Guide to the Lambert C. Mims Papers - University of South Alabama

113 Pages·2013·0.51 MB·English

Guide to the Lambert C. Mims Papers

Descriptive Summary:
Creator: Lambert C. Mims, 1930-2008
Title: Lambert C. Mims Papers
Dates: 1820-2003 (bulk 1965-1989)
Quantity: 160.5 linear feet
Abstract: Papers agendas, audio tapes, books, campaign material, correspondence, flyers,
legal material, magazines, maps, negatives, news clippings, notes, pamphlets, photographs,
plaques, reports, slides, speeches, and video tapes. Covers a multitude of local subjects
typically found within such political collections.
Accession: 06-09-459 ; 459-2006

Biographical Note:
Lambert C. Mims was born in 1930 in Uriah, Alabama. He moved to Mobile, Alabama, in
1949 and worked as a salesman before co-founding, a year later, a feed company, and, in
1965, branching out on his own. Lambert Mims was public works commissioner and rotating
mayor of Mobile from 1965 to 1985. During Mims' time as mayor/commissioner, the city of
Mobile experienced the latter part of the modern civil rights movement, completed the
Bayway, and unveiled the George C. Wallace Tunnel. It opened Mobile Greyhound Park and
saw the Southern Market/City Hall designated a national historic landmark. It reconstructed
and opened Fort Condé and celebrated the nation's bicentennial. It witnessed the
devastating destruction of hurricanes Camille and Frederic and saw the first oil well drilled in
the bay. It witnessed the completion of the I-65 link across the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and
celebrated the opening of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. When first elected, Mims
was the youngest city commissioner in Mobile's history. Upon leaving office, Governor
George Wallace appointed Mims as his ambassador to the Alabama Waterways Development
Agency, a position he held from 1985 until March 1987, and one in which he promoted the
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. In 1990, a federal jury convicted Mims on two counts of
extortion in connection with racketeering under the Hobbs Act. He served several years in
federal prison before being released. Prior to his conviction, Lambert Mims was president of
the American Public Works Association (1979-1980). He is also the former director of the
Men's Ministry for the Mobile Baptist Association, and the former president of both the
Alabama Baptist Brotherhood and the Alabama Baptist State Convention. He has served as
president of the advisory board for the Waterfront Rescue Mission and of the Masonic
Breakfast Club. In addition, he has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of West Mobile and a
deacon at Riverside Baptist Church. Mims has been featured in Baptist Men's Journal,
Contact, Moody Monthly, The Deacon, Grit, APWA Reporter, Solid Waste Management, and
Vital Speeches. Lambert Mims died in 2008.

Scope and Contents:
Contains agendas, audio tapes, books, campaign material, correspondence, flyers, legal
material, magazines, maps, negatives, newsclippings, notes, pamphlets, photographs,
plaques, reports, slides, speeches, and video tapes. Includes material on Mims’ unsuccessful
run for the United States Senate in 1972. Covers a multitude of local subjects typically
found within such political collections, including information on the area airports, on
housing, on the city’s 275th anniversary celebration, and on the aftermath of Hurricane
Frederic. Of particular interest within the collection are the files related to the devastating
flooding that hit Mobile in 1981 and to local events during America’s bicentennial celebration
of 1976. Other material worthy of note are documents related to Dads Against Dirt, a state-
wide anti-pornography group headed at one time by Mims. Other interesting files relate to
civil rights, including a 1981 report discussing race relations in Mobile written by Mims;
information on Wiley Bolden v. City of Mobile, which changed the city’s form of government;
the Glenn Diamond mock-lynching-police-brutality case; the Neighborhood Organized
Workers; the Mobile Area Committee for Training and Development; job discrimination;
police profiling; and free speech. In addition, includes material on Mims’ attempt to
establish a resort in the delta region of Mobile Bay, on the 2002 United States senatorial
campaign of Julian L. McPhillips Jr., on urban renewal, and on flood control. Also consists of
files regarding Mims’ 1990 indictment and conviction for violating the Hobbs Act in regard to
a proposed garbage-to-steam energy plant to be built in the city of Mobile. Dads Against
Dirt was a state-wide organization formed in 1970 by various church laymen. Its goals were
to fight the spread of pornographic material and to strengthen laws against pornographic
distribution. The last correspondence from the group is dated 1973. (See also Photograph
Collections under ALCOA, Gary Gaston, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and University
Collections under Larry Holmes, Melton McLaurin, and Rearguard.)

