Carl Elliott Books
Books About Alabama
Carl Elliott, the
son of a tenant farmer, worked his way through the University of Alabama,
graduating in 1933 and from the University's Law School in 1936. He
represented the old Seventh District in the U.S. Congress from 1949 to
1965. He served on the House Veterans Committee, the Education and Labor
Committee, and the Rules Committee. He chaired the Select Committee for
Government Research.
In 1956, Elliott authored the Library Services Act, which
brought bookmobiles and library service to millions of rural Americans. In
1958, he co-authored the National Defense Education Act, which improved
science, foreign language and technology education nationwide and provided
low-interest loans for college and graduate school for needy students.
Both laws have been extended; more than 30,000,000 loans have been made
for students nationwide.
Elliott campaigned for Alabama governor
in 1966 on a platform of federal assistance to the needy, better
education, and racial tolerance. He lost the election to Lurleen Wallace
and slipped into political obscurity, practicing law, writing books about
local history, producing columns and book reviews for area newspapers, and
publishing books by local authors. His books include five volumes of
Annals of Northwest Alabama, a history of Red Bay, and seven volumes of
histories of coal miners.
Elliott received new recognition of his
achievements in 1990, when he became the first recipient of the John
F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award . His autobiography, The Cost of Courage: The Journey of An
American Congressman , published in 1992, was recently reprinted by
the University of Alabama Press.