Birmingham City Commission: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Birmingham City Commission.jpg|right|thumb|450px|The Birmingham City Commission, c. 1950–1953 {{BPL permission caption|https://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4017coll6/id/2410}}]]
The '''Birmingham City Commission''' (or '''Birmingham Board of Commissioners''') was the form of Birmingham's government from [[1911]] to [[1963]]. The city moved from a Mayor-[[Birmingham Aldermen|Aldermen]] system to a three-member commission at the time that [[Greater Birmingham]] was annexed into the City. The idea was that the municipal government should be run less like a small town and more like a business enterprise. The proposal was overwhelmingly favored by voters in a [[1910 Birmingham mayoral election|1910 referendum]], and was initiated by a new [[1911 Birmingham City Commission election|City Commission election]] in [[1911]]
The '''Birmingham City Commission''' (or '''Birmingham Board of Commissioners''') was the form of Birmingham's government from [[1911]] to [[1963]]. The city moved from a Mayor-[[Birmingham Aldermen|Aldermen]] system to a three-member commission at the time that [[Greater Birmingham]] was annexed into the City. The idea was that the municipal government should be run less like a small town and more like a business enterprise. The proposal was overwhelmingly favored by voters in a [[1910 Birmingham mayoral election|1910 referendum]], and was initiated by a new [[1911 Birmingham City Commission election|City Commission election]] in [[1911]]


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* [[Arlie Barber]], Commissioner of Public Safety
* [[Arlie Barber]], Commissioner of Public Safety
* [[John Hornady]], Commissioner of Health and Education
* [[John Hornady]], Commissioner of Health and Education
* [[J. D. Truss]], Commissioner of Public Improvements
* [[James D. Truss]], Commissioner of Public Improvements
* [[James Weatherly]], Commissioner of Public Property and Utilities
* [[James Weatherly]], Commissioner of Public Property and Utilities
<gallery>
<gallery>
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===1917-1921===
===1917-1921===
Term extended to four years ([[November 6]], [[1917]]&ndash;[[November 7]], [[1921]])
The commission's term was extended to four years ([[November 6]], [[1917]]-[[November 7]], [[1921]])
* [[Nathaniel A. Barrett]], Commission President
* [[Nathaniel A. Barrett]], Commission President
* [[Ellis Brown|John Ellis Brown]], Commissioner of Public Utilities
* [[Ellis Brown|John Ellis Brown]], Commissioner of Public Utilities
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* [[John Hornady]], vice president, Commissioner of Health and Education
* [[John Hornady]], vice president, Commissioner of Health and Education
* [[John H. Taylor]], Commissioner of Public Safety
* [[John H. Taylor]], Commissioner of Public Safety
The new board of commissioners was sworn in at a joint meeting with the former board, with both the outgoing and incoming members giving short speeches.
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Nathaniel Barrett.jpg|[[Nathaniel Barrett]]
Image:Nathaniel Barrett.jpg|[[Nathaniel Barrett]]
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===1933-1937===
===1933-1937===
* [[Jimmie Jones]], Commission President
* [[Jimmie Jones]], Commission President, Commissioner of Finance and General Administration
* [[W. O. Downs]]
* [[Lewey Robinson]], Commissioner of Public Improvements
* [[Lewey Robinson]]
* [[William Downs|William O. Downs]], Commissioner of Public Safety, Health and Education
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Jimmie Jones.jpg|[[Jimmie Jones]]
Image:Jimmie Jones.jpg|[[Jimmie Jones]]
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* [[Jimmy Morgan]], Commission President
* [[Jimmy Morgan]], Commission President
* [[Robert Lindbergh]], Commissioner of Public Safety
* [[Robert Lindbergh]], Commissioner of Public Safety
* [[Wade Bradley]], Commissioner of Public Improvements (resigned in [[1956]], term completed by [[J. T. Waggoner, Sr]])
* [[Wade Bradley]], Commissioner of Public Improvements (resigned in [[1956]], term completed by [[J. T. Waggoner Sr]])
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Jimmy Morgan.jpg|[[Jimmy Morgan]]
Image:Jimmy Morgan.jpg|[[Jimmy Morgan]]
Image:Bull Connor portrait.jpg|[[Bull Connor]]
Image:Bull Connor portrait.jpg|[[Bull Connor]]
File:J T Waggoner.jpg|[[J. T. Waggoner]]
</gallery>
</gallery>


