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Jerry W. Carter, Sr. served 34 years and was the longest sitting member on the Florida Public Service Commission. Previously, he had served 14 years on the Hotel and Railroad Commissions. He lost two elections for the United States Senate in 1926 and 1946 and one election for Governor of Florida in 1932.
Carter moved to Florida from Alabama in 1908 as a salesman for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. He entered politics after helping elect a friend, Emmett Wilson, to Congress. He then headed the successful campaign of Park Trammell for Governor of Florida in 1912. Soon after he served as Sidney J. Catts' state campaign manager for the office of Governor of Florida. As Governor, Catts appointed Carter to the position of Hotel Commissioner.
Carter married Mary Frances Hope Holifield on October 27, 1907, in Asheville, North Carolina. They had seven sons and 23 grandchildren. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Jackson Lodge 1 F&AM, Eastern Star, Masons, Shrine, Elks, and Moose. He resigned from the Public Service Commission on January 4, 1971 due to his deteriorating health, and he died on June 18, 1971 in Tallahassee, Florida.
Summary:
This collection contains photographs, scrapbooks, memorabilia, letters, and a family bible of Jerry W. Carter, Sr. and his family. The photographs depict Carter and his family from the time of his marriage to Mary Francis Holifield in 1907 until the 1950s. They include images of homes, children, friends, and family pets taken during several different occasions including weddings, birthdays, and political functions. Photographs of Carter's children often include of unidentified Black female domestic servants.
Finding Aids:
Folder listing available. 0
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Florida Photographic Collection Number P1982-56.
Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields:
Carter, Jerry W.
Florida. Hotel Commission. Florida Public Service Commission. Florida Public Utilities Commission.
African Americans Florida. Family Florida Political campaigns.
Photographs. aat Scrapbooks. aat
Indian River (Fla. : River) Jacksonville (Fla.) Pensacola (Fla.) Tallahassee (Fla.)
for detailed listing.