This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies. Dedicated in 1974 as the Richard B. Russell Memorial Library, it has since expanded into the state’s premiere archive and museum dedicated to politics, policymaking, and public life. It is now home to approximately 600 manuscript collections and almost 2,000 oral history interviews documenting Georgia history and an array of issues related to American politics. Additionally, the Russell Library is among the foremost repositories for modern congressional papers, home to the papers of sixteen U.S. senators and more than fifty U.S. representatives. The Russell Library is a proud founding member of the Association of Centers for the Study of Congress.
A unit of the University of Georgia Libraries, the Russell Library nurtures dynamic partnerships, organizes public programs and exhibitions, facilitates scholarly research and instruction, raises public awareness of the Library, its collections, and services, and provides learning opportunities to the communities it serves. In 2014, the Russell Library received a Governor's Award for the Arts and Humanities for “outstanding contributions to the civic or cultural vitality of the state.”
Please join us as we commemorate a half-century of preserving Georgia history and advancing the study of politics, policymaking, and public life, reflect on the Russell Library’s enduring commitment to civic education and scholarly achievement, and embrace a future of continued success and significance in Georgia and beyond.
