Rodney Mims Cook Papers, 1951-1978
29 boxes, 15.5 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

Series Descriptions


Access Points

Folder List
Rodney Mims Cook


ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Access Restrictions: None.

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

Processing Notes: The papers, upon receipt, contained several water-damaged boxes which may cause difficulty in reading some of the documents. Photographs, editorial cartoons, and artifacts were separated for preservation. Photographic prints and negatives were made of the editorial cartoons, and the originals were returned to the donor. (The cartoons were loaned subsequent to the original gift.) Editorial cartoons are housed with the photographs.

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: Rodney Mims Cook Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia.


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BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL NOTE:

Rodney Mims Cook was born March 23, 1924 in Atlanta, Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Washington and Lee University in 1947. He served in World War II as a lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve. After leaving the military, Cook returned to Atlanta and worked in the insurance industry. Cook began his political career by serving as a member of the Atlanta Board of Alderman from 1962 until 1970. As an alderman, Cook chaired the Planning Development Committee and was a member of the Parks and Zoning Committee. From 1966 to 1972, Cook served in the Georgia House of Representatives as a Republican representing Fulton County. While a representative, Cook served as chairman of the Joint Senate-House Committee on Computerized Criminal Records Study. In addition, he was a member of Appropriations, Ways and Means, and Industry Committees.

Cook was heavily involved in legislation pertaining to civil rights, urban renewal, and zoning. He was one of five white representatives out of 205 voting to seat African American candidate Julian Bond in the Georgia Legislature. Cook also introduced a resolution in 1962 to take down "Peyton Wall," a roadblock that divided black and white sections of Atlanta. Cook was involved in developing the city of Atlanta by opposing business interests that might displace residents. He encouraged Atlanta citizens to participate in urban renewal and contested systems that discriminated against minorities, particularly in regard to housing rules.

In 1969, Cook ran for mayor of Atlanta but was defeated by Sam Massell. Cook ran for governor of Georgia in 1978 but was defeated by George Busbee.

Rodney Mims Cook currently resides in Highlands, North Carolina.



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SCOPE AND CONTENT:


The collection consists of the papers of Rodney M. Cook from 1951-1978. The Political series (1951-1978) contains papers relating to Cook's campaigns for public office including the Atlanta Board of Aldermen (1961, 1965), Atlanta Mayor (1969), Georgia Legislature (1965-1970), Congress (1972), and Georgia Governor (1978). The series also contains records relating to Cook's involvement with Republican Party activities at the local, state, and national level. The Alderman series (1951-1972) documents Cook's service on the Atlanta Board of Aldermen. Records include subject files and committee files relating to such subjects as civil rights, Atlanta government, urban renewal, and zoning. The Legislative series relates to his tenure as a representative-at-large for Fulton County in the Georgia Legislature (1952-1972) and include such topics as Cook's support of the seating of Julian Bond, the 1971 special session for redistricting, his service as chairman of the Joint Senate-House Committee on Computerized Criminal Records Study, and his involvement with the development of Atlanta. In addition to these manuscripts, the collection includes photogrpahs, editorial cartoons, and artifacts.

 


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ORGANIZATION AND ARRANGEMENT

The Rodney Mims Cook Papers are divided into six series: I. Political, II. Alderman, III. Legislative, IV. Photographs, V. Editorial Cartoons, and VI. Artifacts. I. Political is arranged into two subseries: A. Campaigns and B. Republican Party Activities. II. Alderman is arranged into two subseries: A. Subject File and B. Committee File. Both subject file subseries are arranged alphabetically by subject. All other series and subseries are arranged chronologically.



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RELATED COLLECTIONS IN THIS REPOSITORY:

Clifford H. "Baldy" Baldowski Editorial Cartoons
George Busbee Papers
Howard H. "Bo" Callaway Papers
Georgia Republican Party Central Committee Campaign Files, 1956-1964
Georgia Republican Party Records
Sidney J. Marcus Papers, 1968-1983

Mack Mattingly Collection, 1964-1998

Richard B. Russell, Jr. Collection, 1840-1978
Carl E. Sanders Papers

William Armstrong Smith Papers, 1966-1978
Michael L. Thurmond Papers, 1972-1999
Kilaen V.R. Townsend Papers

 

 

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RELATED COLLECTIONS IN OTHER REPOSITORIES:

Rodney M. Cook Commercials, 1972, Political Commercial Archive, Dept. of Communication, University of Oklahoma
Georgia Government Documentation Project, Special Collections Department , Georgia State University

Julian Bond Papers, 1969-1996, Archives Division, Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System

Sam Massell, Jr. Papers, Atlanta History Center
Ivan Allen Papers, Atlanta History Center

 


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SERIES DESCRIPTIONS:

