Iris F. Blitch Papers, 1954-1985 (bulk 1954-1962)
168 boxes, 82.25 linear feet

Administrative Information

- Access Restrictions
- User Restrictions
- Copyright Information
- Preferred Citation


Biographical Note

Scope and Content

Home

Organization and Arrangement

Related Collections


Related Collections

- In Russell Library
- In other repositories


Access Points

Folder List

 

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Access Restrictions: Case mail closed. Name Series closed.

User Restrictions: Library acts as “fair use” reproduction agent.

Processing Notes: Newspaper clippings and thermofax papers have been copied onto bond paper for protection of content. Oversized materials, photographs, and audiovisual materials have been separated for preservation purposes.

Copyright Information: Before material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permission. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Preferred Citation: Iris F. Blitch Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia.


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BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL NOTE:

Iris Faircloth Blitch was born in Normantown, Toombs County, Georgia, on April 25, 1912, to James Louis and Marietta (Ridgdell) Faircloth. The second youngest of eight children, and orphaned at age nine, Blitch was raised by several of her married sisters in Georgia and Maryland. While growing up, her sisters enrolled her in elocution classes which provided Blitch with early training in public speaking. She graduated from high school in Hagerstown, Maryland (1929), where she was living with her sister, Mrs. T.W. Johnson. Upon graduation from high school, Blitch enrolled in summer school at the University of Georgia, but before the term was out, she left to marry Brooks Erwin Blitch in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 11, 1929. Erwin Blitch, who was a pharmacist, owned ACME Pharmacy in Homerville, Georgia, and also owned several thousand acres of timber and farm land. The couple had two children: Betty Ethelyn, born August 11, 1930 and Brooks Erwin, Jr., born November 14, 1934.


As a young wife and mother with two young children during the Great Depression, Blitch filled her spare hours in the pursuit of self-education, reading, and writing articles for newspapers, including a weekly feature in the local paper. In 1936 Blitch began participating in the Democratic Party. She was the first woman in the history of Georgia to serve two terms in the State Senate. In 1940, she was defeated by 27 votes in a campaign for the Georgia State Legislature, but was elected to the State Senate in 1946 (serving from 1947 to 1948). In 1948, she was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, and served there until 1950 when she was unsuccessful in a re-election bid. In 1952, she returned to the State Senate serving from 1953 to 1954. She was the Democratic National Committeewoman from Georgia from 1948 to 1956 and was also seated on the 11-person Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee. She served as assistant secretary of the State Democratic Executive Committee from 1946 to 1956, taking the post of acting secretary in 1950.

In 1954, after conducting a grass-roots campaign, often accompanied by her son, Brooks, Blitch defeated incumbent Representative William M. Wheeler and became the first woman ever elected from Georgia to serve a full term in the United States Congress. A family friend was quoted as saying, “I told her in the beginning that the only reason she wouldn’t win was because God made her a woman. I reckon she just didn’t even let that stand in her way.” From January 3, 1955 to January 3, 1963, Blitch represented the Eighth Congressional District of Georgia, which at the time was composed of the following counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Glynn, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Telfair, Ware, and Wayne. During her tenure in Congress Blitch served on the Public Works Committee and its subcommittee of Public Roads, Rivers and Harbors, and Watersheds. Her interest in conservation prompted President John F. Kennedy to appoint her to the National Resources Advisory Council.

As a woman participating in politics Blitch garnered much attention. While a member of the Georgia General Assembly she sponsored and fought to pass The Women’s Jury Bill, giving women the right to serve on a jury. However, Blitch never regarded herself strictly as a champion of women’s rights:

I’ve never been just a woman’s candidate. I feel proud, of course, that women’s organizations have backed my campaigns. I also have been provoked by women who complain about political conditions and then refuse to get out and face the voters and see what a politician goes through to get elected.

Due to poor health, she was not a candidate for re-election in 1962. After retiring from the U.S. Congress, Blitch became a resident of St. Simons Island, Georgia, until she moved to San Diego, California, in 1988 where she died on August 19, 1993. She is buried in Pinelawn Cemetery, Homerville, Georgia.