Arrangement:

Arranged into 14 series:

1. Mayor/Commissioner, 1965-1985 (28 cubic feet), arranged alphabetically by subject,
with four sub-series: A. Newspaper scrapbooks, 1965-1981 (14 cubic feet), arranged
chronologically; B. Speeches, 1968-1998 (2 cubic feet), arranged alphabetically; C. Civil
rights, 1967-1972, 1977, 1979, 1981 (1 cubic foot), arranged alphabetically by subject; D.
Mobile history, 1824-1965 (bulk 1824-1924) (1 cubic foot), arranged chronologically by
subject; D. City property survey, 1820-1967 (0.25 cubic feet);

2. Campaign material, 1969-2002 (bulk 1969-1989) (2 cubic feet), arranged chronologically
by campaign and alphabetically by topic;

3. Post-Mayoral, 1983-2001 (bulk 1984-1989) (8.25 cubic feet), arranged alphabetically by
topic;

4. Personal, ca. 1960-2003 (8 cubic feet), arranged alphabetically by subject, with two sub-
series; A. Speaking engagements, 1969-1989 (2 cubic feet), arranged chronologically, when
known; B. Directories (.5 cubic feet), arranged alphabetically by organization;

5. American Public Works Association, 1965-2001 (12 cubic feet), arranged alphabetically
by subject;

6. Legal, 1974-ca. 1989 (6.25 cubic feet), trial transcripts arranged chronologically, the
remainder arranged alphabetically;

7. Reading education (2.25 cubic feet), arranged alphabetically by topic;
8. Books and magazines (11.25 cubic feet), books arranged alphabetically by last name of
author, magazines arranged alphabetically by title;

9. Memorabilia (.75 cubic feet);
10. Plaques, 1971-1984 (1.5 cubic feet);
11. Miscellaneous (3 cubic feet), arranged alphabetically;
12. Oversized (12 cubic feet);
13. Maps (12 cubic feet);
14. Audio/Visual, 1970-1989 (bulk 1976-1986) (currently 8 cubic feet), slides arranged
alphabetically, cassettes arranged chronologically, when known.

Access Restrictions:
This material is open to research.

Preferred Citation:
Lambert C. Mims Papers, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library,
University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL.

Series Description:

Series 1. Mayor/Commissioner, 1965-1985. 28 cubic feet.
Arranged alphabetically by subject and covers virtually everything directly related to Mims’
work as mayor and/or public works commissioner. Contains official and citizen
correspondence, his accomplishments and goals, an office calendar, and agendas. Also
included is material related to Dads Against Dirt. There is also information on the project I-
210 connector, on the Mobile Housing Board, on the Naval Surface Action Group, on Keep
America Beautiful, on the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, on the American
bicentennial of 1976, on the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, on the bicentennial of Fort
Condé, on Brookley Field, on the dedication of the George Wallace Tunnel, on the Mobile
airport, on the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, on urban development and urban renewal, on
the Mobile Youth Council, on the Junior Miss pageant, and on Hurricane Frederic. Other
material of interest includes various projects and ideas Mims had to improve public services
and increase tourism, including a plan to make Fort Condé into a block-long tourist
attraction, an attempt to sell trash to increase city revenue, and a plan to create a fun time
park. Privacy issues may apply to the material related to Dads Against Dirt and to the
Mobile Housing Board.

Series 1. Sub-series A. Newspaper Scrapbooks, 1965-1981. 14 cubic feet.
28 scrapbooks arranged chronologically and containing newspaper clippings covering the
years in which Mims was in office. The clippings cover a wide array of city-related topics.

