WOODROW WILSON “WOODY” DUMAS COLLECTION

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SUMMARY

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL NOTE

Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Dumas, long-time mayor of Baton Rouge, was born on December 9, 1916 in Opelousas, La.

In high school he participated in athletics playing football and baseball. He joined the United States Navy serving as a submariner in World War II. He also served during the Korean War. After his military service, he moved to Baker, La. to play semi-pro baseball. He was elected to the City Parish Metro Council in 1952 and served for twelve years. Beginning in 1964 he served as mayor for four consecutive terms from 1965-1980.

Dumas’ tenure in political office spans a period of great growth and change in the Baton Rouge area. Dumas, a proponent of civic development, spent much of his administration developing the municipal complex in downtown Baton Rouge.

He died of cancer 1993 November 6. He was 76.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection consists of 65 photographs (59 black and white and 6 color photographic prints) and printed material and ephemera from the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration in Baton Rouge. The photographs show Mayor Dumas at various groundbreakings, dedications, and other mayoral events. A small subseries documents Dumas with national political figures including Hubert H. Humphrey and Nelson Rockefeller.

LIST SERIES AND SUBSERIES

Series I. Photographs

Subseries A. Certificates and awards, 1968 – 1978, no date. 356301 – 09

Subseries B. Street and facility openings, 1965 – 1972, no date 356310 – 15

Subseries C. Launching of USS Baton Rouge, 1975, 1976 356316 – 18

Subseries D. Various identified and unidentified Events, 1965 – 1976 356319 – 30

Subseries E. Construction / Dedication, Galvez Plaza, 1978 – 1979 356331 – 34

Subseries F. Bicentennial Celebration, 1976 356335 – 43

Subseries G. Groundbreaking ceremonies, 1966 – 1975 356344 – 51

Subseries H. City Dock, 1965 356353 – 55

Subseries I. Contract signings, 1965, 1976, no date 356356 – 58

Subseries J. LSU Muscular Dystrophy Marathon: Football, 1970; 356359 – 61

WBRZ Baseball, 1976

Subseries K. Photos with various politicians, 1965 – 1976, no date 356362 – 65

Series II. Printed materials, USA Bicentennial

Subseries A. “Legacy of Trees”

Subseries B. Various brochures and leaflets

Subseries C. “Bicentennial Banter,” Baton Rouge Bicentennial Commission

Subseries D. “Entrée – The Baton Rouge Community Magazine Sponsored by the Louisiana National Bank”

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I. Photographs

Subseries A. Certificates and awards, 1968 – 1978, no date. 356301 – 09

Black & white photographs with various individuals and groups, either giving or receiving certificates and awards.

Subseries B. Street and facility openings, 1965 – 1972, no date 356310 – 15

Black & white photographs of groups with the Mayor at opening ceremonies for streets and city facilities.

Subseries C. Launching of USS Baton Rouge, 1975, 1976 356316 – 18

Color photographs with naval officials at the dedication or launching of the USS Baton Rouge

Subseries D. Various identified and unidentified Events, 1965 – 1976 356319 – 30

Black & white photographs of the Mayor with individuals and groups in various settings

Subseries E. Construction / Dedication, Galvez Plaza, 1978 – 1979 356331 – 34

Black & white photographs of the construction of Galvez Plaza and Mayor at the dedication ceremony

Subseries F. Bicentennial Celebration, 1976 356335 – 43

Black & white and color photographs of the Mayor at various Bicentennial celebrations with many different groups including the Bicentennial Wagon Trail

Subseries G. Groundbreaking ceremonies, 1966 – 1975 356344 – 51

Black & white photographs of the Mayor with groups of people at groundbreaking ceremonies for a number of projects

Subseries H. City Dock, 1965 356353 – 55

Black & white photographs of the city dock; there are no people in the scenes

Subseries I. Contract signings, 1965, 1976, no date 356356 – 58

Black & white photographs of the Mayor signing contracts with individuals and groups looking on

Subseries J. LSU Muscular Dystrophy Marathon: Football, 1970; 356359 – 61

WBRZ Baseball, 1976

Black & white and color photographs of the Mayor at muscular dystrophy fundraising events

Subseries K. Photos with various politicians, 1965 – 1976, no date 356362 – 65

Black & white photographs of the Mayor with Hubert Humphrey, Nelson Rockefeller, and Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr.

Series II. Printed materials and ephemera, American Revolution Bicentennial, 1976

Subseries A. “Legacy of Trees”

Civic Beautification Council of Clubs newsletter, Vol. V, No. 5, February 1975, and Vol. V, No. 6, April 1975, “Legacy of Trees Edition;” unused note card, brochure, decal, dedication ceremony program, and pencil.

Subseries B. Various brochures and leaflets

A variety of brochures covering “Welcome to Baton Rouge,” the law, a bumper sticker supporting tree planting, a Bicentennial Ball program, a “Paint-A-Plug” guide for children, and a Martin Luther King, Jr., brochure.

Subseries C. “Bicentennial Banter,” Baton Rouge Bicentennial Commission

Three issues of the “Bicentennial Banter”: Vol. 1, No. 2, October 1974; Vol. 1, No. 2 [sic], October 1975, and; Vol. 1, No. 3, June 1976.

Subseries D. “Entrée – The Baton Rouge Community Magazine Sponsored by the Louisiana National Bank”

One issue of the magazine, Fall 1973.

INDEX TERMS followed by image number

CONTAINER LIST