Series 1 - Correspondence: The largest series of the Ned
Ray McWherter Speaker of the House papers are the correspondence files. This series contains
correspondence produced and received by Speaker McWherter through out his tenure in the
House of Representatives and part of his governorship. In the files are letters from constituents
concerning various local matters from education to road construction. Included are forms, letters,
and memorandums from former governors, United States congressional members and other
government dignitaries. |
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Sub-series 1 - Subject Files:
Sub-series 1.1 consists of documents emanating from and addressed to the
Office of the Speaker. The sub-series contains correspondence with elected
state officials including Governors Ray Blanton and Lamar
Alexander from the middle 1970's to the early 1980's. Missives concerning prisons, parole
boards, prison overcrowding, and penitentiaries for women are also present in the sub-series.
The sub-series is arranged by pre-assigned subject titles then chronologically by individual file.
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Sub-series 2 - Alphabetical Files:
Sub-Series 1.2 contains miscellaneous letters and information from both
constituents and regional politicians. The files are arranged alphabetically
(by surname) in chronological order. |
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Sub-series 3 - 1986 Chronological Files:
Sub-series 1.3 contains correspondence including gubernatorial candidate
Winfield Dunn and State Representative Lois DeBerry of Memphis. The
sub-series is arranged in chronological order most dated in 1986. |
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Sub-series 4 - Miscellaneous Files:
Sub-series 1.4 contains campaign disclosures from 1978 to 1979 and 1981. The
files contain expense reports and a list of structurally deficient bridges.
This sub-series consists of forms and pamphlets concerning the Twenty-First
Century Schools program and various ceremonies Speaker McWherter presided
over. |
Series 2 - Legislative Records: Series 2 focuses on state
education at all levels. Correspondence expressing concerns on the loss of
state funding for public education constitute the majority of the letters
found in the series. The files contain correspondence sent and received by
Speaker McWherter many of which are from his constituents in West Tennessee.
Included are House Resolutions from 1987 and Senate Bills from 1990. |
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Sub-series 1 - Legislation:
Sub-series 2.1 contains correspondence related to various bills introduced
before the legislative branch. Included in this section are files concerning
local government ownership of asphalt plants, shortages of chaplains at state
funded locations, and correspondence concerning the demise of the Commission
on the Status of Women. Files pertaining to state education such as school
budgets, faculty salaries, and better school environments are represented
extensively. Correspondence relating to budget cuts for programs involving
gifted and handicapped children as well as vocational education resources
constitute a bulk of the information in the sub-series. Included are
correspondence relating to the Better Schools and Master Teacher Program
along with state employee fund raising. |
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Sub-series 2 - Resolution Committees:
Sub-series 2.2 consists of the decisions from State Resolution Committees
from 1981 to 1985. |
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Sub-series 3 - House and Senate Bills and
Resolutions: Sub-series 2.3 contains House Resolutions from
1990 and Senate Bills from 1987. |
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Sub-series 4 - Better School Correction
Plan: Sub-series 2.4 offers an overview on the role of State
government in public education. The sub-series contains plans on how to
implement the Better Schools program of 1984. Letters from constituent's
make up the bulk of this sub-series of which many demonstrate concern over
higher education and the State budget. |
Series 3 - Representatives, Boards and Commissions files:
Series 3 contains press releases concerning state representatives and
government administrators. Many relate to decisions made by representatives
either supporting or opposing an article of legislation. Completing the
series are legal decisions made by the Supreme Court of Tennessee on
politically significant issues. |
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Sub-series 1 - Representatives:
Sub-series 3.1 contains press releases and memorandums concerning Tennessee
representatives. The files are arranged in alphabetical order according to
the representatives surname. They are then arranged in chronological
order. |
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Sub-series 2 - Boards and Commissions:
Sub-series 3.2 consists of news releases, memorandums, and information relating
to State appointed boards and commissions such as the Commission of the Status
of Women and the Board of Regents of higher educational institutions. Files
on health facilities, inter-governmental standing committees and building
commissions are featured in the sub-series. Included are letters from
Governor Lamar Alexander's office. The files are arranged first in
alphabetical and then chronologically from 1978 to 1986. |
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Sub-series 3 - Constitutional Officers:
Sub-series 3.3 concerns decisions made by the judicial branch of the state
government. The files contain a small amount of correspondence to Speaker
McWherter concerning opinions and judgments. The files are arranged in
chronological order from 1981 to 1986. |
Series 5 - Expenses and Budgets: Series 5 contains expense
and budget reports for the years 1981 to 1985. |
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Sub-series 1 - Expenses:
Sub-series 5.1 contains the expenses accrued by state representatives and
senators from January of 1981 to December of 1985. The files consist of
receipts, billings, etc. from business trips and excursions that were
reimbursed by the state. |
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Sub-series 2 - Budget
expenses: Sub-series 5.2 contains state employee expense
reports and the annual state budget for 1982-1983. |
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Sub-series 3 - Audit
Reports: Sub-series 5.3 consists of audit reports form state
agencies including state supported colleges, utility companies, public
school systems, and Tennessee Student Assistant Cooperation. |
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Sub-series 4 - Annual
Reports: Sub-series 5.4 consists of the annual reports from
state agencies such as the Alcohol Beverage Commission, State Tech, and
the Job Training and Placement Association from 1987. |
Series 6 - Personnel Records: Series 6 contains personnel and
internal governmental records on state employees. Documents relating from applications to
retirement notices are located in this file. Included in the files are letters requesting appointments
to legislative committees in conjunction with the resolutions brought before the House.
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Sub-series 1 - Recommendations:
Sub-series 6.1 contains letters of recommendation sent from constituents
supporting people applying for government positions from the years 1979 to
1986. |
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Sub-series 2 - Resignation
letters: Sub-series 6.2 contains resignation letters from
the employees of state government agencies. The files are arranged in
chronological order. |
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Sub-series 3 - Employment
Applications: Sub-series 6.3 consists of employment
applications from 1979 to 1983. The files are arranged in chronological
order. |
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Sub-series 4 - Requests for
Leave: Sub-series 6.4 contain leave requests from
legislative staff members between 1980 to 1984. |
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Sub-series 5 - Appointments:
Sub-series 6.5 contains resolutions ratified by the state legislature and
correspondence from representatives and senators requesting to serve on
select committees. The files are arranged in chronological order from 1979
to 1980. |