Theophilus Eugene ‘Bull’ Connor papers, 1959-1963
The papers, which consist of letters, memoranda, clippings, photographs and reports, are the office files kept by Theophilius Eugene "Bull" Connor during his last five years as Commissioner of Public Safety.
More About This Collection
Creator
Connor, Eugene, 1897-1973
Publisher
Birmingham, Ala. : Birmingham Public Library
Date of Original
1951/1963
Subject
Birmingham (Ala.)--Officials and employees--Biography
Birmingham (Ala.)--Politics and government--20th century
Civil rights movements--Alabama--Birmingham
Politicians--Alabama--Birmingham
Police--Alabama--Birmingham
Birmingham (Ala.). Police Department
Police administration
Birmingham (Ala.). Fire Department
Licenses--Alabama--Birmingham
Traffic engineering--Alabama--Birmingham
Budget--Alabama--Birmingham
Birmingham (Ala.). Traffic Engineering Department
Education--Alabama--Birmingham
Prisoners--Alabama--Birmingham
School boards--Alabama--Birmingham
Birmingham Park and Recreation Board
Parks--Alabama--Birmingham
Transportation--Alabama--Birmingham
People
Connor, Eugene, 1897-1973
Shuttlesworth, Fred L., 1922-2011
Austin, R. K.
Early, H. V.
Fullerton, S. G.
Hodges, Judson P.
Sasser, M. G.
Willis, J. H.
Location
United States, Alabama, Jefferson County, Birmingham, 33.52066, -86.80249
Medium
documents (object genre)
Type
Text
Description
The papers, which consist of letters, memoranda, clippings, photographs and reports, are the office files kept by Theophilius Eugene "Bull" Connor during his last five years as Commissioner of Public Safety.
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-know 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 1973 he served as President of the Alabama Public Service Commission, the state agency 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.
Language
eng
Contributing Institution
Birmingham Public Library (Ala.)
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