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Lester Maddox letters

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0273
Finding aid note: Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains two typed letters from Lester Maddox, then-owner of The Pickrick, to Mr. J. Miller thanking him for his support in matters not clearly stated but related to civil rights. Both letters were written in 1964.

Dates

  • 1964

Creator

Access Restrictions

This material is open for research.

Conditions Governing Access

Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from the Lester Maddox letters must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

Biographical / Historical

Lester Garfield Maddox (1915-2003) was a well-known Democratic party politician and Governor of Georgia for one term. Maddox rose to political prominence as a staunch segregationist in Atlanta. He owned a successful family restaurant called The Pickrick which was very well known. During the 1964 Civil Rights movement, a group of black activists approached the still-segregated restaurant but were run off by Maddox and his employees. Maddox filed a lawsuit, trying to keep his restaurant segregated, but lost and sold the restaurant rather than integrate it. Maddox ran several times for Mayor of Atlanta and Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, but was unsuccessful. However, Maddox did run successfully for Governor and served one term from 1967-1971. Maddox campaigned as a fierce segregationist, but governed as a Moderate. Following his one term in office, he faced extreme financial hardship. He ran unsuccessfully for Governor again in 1990 and remained a prominent figure in Cobb County. He was married to his wife, Virginia, for 61 years before his death in 2003.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet ( (1 folder))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

This collection contains two typed letters from Lester Maddox, then-owner of The Pickrick, to Mr. J. Miller thanking him for his support in matters not clearly stated but related to civil rights. Both letters were written in 1964.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was a gift donated to Fondren by Shelby Miller on January 24, 1979.

Subjects

Record Groups

Related Names

Creator

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Lester Maddox letters, 1964
Status
Completed
Date
2009
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

https://library.rice.edu/woodson
Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA

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Harmful Content Statement
© 2023 Woodson Research Center
Fondren Library, Rice University
Physical Address: 6100 Main, Houston, Texas 77005-1827
Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892