Series 1. Sub-series B. Speeches, 1968-1998. 2 cubic feet.
This sub-series is arranged alphabetically. As far as was possible, it was kept in its original
order. However, whenever a speech given during Mims’ terms in office was found within
other parts of the collection, it was removed and placed here. This sub-series contains not
only Mims’ official speeches as mayor/commissioner but also those related to his personal
religious beliefs, to his campaign against obscenity, and to the American Public Works
Association. Mims often reused a speech for particular engagements (such as delivering
remarks at a church). Researchers should also look in the Speaking Engagements sub-series
of the Personal series for material related to speeches (for example, an invitation to speak
at such and such church).

Series 1. Sub-series C. Civil Rights, 1967-1972, 1977, 1979, 1981. 1 cubic foot.
This is an artificial series containing a compilation of various civil rights-related material
found scattered throughout the collection. It is arranged alphabetically by subject and
consists of newspapers and news clippings, flyers, and other documents that cover a range
of civil rights issues including job discrimination, police profiling, marches, and free speech.
Of particular interest is information about the Glenn Diamond mock-lynching-police-brutality
case, the Neighborhood Organized Workers, the United Student Action Movement, and the
Mobile Area Committee for Training and Development, along with a 1968 report written by
Mims discussing race relations in Mobile.

Series 1. Sub-series D. Mobile History, 1824-1965 [Bulk 1824-1944]. 1 cubic foot.
Arranged chronologically by subject. Consists of photocopied excerpts of old Mobile history
textbooks and of various city code books that Mims appears to have used during the course
of his everyday duties as a city official.

Series 1. Sub-series E. City Property Survey, 1820-1967. .25 cubic feet.
Section maps of Mobile showing property acquired by the city for public places, mostly parks
and fire stations but also for Magnolia Cemetery, City Hall, the City Hospital, and Bienville
Square.

Series 2. Campaign Material, ca. 1969-2002 (bulk 1969-1989). 2 cubic feet.
Contains typical campaign material such as correspondence, polling places, press releases,
expenditures, ads, etc. Includes ephemera such as candidate profiles and bumper stickers.
Also includes material on the 2002 U.S. senatorial campaign of Julian L. Phillips Jr. This
series is arranged chronologically by campaign and alphabetically by topic.

Series 3. Post-Mayoral, 1983-2001 (bulk 1984-1989). 8.25 cubic feet.
Arranged alphabetically by topic and contains material related to Mims’ professional
activities after leaving office, including his attempt at the creation of a resort in the Mobile
delta area, his consulting firm – Lambert Mims and Associates – and his involvement with
the Alabama Housing Finance Authority and the Alabama Waterways Development Agency.
Mims acted as the governor’s ambassador to the waterway development agency in which
capacity he encouraged local, state, regional, and national support of the Tennessee-
Tombigbee Waterway. Those interested in Alabama Waterways should also check the
Speeches sub-series of the Mayor/Commissioner series.

Series 4. Personal, ca. 1960-2003. 8 cubic feet.
This series is arranged alphabetically by subject and mainly contains material related to
Mims’ religious beliefs, activities, and engagements, particularly his involvement with the
Alabama Baptist State Convention, the Waterfront Rescue Mission, the Rotary Club of
Mobile, Gideons International, the Mims Prayer House in India (no relation), Judson College,
and the Mobile Baptist Association. These activities were engaged in outside of his official
duties as mayor/commissioner. In addition, this series includes other personal material such
as his involvement with the Antique Automotive Club of America, the Kiwanis Club, the
Freemasons, and his personal correspondence or correspondence he received after his
terms in office.
Series 4. Sub-series A. Speaking Engagements, 1969-1989. 2 cubic feet.
This sub-series contains material found within the collection that was related to the various
groups or organizations – primarily church groups – that invited Mims to attend some kind
function and at which he sometimes made remarks. It includes programs, invitations, or
correspondence about the event. Mims frequently used the same speech more than once. At
other times, he spoke off-the-cuff or gave an invocation or prayer, etc. While cross-
referencing between this and the Speeches sub-series in the Mayor/Commissioner series, in
most cases, will not reveal which speech was delivered at which engagement, this sub-
series does give you an idea of how Mims undertook the process of creating and delivering
speeches. This sub-series is arranged chronologically, when known.

