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Syd Herlong Congressional Papers

 Collection
Identifier: Ms 052

Scope and Content

The collection consists of Herlong's Congressional files from the 85th Congress (1957) to the 90th Congress (1968). These files consist of legislation files (bills introduced by Herlong, important legislation he supported or opposed, etc.) and subject or correspondence files. There are no legislative files for the Congressional sessions between 1949 and 1956. However, some of the extant legislative files do contain materials dating from earlier Congresses. The collection also includes a small group of Committee Files, including speeches relating to his committee work and materials pertaining to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Democratic Committee on Committees. Additionally, there are Voting records, Campaign materials and Speech files. As with the Legislative Files, these smaller groups of files primarily date from 1957 to 1968. Also included is a broadcast from his weekly television reports.

Dates

  • Creation: 1943-1968
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1957-1968

Creator

Access

The collection is open for research. The presence of constituent mail in this collection requires mediated access. Access to constituent mail is restricted for a period of 30 years from creation. Researchers must consult with Special Collections staff before using the collection and must agree in writing to the following conditions: Congressional constituent mail is considered a type of privileged correspondence. Reproduction of constituent mail in any format is prohibited. Further, researchers using constituent mail must agree not to divulge the names or addresses of constituents or provide information that could conceivably identify constituents.

Biographical/Historical Note

Albert Sydney "Syd" Herlong, Jr. was born in Manistee, Alabama on February 14, 1909. His family moved to Marion County, Florida in 1912. Herlong graduated in 1930 with a law degree from the University of Florida. He was admitted to the Florida Bar after graduation and practiced law in Leesburg, Florida. He was elected judge for Lake County, serving from 1937 to 1949. During World War II, Herlong served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps but was discharged in 1942 due to a disability caused by asthma. He subsequently joined the Florida State Guard. Herlong served as a city attorney for Leesburg from 1946 to 1948.

In 1948, he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1949 until 1969. He served on the Post Office and Civil Service Committee and the Agriculture Committee, before being selected for the House Ways and Means Committee. He was influential in the reopening of Patrick Air Force Base and the establishment of the Guided Missile Test Center at Cape Canaveral. He was a strong advocate for improving Florida's waterways, including the Intracoastal Waterway and the harbors at St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral. He did not run for re-election in 1968, and after his retirement from Congress he practiced law in Florida. In 1969 he was appointed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and served until 1973. Herlong died on December 27, 1995.

Extent

38.5 Linear feet (29 Boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

U.S. Representative Syd Herlong's legislation and correspondence files from the 85th Congress (1957) to the 90th Congress (1968). Also include a small number of committee, voting record, campaign and speech files.

Arrangement

The majority of the collection is arranged according to the Congressional session. Within each Congressional session, the files are arranged with the alphabetical subject or correspondence files preceding the legislation files. The files for the 85th Congress do not include subject or correspondence files.

Physical Location

Please note that this collection is housed in the Auxiliary Library Facility off campus and will require advance notice for timely retrieval. Please contact the Special and Area Studies Collections department prior to your visit.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Syd Herlong.

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of selected items in the Syd Herlong Congressional Papers are available online via the University of Florida Digital Collections (UFDC). Please read the Permissions for Use statement for information on copyright, fair use, and use of UFDC digital objects.

Title
A Guide to the Syd Herlong Congressional Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid created by John R. Nemmers
Date
January 2013
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

Contact:
George A. Smathers Libraries
PO Box 117005
Gainesville Florida 32611-7005 United States of America
352-273-2755