Cascade History

Dr. Charles R. Adams

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CascadeHistory.com

Power in the Pines: Dr. Charles R. Adams and the Politics of Atlanta Real Estate

Introduction: The Physician and the Politician

The physical landscape of a city is rarely shaped by idealists alone. More often, it is forged in the crucible of municipal politics, where public welfare and private enterprise inevitably collide. In the history of Atlanta’s suburban expansion, few figures embody this intersection of civic duty and political patronage quite like Dr. Charles Ross Adams Sr. A physician by trade and a political boss by practice, Adams served as a Fulton County Commissioner during one of the most transformative and turbulent eras in American history, the Great Depression.

Elected to the commission in 1934, Dr. Adams became the driving force behind a massive infusion of federal New Deal funds into the southwestern quadrant of Atlanta. He championed public health initiatives, modernized county infrastructure, and spearheaded the creation of a sprawling, 158-acre recreational project that still bears his name today at Adams Park. However, a rigorous historical examination of his tenure reveals a narrative far more complex than that of a benevolent public servant. By analyzing archival newspaper records, grand jury presentments, and political campaign materials from the 1930s and 1940s, a portrait emerges of a shrewd political operator. Dr. Adams utilized taxpayer funds and federal relief labor to construct municipal amenities that directly supported the value of suburban real estate developments managed by his closest political allies. This is the history of Dr. Charles R. Adams, a man who prescribed municipal remedies for Atlanta’s infrastructure while navigating mid-century political machine politics.

Chapter 1: The Doctor of Stone’s District

Before he became the architect of Fulton County’s New Deal expansion, Dr. Charles Ross Adams Sr. was a dedicated medical professional with deep roots in the South. Born on November 30, 1894, in the small town of Frost, Texas, Adams later attended public schools in Alabama before moving to Georgia to receive his medical education at Emory University.1 He began practicing medicine at the age of twenty-three, spending four years serving the community of College Park from 1919 to 1932 before relocating his practice to the West End.2

By the early 1930s, the 39-year-old physician was operating out of an office at 840 Gordon Street.3 He resided with his wife, Letcher Estelle Davis Adams, and their children.4 Their eldest son, Charles Ross Adams Jr., was born on January 31, 1919, in College Park, followed by a second son, Harold, and a daughter, Clara, whose portrait adorned her father’s Gordon Street office when she was 19 months old.5 The Adams family resided on an 80-acre farm located at 2700 Cascade Road.6 A September 1937 photographic spread in The Atlanta Constitution showcased this estate, featuring a photograph of five-year-old Clara on the grounds with a dog named Sandy.7 He was connected across the metropolitan area, with two brothers: Dr. A.N. Adams of Buckhead and B.B. Adams of East Point.8

Chapter 2: The “Jokeless” Campaign of 1934

Adams entered the political arena during a period of severe economic distress. Fulton County was grappling with a financial deficit, and the local government was fractured by factionalism. Prior to his run for the Fulton County Board of Commissioners in the 1934 primary, Adams had never held an appointive or elective political office, nor had he ever made a public address.9

His campaign was unusual for the era. Adams positioned himself not as a typical politician, but as a man of science. “I was not running for a job; I was running for an opportunity to apply certain scientific knowledge I have to the benefit of my fellow man, and to use my general knowledge in trying to make Fulton County a better place in which to live,” he declared to The Atlanta Journal in March 1934.10 He ran a campaign focused on policy rather than personal attacks. Reflecting on his victory, Adams noted a specific detail about his stump speeches: “I did not tell a single joke during the campaign and I do not recall that I got a laugh from any audience before which I spoke,” he admitted.11 “I think I was elected because those who know me and heard me speak felt that I was sincere. I am not an orator; I am not a politician; but I think I can do some good and am glad of the opportunity to try.”12

His platform was built on three definite objectives. First, he promised to use his medical influence to improve the health and sanitary conditions of Fulton County.13 Second, he sought cooperation between the county board and the Boards of Education to maintain educational standards.14 Third, he championed the utilization of available farm lands, noting that since Fulton County had recently absorbed Milton and Campbell Counties, Fulton should develop its agricultural potential.15

