University of Georgia, Special Collections




RUSSELL FOUNDATION

Introduction

Supported Activities

- Richard B. Russell Library for
  Political Research and Studies
- Russell Chair in American History
- Russell All-State Debate Championship
- Leadership UGA Program
- Russell Teaching Awards
- UGA Debate Union
- Blue Key Scholarsip Fund

- Richard B. Russell Professorship
- Gordon College Scholarships
- Richard B. Russell Symposium

Russell Symposiums

- 1993
- 1995
- 1997
- 1999
- 2001
- 2003
- 2006

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Introduction

Colleagues, friends and admirers of Senator Russell in Georgia established the Richard B. Russell Foundation, Inc., a non profit corporation, to perpetuate the Senator's memory, preserve his records and support activities that exemplify his ideals.



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Activities Supported by the Russell Foundation

The Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies

A major activity of the Russell Foundation is its support of the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies on the campus of the University of Georgia at Athens. Established in 1974 as part of the University of Georgia Libraries, the Russell Library houses the papers of the Senator as the cornerstone collection as well as over 150 collections documenting the full spectrum of politics and policymaking centered in modern Georgia.


The Russell Chair in American History

The Russell Foundation has endowed the Richard B. Russell Chair in American History at the University of Georgia since 1976. The chair has been held by distinguished historians of national recognition, who have received widespread praise for their teaching, research, and writing. The first Russell Professor, Dr. Gilbert Fite, wrote the definitive biography on Senator Russell's life, Richard B. Russell, Jr., Senator from Georgia (University of North Carolina Press, 1991). In 1994, the Russell biography received the D.B. Hardman prize for the best book on the U.S. Congress. Other professors to hold this chair include Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Dr. William McFeely, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Dr. Edward Larson.


The Russell All-State Debate Championship

The Russell Foundation, along with University of West Georgia and the Georgia High School Association, sponsors the Richard B. Russell Georgia All-State Debate Tournament which annually recognizes the outstanding high school debate team and debaters in Georgia. The winners of the Russell tournament have received national recognition including being crowned as the National High School Debate Champions.

Leadership UGA Program

Since 1985, the Russell Foundation has helped to underwrite the Leadership UGA Program at the University of Georgia. The program annually selects approximately 25 outstanding student leaders to participate in a year long intensive leadership training program which includes seminars on a wide variety of public policy issues. The Russell Foundation Trustees participate in some of the Leadership sessions.

The Russell Teaching Awards

To encourage excellence in undergraduate instruction, the Russell Foundation, since 1992, has annually recognized three outstanding undergraduate teachers at the University of Georgia by awarding them the Richard B. Russell Teaching Award. The award carries a $4,000 cash prize as well as a plaque. The competition for the Russell Teaching Awards has become particularly intense and they are among the most prestigious teaching awards presented to the faculty at the University of Georgia.


University of Georgia Debate Union

The Georgia Debate Union, through the generous support of the Richard B. Russell Foundation, annually awards four scholarships to successful Georgia high school debaters. The Georgia Debate Union is recognized as one of the finest intercollegiate debate programs in the United States.


Blue Key Scholarship Fund

At the Blue Key Alumni Awards banquet held each fall, one Blue Key student with outstanding leadership qualities will be presented with the Richard B. Russell Student Leadership Award.


Richard B. Russell Professorship

In 1997, the University of Georgia agreed to maintain the Richard B. Russell Chair in American History into perpetuity. As part of that agreement, the Richard B. Russell Foundation funded the establishment of the Richard B. Russell Professorship. Dr. John C. Bergstrom was named the first Richard B. Russell Distinguished Professor of Public Policy.


Gordon College Scholarships

The Russell Foundation annually awards two scholarships to students of Gordon College in Barnesville, Georgia. One of the scholarships is names for Richard B. Russell and one for his brother, Judge Robert L. Russell.


The Richard B. Russell Symposium

Commencing in 1993, the Russell Foundation began sponsoring the Russell Symposium through the University of Georgia’s Center for International Trade and Security, School of Public and International Affairs. Named for the late Senator Richard B. Russell, who chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee for sixteen years, the symposiums are a discussion of public policy in which Senator Russell had particular interest. All of the Russell Symposium proceedings have been televised, published, and distributed widely in government and academic circles. Both published and filmed proceedings are available for research at the Russell Library.



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Richard B. Russell Symposiums

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Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies