Connor, Theophilus Eugene "Bull" (1897-1973)
Papers, 1951-1957-1963
Background:
Theophilus Eugene Connor was born in Dallas County, Alabama in 1897. Trained
as a telegraph
operator, Connor eventually settled in Birmingham where he worked
as a radio sports announcer. Capitalizing on
his popularity with radio listeners
and on his well-known nickname ("Bull"), Connor entered politics in
1934 and
was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives. Connor was elected
Public Safety Commissioner of
Birmingham in 1937, a position that gave him administrative authority over the city’s police and fire departments.
He
remained Public Safety Commissioner until 1954, and held the position again from
1958 to 1963 when he
was forced from office by a change in the form of city
government. During his long political career Connor ran
two unsuccessful
campaigns for governor of Alabama and was a leader of the 1948 Dixiecrat revolt.
From 1964
to 1972 he served as a member of the Alabama Public Service
Commission, the state body that regulates public
utilities. Connor died in
Birmingham in 1973.
"Bull" Connor is most famous for his staunch defense of racial
segregation and for ordering the use of
police dogs and fire hoses to disperse
civil rights demonstrators in Birmingham during the spring of 1963.
Sources:
Bernard, William D., Dixiecrats and Democrats: Alabama Politics, 1942-1950.
Tuscaloosa:
The University of Alabama Press, 1974.
Garrow, David J. (ed), Birmingham, Alabama, 1956-1963: The Black Struggle
for Civil Rights
Brooklyn, New York: Carlson Publishing, 1989.
Nunnelley, William A., Bull Connor. Tuscaloosa: The University of
Alabama Press, 1991.
Scope and Content:
The papers, which consist of letters, memoranda, clippings, photographs, and
reports, are the office files
kept by Connor during his last five years as
Commissioner of Public Safety. The papers from Connor’s earlier
years in
office have not been found and are assumed destroyed.
The filing system and file headings used by Connor’s
office have been
maintained. Files are grouped by
years, and then arranged alphabetically within
each grouping. In some cases material from different years was
filed together.
Files indicated as "empty" came to the archives empty.
Subject Areas:
Birmingham (Ala.) -- Officials and employees
Birmingham (Ala.) -- Police Department
Birmingham (Ala.) -- Politics and government -- 20th century
Civil rights
movements -- Alabama -- Birmingham
Connor, Theophilus Eugene, 1897-1973
Police --
Alabama -- Birmingham
Politicians
-- Alabama -- Birmingham.
Size:
14 linear feet (14 boxes)
Source:
City of Birmingham, Alabama.
Restrictions:
Standard preservation and copyright
restrictions.
Access limited to microfilm copy.
Guide
Prepared by: Jim Baggett and Steve McKerley (September 1999)
CONTENTS:
Files For 1951, 1957-1959
Files for 1960 (Includes Material Dated 1958, 1959, and 1961)
Files for 1961 (Includes Material Dated 1958)
Files for 1962
Files for 1963
| 268.1.1 |
|
Airport (H. T. Cross Manager), February 12 to December 30, 1959;
(17 items, 41 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.2 |
|
Alabama Law
Enforcement Offices, November 24, 1958 to November 1959 (6 items, 170
pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.3 |
|
Alabama State Fair
Authority, February 5 to October 10, 1959 (7 items, 176 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.4 |
|
Annexations,
1959 (35 items, 101 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.5 |
|
Appointments - Boards, January 7 to May 20 1959 (1 item, 5 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.6 |
|
Appraisals,
February 6 to February 16, 1959 (2 items, 4 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.7 |
|
Art Museum,
April 17 to May 11, 1959 (2 items, 5 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.8 |
|
Birmingham
Board of Education, March 3 to December 18, 1959 (29 items, 116
pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.1.9 |
|
Birmingham
Public School Study Committee, January 21 to June 11, 1959 (5 items, 7
pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.10 |
|
Birmingham
Transit Company, December 31, 1957 to (28 items, 144 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.11 |
|
Birmingham
Transit Study, February 7 to September 17, 1959 (14 items, 76 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.1.12 |
|
Bond Issue,
1959 to January 27, 1960 (29 items, 91 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.13 |
|
Budget, 1958
to 1959 (2 items, 32 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.14 |
|
Budget, 1959
