russell Library: Oral Histories

The Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection is a series of interviews with politically prominent Georgians conducted by Bob Short since 2007 in partnership with the Russell Library. There are currently over 160 interviews with Georgia politicians, lawyers, political activists, members of Congress and former governors of the state.

The interviews cover "politics and public life in modern Georgia, with a particular strength in gubernatorial contests, the Civil Rights movement, reapportionment, the development of Atlanta, the rise of the Republican party in Georgia, political journalism, and the interaction between religion and politics." The finding aid for this collection can be searched by name and date of interview.

The oral histories appearing in this guide were selected due to their special focus on Georgia party politics and their exceptional quality. Of particular interest are those interviews conducted with state party chairmen.

Chairmen of the GAGOP: Mack Mattingly, Billy Lovett, Rusty Paul, Chuck Clay, and Ralph Reed.

Chairmen of the DPG: Bert Lance, John Blackmon, Bobby Kahn, Jane Kidd, and DuBose Porter.

Kathy Ashe changed political parties in 2001. Hear her explain why she made the switch in this interview recorded on July 14, 2010. To go directly to the section of her interview where she discusses switching parties, view the interview here.

ROGP 012 Nathan Deal, 2007 February 1

ROGP 014 Mack Mattingly, 2007 February 15

ROGP 022 Nancy Schaefer, 2008 April 9

ROGP 034 James Tysinger, 2008 June 5

ROGP 066 Eric Tanenblatt, 2009 January 21

ROGP 075 Fletcher Thompson, 2009 April 6

ROGP 097 Chuck Clay, 2009 December 16

ROGP 118 Bob Shaw, 2010 July 28

ROGP 121 Rusty Paul, 2010 October 27

ROGP 129 Ralph Reed, 2011 July 15

ROGP 143 Margaret Holliman, 2012 October 27

ROGP 145 Billy Lovett, 2012 November 7

ROGP 011 Bert Lance, 2007 January 25

ROGP 023 Herb Mabry, 2008 April 14

ROGP 025 Terry Coleman , 2008 April 24

ROGP 038 John Blackmon , 2008 July 8

ROGP 043 Bill Stuckey, 2008 August 11

ROGP 047 John C. Foster, 2008 August 25

ROGP 050 Eunice Mixon, 2008 October 2

ROGP 064 Carlton Colwell, 2009 January 14

ROGP 073 DuBose Porter, 2009 February 24

ROGP 078 Charles Campbell, 2009 May 14

ROGP 084 Bobby Kahn, 2009 August 21

ROGP 108 Jane Kidd, 2010 February 25