Chapter 3: The Reformer Takes the Gavel

Upon taking his seat, Adams aligned himself with a reform-minded coalition, including Commissioner Ed L. Almand. He engaged with the complex financial and legal issues of the county. In December 1935, he appeared before the grand jury alongside civic leaders to discuss a proposed 15-mill tax limit and a debated city-county merger plan.16

In February 1936, he testified regarding a significant legal issue. The grand jury investigated the legality of a 20 percent commission fee paid to County Attorney Ralph Pharr for collecting $150,000 in back taxes from the Coca-Cola International Corporation.17 Adams defended the arrangement, contending that Pharr was acting as a private attorney as a member of the law firm of Shelton, Dorsey and Pharr when the contract was made, and that Pharr received his remuneration from the law firm rather than directly from the county.18

On January 1, 1936, Adams was elected chairman of the county commission. He broke precedent by retaining the same county salaries from the previous year rather than allowing increases.19 As chairman, Adams publicly pledged to eliminate the county’s $325,000 deficit during his tenure, clashing with the leader of the minority faction, Commissioner George F. Longino.20

Board meetings were contentious. In February 1939, a disputed meeting drew sharp rhetoric. Adams assailed the “yes men” of the minority faction, charging that expenditure was being disguised under a “one-man government” controlled by political rivals.21

Despite the friction, Adams sought to reform administrative practices. In May 1936, he announced a proposal to remove political influence from the distribution of Fulton County fire insurance. He argued that the county could reduce premium costs by distributing insurance on a pro rata basis among the members of the Atlanta Association of Fire Insurance Agents rather than through individual political contacts.22

Chapter 4: The White Primary and the 1938 Reelection

The political structure of Fulton County operated under the systemic racial exclusion of the era. This structure was evident during Adams’s 1938 reelection campaign. On March 2, 1938, the Atlanta Daily World published a report detailing the mechanics of the Fulton County primary.23

The report noted that while qualified colored voters were permitted to cast ballots for the sheriff’s race, they were barred from participating in the selection of county commissioners.24 Colored voters were handed specific “white slips” to cast their ballots for the sheriff’s race, while primary ballots for the county commission were printed on pink paper and reserved exclusively for white voters.25

Operating within this primary system, Dr. Adams ran as the incumbent against a field of challengers that included Alderman I. Gloer Hailey, real estate dealer J.H. Ewing, and automobile dealer Hugh C. Couch.26 Adams secured his reelection, continuing his programs for county infrastructure and park development.

Chapter 5: Public Health and Agricultural Initiatives

Adams’s tenure included notable public health and agricultural administration for Fulton County. In May 1937, Adams took direct supervision of the dairy at the county industrial farm, seeking to ensure the facility operated under sanitary standards to provide milk for county institutions.27

In June 1939, Adams proposed transferring the operation of Grady Hospital, the Battle Hill sanatorium, the Albert Steiner Cancer Clinic, and the Social Disease hospital to Fulton County.28 Adams argued that municipal operation of the hospitals was fragmented. He advocated for the establishment of a dedicated psychiatric facility and urged the construction of a convalescent home adjacent to Grady Hospital.29 Furthermore, he supported an agreement between Fulton and DeKalb counties to allow DeKalb residents access to Grady facilities, arguing that a unified county-wide tax levy was necessary to fund indigent medical care.30 To fund this, he recommended a county-wide three-mill tax, a measure that drew public debate and received support from Atlanta Mayor William B. Hartsfield.31

His focus on sanitation continued into the fall of 1939. He and Commissioner Troy Chastain raised concerns that unregulated private garbage disposal was creating public health issues in unincorporated areas, leading to consideration of a $12 to $18 sanitary tax to fund municipal garbage collection and incinerator disposal.32

Adams also exercised authority over county appointments. In October 1939, Adams and Commissioner Hailey delayed filling expired terms on the Fulton County Welfare Board during an evaluation of relief administration.33 Later that month, Adams and the commission voted to appoint Ira H. Dodd, an employee of the county schools, as the superintendent of the white boys’ reformatory in Hapeville.34 Labor from this institution was subsequently utilized on public works, including construction of the lake at the Fulton County Botanical Gardens.