Awards: 1957 Woman of the Year by periodical The Progressive Farmer;
Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from John Marshall University, 1961;
American Legion’s 1960 Meritorious Service Citation;
Governor’s Trophy of Georgia for her work in soil conservation, 1961;
Georgia’s Outstanding Woman in Politics by the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs, 1961


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SCOPE AND CONTENT:

The Iris F. Blitch Papers document her four terms representing Georgia’s Eighth District in the United States Congress from 1955 to 1963, and to a lesser extent, her campaigns and personal life. Well-documented throughout the entire collection, particularly in the Legislative Series and the Subject Series, are the issues that were important to Blitch and to the twenty counties that composed the Eighth District, such as agriculture, conservation, and the environment. Bills sponsored or supported by Blitch include: Okefenokee Conservation Bill (secured funding for water conservation and fire protection in and around the swamp); Small-Watershed Bill (allowed the building of small watershed projects with government grants and loans to conserve water for farmers, municipalities, industry, recreation and the conservation of fish and wildlife); Water Pollution Bill; forestry development; anti-subversive activities; improved drug laws; livestock sales; and benefits to beekeepers, among others.

The papers provide insight into the political climate for women in the second half of the 1950s and the early 1960s as well as into social mores regarding their participation. As one of only fifteen women members (and the only southerner) in the House of Representatives in 1958, the challenges faced by Blitch and other females in Washington, as well as the public’s perceptions, are well-documented throughout the papers, mainly in feature newspaper articles and interviews. Blitch’s personal beliefs and opinions of women in government and politics, as well as their roles and responsibilities, are evident in speeches and interviews she gave throughout her career and can be found primarily in both the Subject and Personal Series. Also documented in the papers, particularly in the Subject Series, is Blitch’s position on segregation and an integrated society. To a lesser extent, and primarily through correspondence found in the Personal Series, is information relating to her immediate and extended family as well as her fragile health, which ultimately forced her retirement in 1963.


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ORGANIZATION AND ARRANGEMENT:

The papers are arranged into six series: I. Legislative Files, 1954-1962; II. Subject Files 1952-1962; III. Name Files; IV. Post Office Files 1955-1962; V. Personal Papers, 1954-1962; VI. Campaign Files, 1954-1958. Specific arrangements for each series and subseries are described in the series descriptions.


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RELATED COLLECTIONS IN THIS REPOSITORY:

D.W. Brooks Papers, 1947-1998
J. Phil Campbell Papers, 1916-1987
John William Davis Papers, 1941-1974
John J. Flynt, Jr. Papers, 1954-1978
E.L. Forrester Papers, 1920-1971
Ed Friend Visual Materials, 1943-1990
Henderson L. Lanham Papers, 1946-1957
Erwin Mitchell Papers, 1958-1960
Herman E. Talmadge Collection, 1945-1987
John Leonard Pilcher Papers, 1941-1976
Prince H. Preston, Jr. Papers, 1946-1961
Richard B. Russell, Jr. Collection, 1840-1978
S. Ernest Vandiver Papers, 1954-1998
Peg Blitch Papers


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RELATED COLLECTIONS IN OTHER REPOSITORIES:

Helen Bullard Oral History Interview, 1977 July 25, Georgia State University;
Stella Brunt Osborn Papers, 1916-1992, University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library


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SERIES DESCRIPTIONS:

I. Legislative Files, 1954-1962
37 boxes, 18.5 linear feet
This series consists of legislative materials from Blitch’s service in the United States Congress as a representative from the Eighth District (Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Glynn, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Telfair, Ware, and Wayne) 1955-1962. The Legislative Series includes materials that assisted Blitch with monitoring legislative issues, researching and writing legislation, and incoming and outgoing correspondence. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject or committee name. Blitch was particularly interested in legislation relating to agriculture, soil and water conservation, and the development of ports, harbors, and military installations. She chose to serve on the Public Works Committee, and its subcommittee Public Roads, Rivers and Harbors, and Watersheds, believing she could best help the people of the Eighth District on those two committees. Researchers are encouraged to look through the entire alphabetical listing as subjects or legislation may be listed under both subject and committee.


II. Subject Files, 1952-1962
80 boxes; 38.25 linear feet
Arranged alphabetically by subject, this series is a combination of routine office communication and correspondence and research information relating to subject areas of interest to Blitch and her constituents. The series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence, bulletins and newsletters from government agencies or private businesses, newspaper clippings, press releases, and typed speeches delivered by Blitch to various audiences. Correspondence with constituents relates mainly to proposed legislation or requests for Blitch to assist constituents with their needs and concerns with government agencies. Blitch’s interest in agriculture and the environment is well-documented in this series, particularly relating to rivers, ports, swamps, and watersheds, many of which are filed under the heading of “project files.”