I. Political, 1951-1978
14 boxes, 6.25 linear feet

The Political series is arranged into two subseries: A. Campaigns and B. Republican Party Activities. Subseries A contains information about the elections in which Rodney Cook participated as a candidate. In addition to his political activities, these papers also provide information of Cook's work as alderman and state representative. A general section includes a folder with a variety of materials relating to several campaigns between 1961 and 1972. Noted items are a file about Lester Maddox, a copy of a letter from President Richard M. Nixon to Cook about the 1972 Georgia Congressional campaign, and two magazine articles about changes in southern politics during the twentieth century. Papers relating to the 1969 mayoral campaign comprise the largest section of this subseries. These include materials describing the Atlanta city government, Rodney Cook correspondence with supporters, campaign tactics, news clippings, staff organization, opponents, and political literature. Two files cover the 1961 and 1965 races for alderman. Additional items of interest are the Issue Book and the 1970 Henry H. Perritt Jr. thesis about this election. Other files cover Rodney Cook's political campaigns for the Georgia legislature, 1965-1970, the 1972 Congressional election, and the 1978 Governor's race.

 

Subseries B contains material covering Cook's involvement with Republican Party activities of local, state, and national concern. Files include papers relating to a movie about the Republicans made in Houston, Texas and work of the Fulton County Republican Planning Committee as well as the Republican Roundtable, both on which Cook served as chairman.

 

II. Alderman, 1951-1972
11 boxes, 5.5 linear feet

The Alderman series is arranged into two subseries: A. Subject File and B. Committee File. Subseries A covers issues of civil rights, Atlanta government from 1964 to 1966, liquor licenses, pornography, guns, and flood control. A miscellaneous file contains a 1961 note from Vice-President Richard M. Nixon to Cook as the Nixons left Washington, D.C. It also includes an August 23, 1965 letter from Senator Richard B. Russell to Cook, concerning Russell's health and decision to run for re-election. Several folders also pertain to traffic and road construction in Atlanta and Georgia.

 

Subseries B contains materials relating to committees on which Rodney Cook served or had contact with while alderman. The largest number of papers covers his work as chairman of the Urban Renewal, Planning and Development, and the Urban Renewal Policy Committees as well as membership on the Zoning and other committees connected with those projects. These papers center on the improvement and development of Atlanta into a modern city of the South, and they focus on the years 1960 through the early 1970s. Many files contain ordinances proposed by Cook and letters from private and business sectors favoring or protesting changes. Maps and sketches of suggested development are also included. Another topic covered is the construction of the Atlanta stadium. The remainder of this subseries consists of single folders of other committees on which Cook served: Prisons, Purchasing, Traffic, and Water Quality.

 

III. Legislative, 1952-1972
3 boxes, 1.5 linear feet

This series consists of papers relating to Rodney Cook's service in the Georgia General Assembly. He considered candidacy in 1964 and was elected as a representative-at-large from Fulton County in 1965, re-elected in 1966, 1968, and 1970. Cook's work in the Assembly often overlapped with his duties as alderman, and an investigation of the Alderman series is recommended. The files are arranged alphabetically by subject and include Cook's support of the seating of Julian Bond, the 1971 special session for redistricting, transportation, sales taxes, water quality control, and Rodney Rhino. Other topics involve his service as chairman of the Joint Senate-House Committee on Computerized Criminal Records Study, and his involvement with the development of Atlanta.

IV. Photographs, 1962-1972, 1978
225 photographs

The photograph series spans the course of Rodney Mims Cook's political career. Images range from functions within the Atlanta City Council, such as committee meetings and various city projects to pictures of campaigning, social functions, building designs and Cook with various political figures.

V. Editorial Cartoons
10 photographic prints and negatives
This series consists of photographic prints made of ten editorial cartoons drawn by Clifford H. "Baldy" Baldowski. The cartoons reference Rodney Mims Cook and his politicial career.

VI. Artifacts
1 box, .25 linear foot (8 items)
This series consists of campaign memorabilia, largely buttons promoting Cook's campaign for mayor of Atlanta in 1969.

 

 

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ACCESS POINTS

Republican Party (Ga.)

Atlanta Board of Aldermen.

Georgia. General Assembly. House of Representatives.

African Americans --Georgia --Atlanta.

Urban renewal --Georgia --Atlanta.

Legislators --Georgia.

Governors --Georgia --Election.

Civil rights --Georgia.

Zoning --Georgia.

Apportionment (Election laws) --Georgia.

Municipal officials and employees --Georgia --Atlanta.

Mayors --Georgia --Atlanta --Election.

Georgia --Politics and government --1951-

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.

Bond, Julian, 1940-

Fulton County (Ga.)
Baldowski, Clifford H., 1917-1999.
Massell, Sam Jr.
Busbee, George, 1927-2004.

 


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FOLDER LIST

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



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