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Jeanne Taylor Cahill papers

 Collection
Identifier: W003

Scope and Content of the Papers

The Cahill papers is comprised of subject files, personal papers and artifacts reflecting the political, and activist activities of Jeanne Cahill. Series I, Subject files documents Cahill's service to numerous commissions and organizations, including the Georgia Commission on the Status of Women, the Coordinating Committee for the Observance of the International Women's Year (1975), ERA Georgia, Inc., and the Democratic Party in Georgia. Series II, Personal material includes newspaper clippings about Cahill and subjects of interest to Cahill, correspondence, photographs, and biographical information. Series III, Artifacts and textiles includes buttons, jewelry, t-shirts and a towel related to the Women's Movement and efforts to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in Georgia.

Dates

  • Creation: 1953-1993
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1970 - 1993

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research use.

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 Jeanne Taylor Cahill

Norma Jeanne Taylor Cahill, civic activist and businesswoman, was born in Alma (Ware County), Georgia in 1932. She graduated from Bacon County (GA) High School (1949), attended Berry College (Rome, GA, 1949-1951), Jacksonville Junior and Massey Business Colleges in Jacksonville, Florida (graduated 1953), and studied business law and elementary psychology at the University of Georgia, Waycross Center (1957-1958). Cahill married Al (William Alpheus) Cahill in 1959, worked as Industrial News editor with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1962-1965, and worked with various family businesses before, in 1972, becoming president of Cahill Properties, Inc., a company specializing in land development and real estate. Appointed in 1972 to the Georgia Commission on the Status of Women, she became chair in 1973, and in 1974 she became the Commission's first and only paid executive director. The position was funded for one year only. She was also appointed to the White House Conference on Families in 1979, was a participant on the Georgia Coordinating Committee for the Observance of International Women's Year and involved in many civic organizations including the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs, the Cobb County (GA) Symphony, N.W. Georgia Girl Scout Council and Leadership Atlanta. Cahill was also a member of the board of directors of ERA Georgia, Inc., a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization run by volunteers and financed by member contributions.

Active in Democratic politics, Cahill supported Jimmy Carter in the gubernatorial and presidential races and served as a delegate to the 1974 and 1978 Democratic National Conventions. In 1975-1976, she campaigned for a seat in the state House of Representatives, but was unsuccessful in her bid against incumbent Ken Nix. Founder and CEO of Advanced Fitness Systems, 1981-1994, Cahill was also president of the Buckhead Business Association, 1994, vice president of the Epilepsy Foundation of America, 1982-1994, and in 1995 was vice president of the Georgia Student Finance Commission.

Extent

5 Linear Feet (in 8 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract:

Jeanne Taylor Cahill, civic activist and businesswoman, was born in Alma (Ware County), Georgia in 1932. The Cahill papers are comprised of subject files, personal papers and artifacts reflecting the political, and activist activities of Jeanne Cahill.

Arrangement

Organized into 3 series:

  1. Series I. Subject files
  2. Series II. Personal files
  3. Series III. Aritifacts and textiles

Files are arranged under broad subject categories in alphabetical order, including names of organizations and issues. Some printed materials have been removed from the collection: a list can be found at the end of the finding aid.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Jeanne T. Cahill, May, July 1995; February, July 1996; May 2005.

Online Availability:

Several items have been digitized and are available online Georgia State University Library Digital Collections.

Related Archival Materials

Related Materials in This Repository

  1. Jeffrey Gordon Jones papers, 1993-1995 (W009)
  2. Jeanne Taylor Cahill oral history interview, December 1, 1995. Georgia Women's Movement Oral History Project (W008)

Separated Materials

Separated to Women's Printed Collection: Spec Books, see online catalog for access

  1. Atlanta Professional Women's Directory. (Atlanta, GA: Atlanta Professional Women's Directory, Inc.) 1981

Separated to Women's Printed Materials: Periodicals (W-Periodicals) see finding aid or online catalog for access

  1. Created Equal (Southeastern Public Education Program), May 1978, September 1979, December 1979, December 1980, April 1981
  2. The Federal Education Project (Lawyers' Committe for Civil Rights Under Law), October-December 1976, January-December 1977, January-October 1978, January-December 1979, January-December 1980, January/February and April 1981
  3. The New York Times Magazine, June 24, 1973

Processing Information

Processed by E. Lee Elzroth at the file level, August 1995; February, August 1996; Morna Gerrard, May 2005. Files are arranged under broad subject categories in alphabetical order, including names of organizations and issues. Some printed materials have been removed from the collection: a list can be found at the end of the finding aid.

Title
Jeanne Taylor Cahill:
Subtitle
A Guide to Her Papers at Georgia State University Library
Status
Completed
Author
Georgia State University Library
Date
1995-2005
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)