to 1960 (7 items, 23 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.15 |
|
Budget
Requests, 1959 to 1960 (41 items, 178 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.1.16 |
|
Building
Superintendent A. B. Cole, 1959 (33 items, 34 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.17 |
|
City
Auditorium Fred McCallum Manager, 1959 (6 items, 10 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.18 |
|
City Clerk
Judson P. Hodges, 1959 (33 items, 62 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.19 |
|
City
Comptroller S. G. Fullerton, Jr., 1959 (57 items, 182 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.1.20 |
|
Civil
Service Board, 1959 (16 items, 20 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.21 |
|
Dancing
Licenses, 1959 (19 items, 59 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.1.22 |
|
Engineering
Department A. L. McWhorter, 1959 (26 items, 106 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.23 |
|
Fire
Department Expense Accounts, 1959 (7 items, 7 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.1.24 |
|
Fire
Department Fire Hydrants, 1959 (25 items, 25 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.25 |
|
Fire
Department Miscellaneous, 1959 (76 items, 105 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.26 |
|
Fire
Department Personnel Commendations, 1959 (24 items, 24 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.27 |
|
Fire
Department Personnel Employment - Resignation – Disciplinary, December
29, 1958 to 1959 (63 items, 69 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.1.28 |
|
Fire Department Property Damage, 1959 (13 items, 13 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.29 |
|
Fire
Department Underwriter’s Report, 1959 (3 items, 39 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.30 |
|
Gas Rate
Increase, 1959 (12 items, 37 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.31 |
|
Grand Jury
Reports, September 4, 1959 (1 item, 3 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.32 |
|
Housing
Authority of Birmingham District, 1959 (2 items, 18 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.33 |
|
Industrial
Health Council, 1959 (7 items, 14 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.34 |
|
Industrial
Water Board, March 10, 1959 (1 item, 2 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.1.35 |
|
Inspection
Services M. G. Sasser, December 11, 1958 to 1959 (19 items, 129
pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.36 |
|
Inventory,
August 31, 1951 to August 31, 1957 (8 items, 27 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.37 |
|
Inventory,
February 25 to August 31, 1959 (4 items, 9 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.1.38 |
|
Jail, R. K.
Austin Chief Warden, 1959 (10 items, 14 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.39 |
|
Jefferson
County Anti-Tuberculosis Association, 1959 (7 items, 20 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.40 |
|
Jefferson
County Commission, December 24, 1959 (1 item, 1 page). |
| |
|
|
| 268.1.41 |
|
Jefferson
County Committee on Indigent Care, May 11, 1959 (1 item, 21 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.2.1 |
|
Jefferson
County Department of Health, 1959 to January 25, 1960 (31 items, 173
pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.2 |
|
Jefferson
County Department of Pensions and Security, February 6, 1959 to
January 8, 1960 (12 items, 24 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.3 |
|
Legal
Department J. H. Willis, 1959 (22 items, 33 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.4 |
|
Library
Board, October 10, 1958 to 1959 (19 items, 55 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.5 |
|
Licenses and
Permits, January 20, 1959 to December 23, 1959 (25 items, 93 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.6 |
|
Licenses and
Permits, January 22, 1959 to December 15, 1959 (20 items, 67 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.7 |
|
Master Plan
Bartholomew and Associates, January 12, 1959 to October 8, 1959 (10
items, 36 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.8 |
|
Ordinances
and Resolutions, June 23, 1959 to December 10, 1959 (18 items, 46
pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.9 |
|
Park and
Recreation Board, February 9, 1959 (3 items, 79 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.10 |
|
Park and
Recreation Board, January 28, 1959 to October 22, 1959 (20 items, 57
pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.11 |
|
Parole
Board, October 6, 1959 (1 item, 1 page). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.12 |
