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Thomas S. and Clara G. McMillan Papers

Thomas Sanders McMillan represented Charleston in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1917 to 1925, serving his last two terms as Speaker Pro Tem and Speaker. He was then elected to represent the 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He died in office in 1939, whereon constituents elected his wife, Clara Gooding, to complete his unexpired term.

McMillan, Thomas S. & Clara G. (1888-1939 & 1894-1976)

Papers, c. 1870-1980, .75 ft.

Clara McMillan did not run for re-election in 1940, but stayed in Washington and served in the National Youth Administration and, later, the Office of Government Reports and Office of War Information. In 1946, she was appointed to be a Congressional Liaison Officer for the Department of State and served in that capacity for over a decade.

Collection Finding Aid
The collection is arranged in five series: General Papers, Speeches, Photographs, Clippings, and Ephemera. General Papers consist largely of correspondence from Clara G. McMillan to her son Edward after her retirement. Correspondence from other family members is included in this series, as is a folder of material pertaining to the dedication of the McMillan Memorial Highway.  Speeches made by Thomas S. McMillan address topics such as Masonry and the armed services.

Photographs chiefly document Clara McMillan’s Mother of the Year ceremonies, 1960, and the highway dedication, 1980. There are also several pictures of Thomas McMillan, a c.1931-1932 McMillan family portrait, and photos of more distant ancestors.  Clippings document the family’s activities from 1916 to 1980, and contain a large number of 1960 articles profiling Clara G. McMillan.

Related Links:
Congressional Biographical Directory for Thomas

Congressional Biographical Directory for Clara


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