Additionally, Blitch’s attitudes and beliefs regarding social issues such as women’s roles in government, feminism, and an integrated southern society are evident in speeches, press releases, newspaper articles, and feature-stories. Researchers are encouraged to look through the entire alphabetical listing to find a subject as it may be filed under the topic or under a larger umbrella topic, (e.g., materials relating to Glynco can be found under both “Glynco” and “Projects – Glynco”.


III. Name Files, 1954-1962 [Restricted until 2037]
30 boxes, 15 linear feet
Arranged alphabetically by last name, this series is comprised of correspondence from enlisted military, or their families, asking Blitch to intercede on their behalf. The series is closed to protect personal information relating to individuals and their families.


IV. Post Office Files, 1955-1962
5 boxes, 2.5 linear feet
Arranged alphabetically, primarily by the name of the town, with the exception of a few folders titled by subject, e.g., General Information or Mailing List. Materials are in reverse chronological order within each individual folder. Series is comprised of incoming and outgoing correspondence, telegrams, and newspaper clippings. The majority of correspondence is requests for assistance in obtaining mail delivery or extension of current service. Also included are requests for information regarding the civil service examination for those wishing to obtain rural mail carrier positions.


V. Personal papers, 1954-1962
7 boxes, 3.5 linear feet
This series is comprised almost entirely of incoming and outgoing correspondence and is arranged alphabetically by subject. Letters are arranged in reverse chronological order within each folder. The series includes letters from constituents, colleagues, friends, and family handled through Blitch’s office. The letters are fairly routine in their content, consisting of thank-yous, congratulatory messages, condolences, proposed visits, Christmas cards, etc. Occasional mention of pending legislation or insight into Blitch’s personal views regarding issues such as civil rights or school desegregation can be found in her letters. Frequently the letters mention her illnesses, hospital stays, and family. Correspondence found in this series between Blitch and Georgia politicians can be characterized as routine rather than personal. Blitch occasionally wrote notes for the office staff indicating her preferred response or her relationship to a correspondent.


VI. Campaign files, 1954-1958
9 boxes, 4.5 linear feet
The Campaign Files series is organized into three subseries: A. Administrative, B. Correspondence, and C. Media and Press. Within each subseries, materials are arranged either alphabetically or numerically, depending upon the subject of materials (e.g., counties are arranged alphabetically and districts are arranged numerically).

A. Administrative, 1954-1958
1 box, 0.5 linear feet
Arranged alphabetically by subject. Subseries includes files relating to office and campaign expenditures as well materials concerning the everyday running of the office. Also included are subject materials of an informational nature, such as brochures or notices.

B. Correspondence, 1954-1958
7 boxes, 3.5 linear feet
Correspondence is organized into three sub-subseries: 1. Counties, 1954-1958; 2. Districts, 1954-1956; 3. General.

 

1. Counties Correspondence, 1954-1958, is arranged alphabetically by county name and then chronologically by election year (1954, 1956, 1958). Within each individual folder materials are in reverse chronological order. County files contain information relating to the payment of campaign expenses through contributions.

2. Districts Correspondence, 1954-1956, is arranged numerically one through ten and is comprised of correspondence and invitations. Included in each folder is incoming and outgoing correspondence between Blitch and the representative from that specific district. The majority of the correspondence relates to Blitch soliciting the opinions of her Georgia colleagues regarding candidates for the Office of Sergeant at Arms of the House. Eighth District committee folders also contain the list of members, letters of resignation, letters asking present committee members for their support, and the official precinct votes from 1954 primary.

3. General, 1954-1958, is arranged alphabetically by folder title and includes incoming and outgoing correspondence, congratulatory notes, and newsclippings.

Subjects of outgoing correspondence include: soil and water conservation (1954 campaign); Okefenokee Swamp (burning of timberland and draining of the swamp); Eighth District’s Congressional Committee and Democratic Executive Committee; campaign priorities; newspaper and radio advertisements; and letters asking for constituent support. Subjects of incoming correspondence include: congratulatory notes; letters of support; requests to speak; issues of concern to constituents; and assessments regarding public opinion relating to her campaigns.


C. Media and Press, 1954-1958
1 box, 0.5 linear feet
Arranged alphabetical by folder title. Subseries consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence between Blitch and the local papers regarding articles and advertising.


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ACCESS POINTS

Blitch , Iris, 1912-1993.
United States. Congress. House.
Women legislators --United States.
Agricultural laws and legislation --United States.
Environmental policy --United States.
Congressional records.


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FOLDER LIST

Not available at this time. Please contact Russell Library for more information.


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