- Collection:
- Reflections on Georgia Politics oral history collection, 2006-2010
- Title:
- Mary Margaret Oliver [videorecording], 18 December 2009.
- Creator:
- Oliver, Mary Margaret, 1948
Short, Bob, 1932 - Contributor to Resource:
- Short, Bob, 1932-
- Date of Original:
- 2009-12-18
- Subject:
- Georgia--General Assembly--House of Representatives
Lawyers--Georgia--Interviews
Women politicians--Georgia--Interviews
Education--Georgia
Child welfare--Georgia
Child welfare
Education
Lawyers
Women politicians
Georgia - People:
- Martin, James Francis, 1945-
Oliver, Mary Margaret, 1948-
Howard, Pierre
Murphy, Thomas Bailey, 1924-2007 - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
interviews - Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- Mary Margaret Oliver recalls her life as a young female lawyer in the 1970s. She recalls working with Voting Rights Act compliance and consumer advocacy work. Oliver discusses her work in private practice with Pierre Howard and Jim Martin. Oliver discusses her first political race, which was a special election to fill a vacant state house seat. She recalls being appointed to the House Judiciary Committee by Speaker Tom Murphy. Oliver discusses her struggles with working in a highly male-controlled house and how her professional friendships helped her fight her struggle. Oliver compares her experience working in the state house and in the state senate. She also reflects on being appointed the first female Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate. Through her service as the Vice-Chair of Education and the Chairman of the Education Subcommittee for Appropriations, Oliver became knowledgeable of the status of education in Georgia. She comments on public schools, charter schools, and teacher quality. Oliver discusses her passion for improving Georgia's Child Welfare system and senior citizen issues. She recalls running for lieutenant governor in 1998 but losing in a run-off. Oliver discusses the education, transportation, and water issues Georgia faces in the future. Oliver comments on Democratic party politics in Georgia and the reason for the decline of the party. She explains the appropriations process in Georgia during the last few days of the legislative session and comments on the use of mental health money in prisons.
Finding aid available in repository.
Mary Margaret Oliver was born March 7, 1948 in Charleston, South Carolina. She earned her B.A. from Vanderbilt University in 1969 and graduated from Emory University Law School in 1973. Oliver served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1987-1992, and the Georgia Senate from 1993-1998. When Oliver was elected to the senate, she was appointed to chair the Judiciary Committee during her freshman term, and was the first woman to chair the Committee in 40 years. In 2002, Oliver ran successfully for the Georgia House, and represents District 83. Oliver has continued to practice law in Decatur and teach at Emory University.
Interviewed by Bob Short. - Metadata URL:
- http://purl.libs.uga.edu/russell/RBRL220ROGP-099/ohms
- Language:
- eng
- Additional Rights Information:
- Resources may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection, ROGP 099, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.
- Extent:
- 1 interview (49 min.) : sd., col.
- Original Collection:
- Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection
http://sclfind.libs.uga.edu/sclfind/view?docId=ead/RBRL220ROGP.xml - Holding Institution:
- Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
- Rights:
-