|
Planning
Commission, March 3, 1959 to July 31, 1959 (5 items, 18 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.13 |
|
Police
Department, undated (1 item, 9 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.14 |
|
Police
Department, June 16, 1959 to July 24, 1959 (5 items, 12 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.15 |
|
Police
Department Complaints, December 13, 1958 to November 27, 1959 (63
items, 143 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.2.16 |
|
Police
Department Sgt. T. H. Cook, January 15, 1959 to November 17, 1959 (9
items, 16 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.2.17 |
|
Police
Department Capt. H. V. Early, Jr., December 2, 1958 to February 6,
1959 (1 item, 5 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.18 |
|
Police
Department Expense Accounts, February 23, 1959 to November 9, 1959 (15
items, 21 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.2.19 |
|
Police
Department Five Day Week, December 1, 1958 to January 8, 1960 (6
items, 56 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.2.20 |
|
Police
Department General and Special Orders, January 8, 1959 to December 28,
1959; 37 items, 60 leaves |
| |
|
|
|
268.2.21 |
|
Police
Department Magazine Article, Undated (28 items, 72 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.2.22 |
|
Police Department Miscellaneous, January 5, 1959 to December 22, 1959
(111 items, 142 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.2.23 |
|
Police Department Miscellaneous, January 8, 1959 to December 8, 1959
(31 items, 48 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.2.24 |
|
Police Department Personnel Commendations, January 2, 1959 to December
17, 1959 (127 items, 175 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.25 |
|
Police
Department Personnel Complaints, February 2, 1959 to December 14, 1959
(22 items, 199 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.26 |
|
Police
Department Personnel Disciplinary Action, January 7, 1959 to December
24, 1959 (24 items, 162 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.27 |
|
Police
Department Personnel Miscellaneous, January 1 1959 to January 7, 1960
(76 items, 152 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.28 |
|
Police
Department Personal Injuries, January 19, 1959 to June 10, 1959 (42
items, 110 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.2.29 |
|
Police
Department Personal Injuries, June 11, 1959 to December 31, 1959 (94
items, 191 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.3.1 |
|
Police
Department Personnel Resignations, January 26, 1959 to December 30,
1959 (30 items, 74 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.3.2 |
|
Police Department Police Dogs, August 20, 1959 to December 17, 1959
(23 items, 50 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.3 |
|
Police
Department Police Union, February 5, 1959 to September 9, 1959 (2
items, 3 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.4 |
|
Police
Department Property Damage, February 25, 1959 to January 5, 1960 (12
items, 64 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.5 |
|
Police
Department Resisting Arrests and Injuries to Prisoners, May 5, 1959 to
December 25, 1959 (63 items, 69 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.3.6 |
|
Police
Department Sickness and/or Death, January 5, 1959 to January 5, 1960
(64 items, 103 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.7 |
|
Police
Department Superior Officers Meetings, February 18, 1959 to December
14, 1959 (8 items, 9 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.8 |
|
Police
Department Training, June, 1957 to February 27, 1959 (7 items, 9
pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.9 |
|
Public
Relations, June 1, 1957 to August 27, 1959 (7 items, 37 leaves). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.10 |
|
Public
Utilities, August 20, 1959 to October 14, 1959 (7 items, 22 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.3.11 |
|
Purchasing
Department C. E. Wiberg, January 15, 1959 to December 29, 1959 (26
items, 27 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.12 |
|
Railroads
Complaints, January 6, 1959 to December 1, 1959 (43 items, 112 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.13 |
|
Recorder’s
Court, January 13, 1959 to December 31, 1959 (17 items, 52 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.14 |
|
Revocation
of Licenses, January 14, 1959 to December 21, 1959 (29 items, 44
pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.15 |
|
Schools