Series 4. Sub-series B. Directories. .5 cubic feet.
This sub-series is arranged alphabetically by organization and consists of various annual
directories that list members. Organizations included in this sub-series are: the Alabama
Baptist State Convention, the American Public Works Association, the Mobile Baptist
Convention, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Kiwanis Club. These were found
throughout the collection and because of their bulk placed in this artificial series rather than
in the series in which they more properly belonged.

Series 5. American Public Works Association (APWA), 1965-2001. 12 cubic feet.
The APWA is made up of public agencies, private sector companies, and individuals
dedicated to public works. Included in this series are annual convention materials,
organizational publications, reports, brochures, manuals, speeches, agendas, budgets,
newsletters, memoranda, minutes, correspondence, and printed ephemera, as well as
documents related to other state APWA chapters, to hurricane preparedness, to flooding, to
solid waste, and to emergency management. Interested parties should also consult the
Speeches sub-series of the Mayor/Commission series for speeches Mims made related to
the APWA. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series 6. Legal, 1974-ca. 1989. 6.25 cubic feet.
Contains material related to the indictment and subsequent conviction of Mims on charges
of conspiracy, extortion, and violation of the Hobbs Act, as well as documents regarding
Wiley Bolden v. City of Mobile, which changed the city’s form of government. In addition,
other legal cases represented include City of Mobile v. Peter J. Palughi; Moulton v. Langan,
Mims, and Outlaw; Thomas Peavy v. Gary Greenough; and litigation following flooding in
the city in 1981. Included within this series are FBI reports, transcripts, discovery,
evidentiary material, grand jury testimony, the indictment and related documents, and
miscellaneous material. Transcripts have been arranged chronologically. The remainder has
been arranged alphabetically. PRIVACY ISSUES APPLY.

Series 7. Reading Education. 2.25 cubic feet.
This series is primarily made up of research materials that Mims used as reference or to
educate himself on a particular subject related to his job as public works commissioner. The
bulk pertains to issues of public works and emergency management, although there is one
document related to the City of Mobile v. Bolden and some material pertaining to
hurricanes. This material is arranged alphabetically by topic.

Series 8. Books and Magazines. 11.25 cubic feet.
Covering a variety of topics and collected by Mims over the life of this collection, these
materials have been arranged alphabetical by last name of author, in the case of the books,
and alphabetically by title, with respect to the magazines.

Series 9. Memorabilia. .75 cubic feet.
Consists of various items Mims collected or had produced during his career, including
numerous lapel pins, a gavel, two bells, keys to the city, promotional items related to
Mobile, etc. Also includes a brick, thought to have come from Fort Condé.

Series 10. Plaques, 1971-1984. 1.5 cubic feet.
Various awards given to Mims or to the city by numerous organizations.

Series 11. Miscellaneous. 3 cubic feet.
This is an artificial series made up from loose materials found scattered throughout the
collection. It is arranged alphabetically and consists of brochures, awards, certificates,
booklets, city-related documents, proclamations, speeches, and maps of Mims’ various
travels, as well as information on the national flood insurance program, and other items.

Series 12. Oversized Material. 12 cubic feet.
Consists of various documents and other material found throughout the collection and too
large to fit into a standard-sized archival container. Includes posters, maps, graphs, signs,
flowcharts, photographs, certificates, resolutions, proclamations, architectural renderings,
complaint reports, and one flag.

Series 13. Maps. 12 cubic feet.
Found scattered throughout the collection, these maps are wrapped individually and bundled
according to the location in which they were originally found. Loose maps were also
wrapped individually, but bundled into groups labeled "loose maps." Some of the maps
relate to the Bolden v. City of Mobile case. A number of them are connected to urban
renewal. Also includes oversize banners.

Series 14. Audio/Visual, 1970-1989 (bulk 1976-1986). Currently 8 cubic feet.
Contains photographs, negatives, slides, VHS and other tapes. The slides were removed
from their original housing and sleeved and then placed in binders, arranged according to
topic. Themes include emergency management (including hurricanes), solid waste, and
Alabama waterways, among others. Unidentifiable slides were placed in the last binder. The
VSH, cassette, and other tapes were organized according to date, when known, and include
a myriad of topics. The photographs are typical for a man in Mims' position. They include
photos taken with constituents and others, and images related to public works, including
drainage projects, road improvements, etc. There are also, however, images related to
Hurricane Frederick in 1979, as well as photos of the youth council, various dedications,
Azalea Trail maids, USS Alabama crew mates, and the Junior Miss and other pageants.

