Garrett Lee Withers papers
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Garrett Lee Withers papers
- Date
- 1933-1953 (inclusive)
- Bulk, 1949-1953 (bulk)
- Creator
- Withers, Garrett Lee, 1884-1953
- Extent
- 2.26 Cubic feet
- Subjects
- Awards.
- Invitation
- Judges--Correspondence.
- Legislators--Correspondence.
- Posters.
- Speeches, addresses, etc.
- Arrangement
- Arranged alphabetically by subject and thereunder chronologically
- Preferred Citation
- 77M8: [identification of item], Garrett Lee Withers papers, 1933-1953, bulk 1949-1953, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Garrett Lee Withers was born on a farm in Webster County, near Clay, Kentucky, June 21, 1884. He was educated at Providence M. and F. Academy and Southern Normal School in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Admitted to the bar in 1908, Withers practiced law in Webster County from 1911 until 1953. From 1910 to 1912 he served as clerk of Webster County Circuit Court and was master commissioner from 1913-1917. Withers was a member of the Kentucky Highway Commission from 1932 to 1936 and served as Commissioner of that agency from December 10, 1947 until January 17, 1949.
- Withers was appointed as a Democrat to the United States Senate by Governor Earle Clements to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Alben W. Barkley. He served in the Senate from January 20, 1949 until November 26, 1950, a successor having been elected. Withers was not a candidate for election to the vacancy. Withers served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1951 to 1952.
- Elected to the eighty-second Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Second District congressman John A. Whitaker; Withers was reelected to the eighty-third Congress and served from August 2, 1952 until his death in the Naval hospital at Bethesda, Maryland, April 30, 1953.
- Scope and Content
- These papers deal primarily with Withers' career in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives from 1949-1953. The papers contain correspondence, news releases, speeches made in the U.S. Senate and at miscellaneous events by Withers and A. O. Stanley, and the memorial addresses delivered in Congress upon Withers' death. Autographed photographs of his congressional colleagues from 1950 are included, as well as a Pictorial Directory of the 81st Congress (1949). Withers' campaign materials such as cards and posters are included along with various invitations and awards received from 1934-1953. Newspaper clippings, many of which are included in three scrapbooks, chronicle Withers' career in public office.
- One, lengthy, handwritten letter to his daughter affords good insight into Withers' personality and values. Two folders dated 1952 deal with the Kentucky Democratic Primary and the Kentucky House of Representatives. One folder contains correspondence during 1948 when Withers was Kentucky Highway Commissioner.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections.
Contents of the Collection
Campaign materials, undated
Congressional record, 1949-1951
Correspondence, 1948-1953
Scope and Contents note
The Correspondence series consists of Withers' general correspondence, including one, lengthy, handwritten letter to his daughter. The letter affords good insight into Withers' personality and values. Additionally, the series contains Withers' correspondence while serving as Kentucky Highway Commissioner.
, 1948
, 1949 January
, 1949 February-1949 March
, 1949 April-1949 December
, 1950 January-1950 March
, 1950 April-1950 August
, 1950 September-1950 December
, 1951-1953, undated
Invitations and awards, 1934-1953
- Box 2, Folder 14
Scope and Contents note
The series consists of invitations and awards received from 1934 to 1953.
Kentucky politics, 1952
Memorial addresses delivered in Congress upon death of Withers, 1953
- Box 2, Folder 15
Scope and Contents note
This series consists of the memorial addresses delivered in Congress upon Withers' death in 1953.
Newspaper clippings, 1933-1953
Scope and Contents note
The series contains newspaper clipping chronicling Withers' career in the public sphere.
, 1933-1939
, 1947
, 1948
, 1949
Newspaper releases and editorials, 1949-1950
, 1950
, 1953
, undated
Photographs and illustrations, 1949-1952
Scope and Contents note
The Photographs and illustrations series includes autographed photographs of congressmen from 1950, a 1949 Pictorial Directory of the 81st Congress, sketches made by John Withers, and a framed picture of the 1952 Kentucky House of Representatives.
Pictorial Directory of 81st Congress, 1949
Photographs of Senate and House colleagues, autographed, 1950
Photograph of Kentucky House of Representatives, 1952
Pencil sketches by John Withers, undated
, undated
Speeches, undated
Scope and Contents note
The Speeches series consists of Withers' campaign speeches, United States Senate speeches as well as other assorted speeches. Additionally, the series includes speeches made by A. O. Stanley.
Campaign speeches, undated
Miscellaneous speeches, undated
A.O. Stanley speeches, undated
U.S. Senate speeches, undated
U.S. Senate, undated
Scrapbooks, 1930-1953
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
- Descriptive Summary
- Collection Overview
- Preferred Citation
- Restrictions on Access and Use
- Contents of the Collection
- Campaign materials, undated
- Congressional record, 1949-1951
- Correspondence, 1948-1953
- Invitations and awards, 1934-1953
- Kentucky politics, 1952
- Memorial addresses delivered in Congress upon death of Withers, 1953
- Newspaper clippings, 1933-1953
- Photographs and illustrations, 1949-1952
- Speeches, undated
- U.S. Senate, undated
- Scrapbooks, 1930-1953
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
