Orrock, Nancy Grogan, 1943-

Abstract:

Nan Orrock has served as a senator and as a representative in Georgia's State Legislature since 1987, and as president of the Women Legislators' Lobby. She has worked to balance budgets; to increase spending on assisting families, education health and child care; and to reduce excessive and wasteful military spending. Her papers include correspondence, printed material, and financial records, that document legislation, political campaigns, and issues, 1969-2010 (bulk 1990-2006).

Scope and Contents Interviewed by Janet Paulk. Nan Orrock begins by talking about her early life in Abingdon, Virginia, and about the early lives of her parents in the rural south. She discusses how an aunt, who worked on Capitol Hill, was an early influence on her life. She graduated from Mary Washington College, where she had become active for racial justice. Orrock states that attending the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a watershed moment in her life, as it led her to work for the...

Scope and Contents Interviewed by Janet Paulk. Orrock’s second interview begins with her work in Nashville with the Southern Student Organizing Company (SSOC). She discussed her four year marriage with Gene Guerrero including their relationship dynamics and divorce. She worked for the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) for 17 years. While there, she was integral in race relations and unionization at the company. She describes some of the work she did there and the overall working conditions and struggles she...

Scope and Contents Interviewed by Janet Paulk. In this interview, Orrock discusses her own gravitation toward activism with organized labor and her eventual career at the Nabisco plant in Atlanta. She developed a close friendship with the labor activist Nanny Lee Washburn, who had an impact on Orrock’s life. She talks about raising her two sons with her second husband Charlie Orrock who was also active in the labor movement. Orrock had a period during the late 1970s where she concentrated more on her family...

Scope and Contents Interviewed by Janet Paulk. In this interview, Orrock recounts the origins of her campaign for the Georgia House of Representatives, and how people such as John Sweet and Debi Sternes were instrumental in her success. There is some discussion about why so few women run for office and the structure of campaigning in Georgia. Once in office, Orrock helped found a bipartisan Women's Caucus which remains active today. She discusses other women in the Legislature such as Mary Margaret Oliver. She...

Scope and Contents Interviewed by Cliff Kuhn and Gretchen Maclachlan. Among topics discussed: Orrock's entry into politics; diversity within her district; legislature's attitudes towards women legislators; percentage of women in legislature; political culture of legislature; impact of Clarence Thomas hearings on sexism in legislature; women's caucus; Georgia Child Care Council; legislature pushed by women's caucus; WILL; "deadbeat dads;" anti‑stalking; QBE; relations between women's caucus and black caucus;...

Scope and Contents

Interviewed by Andrew Reisinger. In this interview, Nan Orrock talks about where she was born and raised and describes what it was like growing up with her family. She also talks about some interests and aspirations she had in her youth. Later in the interview, Orrock discusses politics and shares her family's political views as well as her own. She also reveals how the civil rights movement shaped her worldview.

Scope and Contents Interviewed by Andrew Reisinger. In this interview, Nan Orrock talks about the books, music, and people that have influenced her. She also talks about her experience moving to Atlanta in 1964 and 1967 and describes the various jobs she held and activist organizations she participated in, including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Venceremos Brigade. Later, Orrock discusses how she got involved with The Bird and describes what she did...

Scope and Contents Interviewed by Andrew Reisinger. In this interview, Nan Orrock talks about what it was like working at The Great Speckled Bird, particularly what it was like to be part of the Bird's staff as a woman and the various roles held by women. She also talks about the different movements the Bird women participated in and discusses some conflicts at the Bird. Later, Orrock talks about voting rights...