Washington D.C. Congressional Report, undated (1 item, 48 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.16 |
|
Solicitations, May 6, 1959 to November 17, 1959 (7 items, 27 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.17 |
|
Traffic
Code, November 5, 1959 (6 items, 111 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.3.18 |
|
Traffic
Downtown, January 8, 1959 to July, 1959 (19 items, 44 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.3.19 |
|
Traffic
Downtown Parking, December, 1958 to December, 1959 |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.20 |
|
Traffic
Engineering Department, September 25, 1958 to January 4, 1960 (94
items, 139 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.21 |
|
Traffic
Inventory, June 1, 1959 to June 24, 1959 (2 items, 24 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.22 |
|
Traffic
Problems, December 31, 1958 to December 22, 1959 (54 items, 100
pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.23 |
|
Traffic
Safety Magazine Articles, undated (32 items, 89 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.24 |
|
Traffic
Signs and Signals, January 8, 1959 to December 22, 1959 (28 items, 80
pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.25 |
|
Traffic
Violation Notices, January 2, 1959 to April 6, 1959 (46 items, 123
pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.3.26 |
|
Traffic
Violation Notices, April 7, 1959 to December 30, 1959 (98 items, 191
pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.27 |
|
Water Works
Board of the City of Birmingham, February 13, 1959 to July 30, 1959
(13 items, 101 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.3.28 |
|
Weights and
Measures, January, 1959 to December, 1959 (12 items, 12 pages). |
1960 (Includes Material Dated 1958, 1959 And 1961)
| 268.4.1 |
|
Airport, January 6,
1960 to September 29, 1960 (15 items, 86 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.4.2 |
|
Alabama Law
Enforcement Officer Magazine, December, 1959 to April, 1960 (2 items,
68 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.3 |
|
Annexations,
February 4, 1960 to September 23, 1960 (7 items, 27 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.4.4 |
|
Appraisals, undated
(1 item, 1 page). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.5 |
|
Art Museum, January
14, 1960 to July 25, 1960 (4 items, 10 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.6 |
|
Birmingham
Association of City Employees, August 9, 1960 (1 item, 2 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.7 |
|
Birmingham Board of
Education, August 31, 1959 to December 12, 1960 (23 items, 84 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.8 |
|
Birmingham Board of
Education, October 19, 1960 to November 14, 1960 (15 items, 50 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.9 |
|
Birmingham Public
School Study Committee, October 15, 1960 to November 7, 1960 (14
items, 41 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.4.10 |
|
Birmingham Transit
Company, December 31, 1959 to December 12, 1960 (18 items, 46 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.11 |
|
Bond Issue, January 26, 1960 to November 3, 1960 (55 items, 217 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.12 |
|
Budget, September
29, 1959 (1 item, 17 pages). |
| |
|
|
|
268.4.13 |
|
Budget, September 30, 1960 (2 items, 9 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.14 |
|
Budget Data, August
1, 1960 to October 17, 1960 (53 items, 277 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.15 |
|
Budget Expenditures,
October 12, 1960 to December 12, 1960 (6 items, 70 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.16 |
|
Building
Superintendent, January 12, 1960 to December 6, 1960 (42 items, 42
pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.17 |
|
City Auditorium, May
30, 1960 to June 23, 1960 (5 items, 9 leaves). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.18 |
|
City Clerk, January
6, 1960 to December 19, 1960 (33 items, 68 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.19 |
|
City Comptroller,
December 31, 1959 to November 18, 1960 (49 items, 79 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.20 |
|
Civil Defense,
January 6, 1960 to December 16, 1960 (55 items, 115 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.21 |
|
Civil Service Board,
September 1, 1957 to December 27, 1960 (11 items, 89 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.22 |
|
Contracts, May 15,
1960 to December 20, 1960 (27 items, 48 pages). |
| |
|
|
| 268.4.23 |
|
Crime Reports, May
13, 1960 to January 12, 1961 (43 items, 78 pages). |
| |
|
| | |