Chapter 6: Law Enforcement and Combative Politics

Adams oversaw modernization efforts within county law enforcement. As chairman of the police committee, Adams directed the installation of two-way radio systems in county police patrol cars. In November 1939, he accompanied patrol officers to observe the operation of the new communication system.35

He opposed a resolution to eliminate the practice of providing county-owned automobiles to police officers, arguing that requiring officers to use private vehicles with travel allowances would reduce operational efficiency and increase net costs due to retail fuel and insurance rates.36 He also advocated for a 40-mile-per-hour speed limit on major Fulton County thoroughfares, alongside warning and blinker signage at hazardous intersections.37

Public infrastructure projects during this period encountered administrative challenges. In August 1939, a grand jury subcommittee investigated the county’s lateral sewer construction program following complaints regarding assessment methods, engineering accuracy, and cost discrepancies relative to municipal estimates.38

In December 1939, Adams filed a zoning petition seeking to reclassify sections of Gordon Street near Tenth Street from residential to business use, reflecting his direct engagement in commercial property planning.39

His leadership style became increasingly combative as his tenure progressed. This was on full display in September 1940 during a heated exchange with Commissioner I. Gloer Hailey over the selection of a new police officer. When Hailey claimed that Police Chief George Mathieson had not recommended a specific candidate, Adams pounded his fist on the table and shouted that Hailey’s statement was a “damned lie.”40 Hailey fired back, accusing Adams of “always popping off” and engaging in “petty, personal politics” in the operation of the police force.41 “If the chairman of the department is going to usurp the chief’s power, perhaps it would be better to resign,” Hailey asserted, to which Adams cried, “If Hailey is going to usurp all the power of the chairman of the police committee, I’ll resign right now.”42

Chapter 7: The New Deal Network and Adams Park

The central project of Dr. Adams’s political tenure was the application of federal relief funds toward county infrastructure. Through the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), federal funding was directed to large-scale capital improvements across Fulton County. Adams, working alongside Commissioner Troy G. Chastain, utilized these allocations to expand public parks and roadways.

In May 1935, the local press reported on county land purchases that coincided with suburban development initiatives.43 Adams and Chastain directed funding toward two major recreational developments: Chastain Park in North Fulton and a 158-acre tract in Southwest Atlanta designated as Charles R. Adams Park.44

In April 1938, county and state officials prepared applications to the WPA in Washington for a $5,000,000 allocation, which included construction of the golf course at Adams Park off Campbellton Road.45

The WPA allotted a supplemental $331,095 for Adams Park in September 1938, funding a 60-by-120-foot swimming pool, a bathhouse, tennis courts, drainage systems, and an 18-hole golf course.46 Adams organized local support for the project through the West End Business Men’s Association.47 Adams Park was formally dedicated on May 29, 1940, attended by nearly 1,000 residents.48

The location of Adams Park adjoined the Cascade Heights subdivision. The primary sales agent for properties in this area was George L. Wilson, who incorporated the new public park into his residential advertising.49 Wilson’s advertisements promoted homes in Cascade Heights and Beecher Hills, citing Adams Park as a major recreational amenity.50

Infrastructure financing was coordinated through civic leadership. W.O. DuVall, President of the Atlanta Federal Savings and Loan Association, served as General Chairman of the Joint Atlanta-Fulton County Bond Commission, directing municipal bond programs for road and sewer development.51 In 1949, DuVall and Wilson jointly donated the parcel at Willis Mill and Sewell Roads for the construction of the Audubon Forest Methodist Church, establishing an institutional presence in the subdivision.52

Chapter 8: The Grand Jury Inquiries of 1939

The relationships between county commissioners, private real estate agents, and municipal infrastructure allocations drew formal scrutiny. In the fall of 1939, the Fulton County Grand Jury initiated an inquiry into the actions of Commissioners Adams and Chastain.53

During the proceedings, Adams was involved in a minor incident when his hat was misplaced during a jury interview, prompting a brief humorous exchange regarding the size of the juror’s replacement hat he briefly wore.54

