Beverly Briley Papers, 1950-1975 (bulk 1963-1975)
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Organized into three series, by format;,Series I and III: Arranged chronologically; Series II: Arranged in original order.

Materials housed in the Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

In library use only. Available by appointment only.

Scope and content: Typescripts of speeches and a small quantity of miscellaneous documents, audio recordings, and photographs, ranging in dates from 1950 to 1975, regarding Beverly Briley's public career as Davidson County Judge (1950-1963) and first mayor (1963-1975) of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. These materials show an effort to explain and promote consolidated government to local citizens and officials. The items were selected and kept by Mayor Briley for his own personal use.

Series I. Speech typescripts, 1954-1972, focus on efficiency and streamlining of county government, and were delivered to groups both national and local. Included are: Briley's Inaugural Address (1963); annual State of Metro addresses (1964-1970); and plans for the future, along with speeches on local issues and a small quantity of miscellaneous documents.

Series II. Audio recordings, 1965-1973, include some meetings between Briley and community leaders on various subjects. Three of the recordings are related to civil unrest in Nashville following a speaking engagement at Vanderbilt University by black activist Stokely Carmichael in 1967. Many recordings of local radio interviews and public service "Metro Action Reports" are examples of ongoing efforts to keep the public informed about their government. While Mayor Briley is not present on all recordings, other individuals from Metro government and the community are the speakers. Also included are some campaign jingles.

Series III. Photographs, 1950-1975, predominently show Mayor Briley at various events in and around Nashville. However, because of his expertise in innovative local government, many images show him speaking in other locations around the country, often pictured with notable politicians of the day. Other subjects include: campaigns and elections; Metro meetings and Metro-related activities; a large quantity of ribbon-cuttings, ground-breakings and similar grand opening activities for a wide variety of buildings and businesses; the granting or receiving of awards; meetings with celebrities or planned press events; banquets; and numerous images of Briley with children.

Cite as: [item description], Beverly Briley Papers, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library.

In general, the Nashville Public Library does not have intellectual property rights to these materials, however, the Nashville Public Library does hold the copyright to photographs credited to the Nashville Banner. Photographs taken by the City Photographer are in the public domain. All other materials are protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).

Diane Easterling;,Gift, in accordance with provisions in Briley's will;,2002.,Acc. 2002.004.

Associated materials: Metro Archives serves as the official custodian of government records of Nashville, Davidson County, and the Metropolitan Government and as such, holds a vast quantity of associated material. Oral histories conducted during the fiftieth anniversary of Metro government were conducted by Metro Archives in 2013 and may contain information about Mayor Beverly Briley and the formation of Metropolitan government.

Related materials: The Special Collections Division of the Nashville Public Library has a series of interviews conducted with Mayor Briley by Paul Clements in 1980, part of the Century III oral history project.

Beverly Briley, often referred to as the "father of Metro government," was one of Nashville's most prominent political and civic leaders in the twentieth century. Briley served as the first mayor of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County, the first city and county in the United States to consolidate the two forms of government. He served in that capacity for twelve years.

Clifton Beverly Briley was born Jan. 11, 1914, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Clifton Weaver and Willie Whithorne Vaughan Briley. He attended public schools: Caldwell, Glenn, and Central High School in Davidson County, Tennessee. After graduating from Central High School in 1930 at age 16, he entered Vanderbilt University with a plan to major in engineering. He later transferred to Cumberland University where he entered the accelerated law program. In 1932 at age 18, Briley graduated and was licensed to practice law. Briley married Dorothy "Dee" Gordon in 1934, and they had two children: Clifton Beverly Briley, Jr. and Martha Diane Briley. In 1935, Briley opened his own law firm in Nashville, Tennessee, specializing in federal tax matters. He left the practice temporarily to enlist in the Navy in 1943, serving in the Pacific until 1945. Returning to his law practice in Nashville, he developed an interest in local government. After running unsuccessfully for State Senate in 1946, Briley was elected County Judge in 1950 running on a platform of reform and modernization. Briley served a total of thirteen years as County Judge, during which time he worked to streamline and improve county services. He became a founding member of the National Association of Counties (NACO) in 1955. Along with others, Briley saw consolidation of city and county governments as a practical direction for Nashville and Davidson County. While the first proposal to consolidate government was defeated in 1958, it was finally approved by voters, June 28, 1962, the first city in the country to do so. Beverly Briley was elected the first mayor of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County, and began serving on the first date of the new form of government, April 1, 1963. He oversaw the consolidation of city and county departments and the extension of public services across the county. Briley served three terms as Metro's mayor, retiring in 1975. He was the only U. S. mayor to be elected president of both the National Association of County Officials and the National League of Cities. He served on the Board of Directors of the U. S. Conference of Mayors, and as a Special Advisor on Municipal Affairs to Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. He was president of the Tennessee Municipal League, and selected Outstanding Southern Mayor in 1964 by the Suncoast League of Municipalities. Dee Briley, his wife, died June 21, 1980. Beverly Briley died at age 66 after complications from surgery, Sept. 16, 1980. They are both buried in Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison, Tennessee.

In English.

Finding aid available in repository;,item level control.,https://assets.library.nashville.org/documents/finding-aids/Special_Collections_Division_Finding_Aid_BrileyPapersFA.pdf.

In the custody of the Briley family until donated to the Nashville Public Library in 2002.

Photographs,identification;,2002;,Ward DeWitt, volunteer.

Photographs,identification and preliminary arrangement;,2004;,Raymond Proctor, volunteer.

Process;,2011-2014;,Rose Mary Reed, volunteer.

Description;,2012-2015;,Rose Mary Reed, volunteer and Linda Barnickel, staff.

No further accruals are expected.

Book jacket image digital identifier: Briley 1967-003