M.H. Mitchell, Inc. - Judge Charles G. Bruce, Sr. collection
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Not requestable
Scope and Contents of the M.H. Mitchell, Inc. - Judge Charles G. Bruce, Sr. Collection
The Judge Charles Bruce papers span 1916-1958 [bulk 1943-1949] and record Charles G. Bruce's career as a Fulton County lawyer. Along with periodicals highlighting current legal news and correspondence between clients, the papers include legal records documenting the various types of cases he encountered, largely from 1939 to 1949. Only a single file relates to Bruce's judicial career.
The bulk of the collection relates to attorney Bruce's cases about uncontested divorce, wills, breaches in contract, and land inspection. Other material in the collection reflects activities such as his active membership in Atlanta Lodge No. 78 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, his leadership of the State of Georgia Industrial Board, and his close ties to Governor Eugene Talmadge. Boxes 8 and 9 contain documentation of Talmadge's 1946 election campaign and the "three governors" controversy after his death, including correspondence to supporters, notes from the Fulton County Talmadge for Governor Club, reports on the expansion plan for the Statesman, and clippings about the election and its aftermath. In Boxes 13 and 14, some folders include Bruce's work to defend against coverage expansion of the Social Security Act with petitions in collaboration with the Fraternal Order of Police; correspondence to the President of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, Congressmen, and the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
Most of the files carry a three-digit number from Bruce's filing system, and the collection includes a card index.
Dates
- Creation: 1916-1949, 1956-1958
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1943-1949
Creator
Restrictions on Access
Files in the collection are open for research 75 years after their respective dates of creation. Consult Special Collections and Archives about accessing this collection.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.
Biography of Judge Charles G. Bruce, Sr.
Charles G. Bruce, Sr. was born in 1899. A South Carolina native, he attended Atlanta Law School and practiced law in Atlanta from 1921 until 1941, when Governor Eugene Talmadge named him chairman of the State of Georgia Industrial Board. He returned to his practice in 1943 after the office was abolished during Ellis Arnall's governorship. Bruce worked actively to return Talmadge to the governor's office in 1946 and was President of the Fulton County Talmadge Club. Over the opposition of leaders in the Black community, Governor Herman Talmadge named Bruce to the Fulton County Criminal Court in 1949. He was elected without opposition in 1952 and again in 1958. Judge Bruce retired from the bench in 1964 and died in 1976.
Extent
15 Linear Feet (in 14 boxes and 1 card file)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
M.H. Mitchell, Inc. - Judge Charles G. Bruce, Sr. collection, 1916-1949, 1956-1958 [bulk 1943-1949] primarily consists of case files from Bruce's practice as an attorney in Atlanta. Bruce supported and assisted Governor Eugene Talmadge, and the papers also include material relating to Talmadge's 1946 campaign and the "three governors" controversy after his death.
Arrangement Note
Original order. Folder numbers from Bruce's filing system retained.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Donated by David Y. Mitchell on behalf of M.H. Mitchell, Inc., 31 March 2023.
Processing Information
Processed by Kayla Burkett, February 2024.
Subject
- Talmadge, Eugene, 1884-1946 (Person)
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Judge Charles G. Bruce, Sr.
- Subtitle
- A Guide to M.H. Mitchell, Inc. Collection at Georgia State University Library
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Kayla Burkett
- Date
- 14 February 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)
archives@gsu.edu