George and Eleanor Bridges Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS-0210

Scope and Contents

This collection consists mainly of letters written to George and Eleanor Bridges, of Homewood, Jefferson County, Alabama, and others written by George. There are several letters written in Spanish from friends in Guatemala, Cuba, and Mexico. One letter, dated April 27, 1950, is a carbon copy of a letter from Alyce Billings Walker, Director of the Women’s Department of the Birmingham News Age – Herald to Dr. John Gallalee, President of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, in which she recommends that George Bridges be considered for producing a special sculpture to go into the new Physics Building on campus. Dr. Gallalee’s reply is also included. In it, dated May 2, 1950, he indicates that he is not sure of where the project stands and that he is referring Mrs. Walker’s letter to Dr. Eric Rodgers, head of the Physics Department.

There are also eight newspaper clippings. In three of the clippings (including photographs) George Bridges is shown carving the statue of the Rev. W. D. Hargrove, founder of the Union Bethel Independent Methodist Church. The caption under one of the pictures states “The statue is believed to be the first to a Negro minister in the world.” The other clippings are articles George or Eleanor clipped and saved.

The miscellaneous items include invoices, business cards, scratch sheets of paper, and a seven page essay on the Arts in the South. The essay is not signed.

The four journals include a 1964 amateur gardening diary kept by Eleanor Bridges. There is also what appears to be a book of favorite quotations. The third journal appears to be a combination phone book and note book for Eleanor’s committee work. The fourth journal is a log book kept by Mrs. Richard Massey of Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, on a cruise from New York City, New York to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1923.

Dates

1932-1965

Creator

Bridges, George (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials are in English and Spanish.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are responsible for using the materials in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright claimants in collection materials. Copyright for official University records is held by The University of Alabama. The library claims only physical ownership of many manuscript collections. Anyone wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of literary property rights or copyrights. Please contact Special Collections (archives@ua.edu) with questions regarding specific manuscript collections. For more information about copyright policy, please visit: https://www.ua.edu/copyright/. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications, for which the University of Alabama assumes no responsibility.

Biographical / Historical

George Bridges was born in Tennessee in 1899 (possibly 31 March) and was a well-known sculptor in Alabama. He and his wife, Eleanor (born in Georgia on 16 December 1899), lived in Homewood, Jefferson County, Alabama. The bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson in the Jefferson County Courthouse in Birmingham was made by George Bridges. He died in February 1976; she died in June 1987.

Extent

0.2 Linear Feet (23 Letters, 1 Postcard, 8 newspaper clippings, 14 miscellaneous items; 4 journals/diaries)

Additional Description

Overview

Letters written to George and Eleanor Bridges, of Homewood, Jefferson County, Alabama, and others written by George. There are also newspaper clippings, miscellaneous items and four journals.