Content List:

Series 1. Mayor/Commissioner, 1965-1985. 28 cubic feet.

Arranged alphabetically by subject and covers virtually everything directly related to Mims’
work as mayor and/or public works commissioner. Contains official and citizen
correspondence, his accomplishments and goals, an office calendar, and agendas. Also
included is material related to Dads Against Dirt. There is also information on the project I-
210 connector, on the Mobile Housing Board, on the Naval Surface Action Group, on Keep
America Beautiful, on the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, on the American
bicentennial of 1976, on the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, on the bicentennial of Fort
Condé, on Brookley Field, on the dedication of the George Wallace Tunnel, on the Mobile
airport, on the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, on urban development and urban renewal, on
the Mobile Youth Council, on the Junior Miss pageant, and on Hurricane Frederic. Other
material of interest includes various projects and ideas Mims had to improve public services
and increase tourism, including a plan to make Fort Condé into a block-long tourist
attraction, an attempt to sell trash to increase city revenue, and a plan to create a fun time
park. Privacy issues may apply to the material related to Dads Against Dirt and to the
Mobile Housing Board.

Box 1

1. Accomplishments and Goals, 1977- 1978
2. Accomplishments and Morals
3. Accomplishments – Public Works Commissioner, 1968
4. Address to Mobile Rotary Club, 9/25/69
5. Administrators, 1985
6. Agendas, 1981-1982
7-10. Agendas, 1982-1985
11. Agenda – City of Mobile, 8/7/1976
12. Airport [Mobile Regional], 1980
13. Airport – Bates Terminal Building
14. Airport Development Plan – Mobile Municipal Airport
15. Airport Master Planning Study, Phase I, 1975
16. Airports Master Planning Study, Phase I, Executive Summary
17. Airports Master Planning Study, Phase I, Technical Report, Volume I
18. Airports Master Planning Study, Phase I, Technical Report, Volume II
19-20. Airports Master Planning Study, Phase II
21. Airports Master Planning Study, Phase II, Executive Summary
22-23. Airports Master Planning Study, Phase II, Mobile Aerospace Airport
24. Airports Master Planning Study, Phase II, Mobile Municipal Airport

Box 2

1. Airports Master Planning Study, Phase II, Mobile Municipal Airport, Bates Field
2. Airport Terminal Complex Concept
3. Airport Terminal Complex Concept, Update of
4. Alabama Association of Home Health Agencies
5. Alabama’s "Foreign" Corporation Franchise Tax, 1985
6. Alabama’s Corporate Stock Tax Preference Program, 1985
7-9. Alabama Housing Finance Authority
10. Alabama Housing Finance Authority, 1987-1989
11. Alabama Housing Finance Authority, Low-Income Housing Credit Program
12. Alabama Housing Finance Authority, Members and Policies
13. Alabama Hospital Association, Mobile Municipal Auditorium, 1984
14. Alabama Industrial Development Conference, 1984
15. Alabama League Convention, May 18-21, 1985
16. Alabama League of Municipalities, 1982
17. Alabama League of Municipalities, Annual Meeting, 1984
18. Alabama League of Municipalities, Exec. Committee Meeting, 10/10/1984
19. Alabama League of Municipalities, Exec. Committee, 2/6/1985
20. Alabama League of Municipalities, Exec. Committee, 7/11/1985
21. Alabama League of Municipalities, Exec. Committee, 10/13/1983
22. Alabama League of Municipalities, League Legislative Committee, 1/27/83
23. Alabama League of Municipalities, Huntsville, AL, 4/23-27/1983
24. Alabama League of Municipalities, Montgomery, AL, 11/7-8/1984
25. Alabama Legislative Listing
26. Alabama Legislative Delegation, 1976-1980
27. Alabama Media
28. Alabama Power Company, 8/1979