Pepper-Smathers Campaign Collection
Scope and Content
The collection includes campaign material from both candidates consisting of correspondence, flyers, statements, and other miscellaneous items. Statements and speeches by both Pepper and Smathers are included in the collection. There is also an original information file complied by the Claude Pepper campaign about Pepper. There are two copies of the booklet, "The Red Record of Claude Pepper," which attempted to tie Claude Pepper to communism. Two oversize folders contain newspapers and clippings as well as political advertisements and posters relating to the campaign.
Dates
- Creation: 1948-1950
Access
The collection is open for research.
Biographical/Historical Note
U.S. Senator Claude Pepper and U.S. Congressman George Smathers battled each other in 1950 for one of Florida's seats in the U.S. Senate. The campaign was a tough and dirty fight. Supporters of the Smathers campaign tried to discredit Pepper with the conservative Southern whites by labeling him as a pro-labor activist, a communist, and a promoter of African-American civil rights. Smathers won the election in a landslide and replaced his one-time mentor in the Senate.
Extent
0.2 Linear feet (1 box and 2 oversize folders)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
A small collection of campaign materials relating to the 1950 Democratic primary election in Florida for the U.S. Senate between Claude Pepper and George A. Smathers.
Physical Location
University of Florida Smathers Library Building
Acquisition Information
Some of the materials were acquired from John H. Ward, chairman of the Re-Elect Claude Pepper Club of Alachua County in 1950. Other materials were solicited from the George Smathers campaign office in 1950 by Prof. James G. Richardson on behalf of the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History.
Subject
- Pepper, Claude, 1900-1989. (Person)
- Smathers, George A. (George Armistead), 1913-2007. (Person)
Topical
- Title
- A Guide to the Pepper-Smathers Campaign Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Richard Slaughter Jr.
- Date
- December 2008
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared Using Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida Repository
George A. Smathers Libraries
PO Box 117005
Gainesville Florida 32611-7005 United States of America
352-273-2755
special@uflib.ufl.edu