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* [[Jimmy Morgan]], Commission President
* [[Jimmy Morgan]], Commission President
* [[Bull Connor]], Commissioner of Public Safety
* [[Bull Connor]], Commissioner of Public Safety
* [[J. T. Waggoner, Sr]], Commissioner of Public Improvements
* [[J. T. Waggoner Sr]], Commissioner of Public Improvements
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:1961 Bham City Commission.jpg|1961 City Commission (L-R: Waggoner, Morgan, Connor)
Image:Jimmy Morgan.jpg|[[Jimmy Morgan]]
Image:Jimmy Morgan.jpg|[[Jimmy Morgan]]
Image:Bull Connor portrait.jpg|[[Bull Connor]]
Image:Bull Connor portrait.jpg|[[Bull Connor]]
File:J T Waggoner.jpg|[[J. T. Waggoner]]
</gallery>
</gallery>


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* [[Art Hanes]], Commission President
* [[Art Hanes]], Commission President
* [[Bull Connor]], Commissioner of Public Safety
* [[Bull Connor]], Commissioner of Public Safety
* [[J. T. Waggoner, Sr]], Commissioner of Public Improvements
* [[J. T. Waggoner Sr]], Commissioner of Public Improvements
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:1962 Bham City Commission.jpg|1961 City Commission (L-R: Connor, Waggoner, Hanes)
Image:Art Hanes 1963.jpg|[[Art Hanes]]
Image:Art Hanes 1963.jpg|[[Art Hanes]]
Image:Bull Connor portrait.jpg|[[Bull Connor]]
Image:Bull Connor portrait.jpg|[[Bull Connor]]
File:J T Waggoner.jpg|[[J. T. Waggoner]]
</gallery>
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
* "Culpepper Exum, Birmingham's First Commission Mayor" (October 23, 1910) ''The Atlanta Constitution''
* "[http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.$b22905 An Act of the Legislature of Alabama Creating a Commission Form of Government with Five Commissioners Under Which the City of Birmingham is Now Organized]" (September 25, 1915) - via the University of California
* "[http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.$b22905 An Act of the Legislature of Alabama Creating a Commission Form of Government with Five Commissioners Under Which the City of Birmingham is Now Organized]" (September 25, 1915) - via the University of California
* Vick, Mary-Helen (1965) ''A Survey of the Governing Body of Birmingham, Alabama, 1910-1964''. Master's thesis. Alabama College
* Vick, Mary-Helen (1965) ''A Survey of the Governing Body of Birmingham, Alabama, 1910-1964''. Master's thesis. Alabama College

Latest revision as of 13:11, 14 January 2024

The Birmingham City Commission, c. 1950–1953 courtesy BPL Archives

The Birmingham City Commission (or Birmingham Board of Commissioners) was the form of Birmingham's government from 1911 to 1963. The city moved from a Mayor-Aldermen system to a three-member commission at the time that Greater Birmingham was annexed into the City. The idea was that the municipal government should be run less like a small town and more like a business enterprise. The proposal was overwhelmingly favored by voters in a 1910 referendum, and was initiated by a new City Commission election in 1911

The first commission was appointed by Governor B. B. Comer. Culpepper Exum, who had just been elected Mayor under the former system, was appointed president, a position that functioned as Mayor for all intents and purposes, with the term often used interchangeably with Commission President. Like previous administrations, the commissioners were to serve two-year terms, with the first election to be held in 1913. Beginning in 1917 the term was extended to four years to provide for more continuity. Between 1915 and 1923 the board was expanded to five commissioners.

This listing includes the full commission for the years 1911 to 1963, when residents voted to adopt the Mayor-Council Act of 1955 as Birmingham's form of government, providing for a Mayor and nine-member City Council to be elected at-large.

Commissions

1911-1913

1913-1915

1915-1917

Associate commissioners added, increasing size of board to five

1917-1921

The commission's term was extended to four years (November 6, 1917-November 7, 1921)

The new board of commissioners was sworn in at a joint meeting with the former board, with both the outgoing and incoming members giving short speeches.

1921-1925

Served November 7, 1921–1925. Associate commissioners dismissed after law passed on August 15, 1923.

1925-1929

1929-1933

1933-1937

1937-1941

1941-1945

1945-1949


1949-1953

1953-1957

1957-1961

1961-1963

References


Preceded by:
Birmingham Board of Aldermen 		Legislative Body for the City of Birmingham
1911 - 1963 		Succeeded by:
Birmingham City Council
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