On November 1, 1939, The Atlanta Constitution published details of the grand jury’s findings regarding county park funding.55 The jury questioned the scale of expenditure on country club-style facilities, noting that George L. Wilson, the sales agent for the subdivisions adjacent to Adams Park, was also the political campaign manager for Dr. Charles R. Adams.56

The November 1939 presentments recorded that county equipment and labor had been utilized to grade and lay road foundations in the Beecher Hills subdivision, owned by Wey-Con, Inc.57 In addition, county forces had paved the access road to Dr. Adams’s residence.58 While the county engineer stated that Dr. Adams had reimbursed the county for the paving costs, the use of county equipment for private property generated public controversy.59

The grand jury concluded that public funds should prioritize neighborhood playgrounds rather than large recreational facilities adjacent to private developments.60

Adams and his supporters contested the findings. West End civic representatives stated that Dr. Adams did not own real estate immediately adjacent to Adams Park, noting that his 80-acre farm was situated two miles away on Cascade Road.61 Commissioner Chastain issued a public statement denying personal financial interest in the park properties.62

When the grand jury circulated a questionnaire to county employees inquiring about commercial transactions with businesses owned by commissioners, county workers’ union representative Kenneth Murrell declined to participate, stating that his private purchases were personal matters.63 Adams stated that his financial records were open for public inspection and that his only active commercial practice was his medical profession.64

During the November 1939 trial of tax assessor C. Homer Gullatt regarding park valuations, internal divisions on the commission were highlighted when Dr. Adams testified for the prosecution.65

Chapter 9: Secret Meetings and the Fall of the Machine

In January 1941, press reports noted that the county commissioners held an unannounced session at Dr. Adams’s West End medical office to establish the public works priority schedule for the year.66 Commission clerk Frank Fling stated that formal minutes would be recorded once the schedule was ratified at a public meeting.67

In March 1940, when a grand jury presentment suggested the retirement of senior police department officers, Adams publicly opposed the measure, declaring he would stand by his former colleagues on the force “until hell freezes over.”68

During his 1942 reelection campaign, Adams faced challenger Ellis Barrett, who highlighted the previous grand jury reports in political advertisements titled “Evidently Scarce as Hen’s Teeth.”69 The advertisements noted that only 14 of 1,058 former grand jurors had signed endorsements for Adams.70

Adams broadcast campaign addresses on radio stations WGST on September 7, 1942, and WSB on September 8, 1942.71 In May 1942, a grand jury presentment recommended establishing a county manager system and specifically criticized administrative accounting of revenues at the Adams Park tennis courts.72 Adams was defeated in the 1942 primary by Ellis Barrett.73

Chapter 10: Post-Tenure and Later Years

Following the election, the commission majority voted 3 to 2 in September 1942 to close the River Convict Camp.74 The facility was situated on the 1,304-acre tract acquired by the county in 1937 from the Chattahoochee Brick Company. Adams opposed the closure, characterizing it as an impractical measure that eliminated active paving operations and displaced camp personnel.75 Following employee dismissals, Adams publicly contested the personnel actions.76

In October 1948, The Atlanta Constitution reported on county labor and materials used to install a 700-foot fence and a 3,000-foot walkway adjacent to Adams’s property on Adams Drive, S.W.77 Public Works Superintendent Bill Patton stated that the work was conducted in connection with ditch repair to mitigate drainage across adjacent land.78

Following his public service, Adams remained active in his medical practice. His son, Dr. Charles Ross Adams Jr., served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during World War II, graduated from the Emory University School of Dentistry, and practiced dentistry in Cascade Heights and Buckhead for 39 years.79

Dr. Charles Ross Adams Sr. died on August 13, 1986, at the age of 91 at Americas Healthcare Center, and was buried at Westview Cemetery.80 His wife, Letcher Estelle Davis Adams, preceded him in death.81 His daughter, Dr. Clara McClellan, also practiced medicine in Atlanta.82

Conclusion: The Legacy of a County Builder

The administration of Dr. Charles R. Adams represents a transformative period in Fulton County’s physical development. As a physician, he advanced modernization proposals for Grady Hospital and county public health administration. As county commissioner, he directed New Deal federal relief funds into the construction of major public works, transportation improvements, and county parks, including the 158-acre facility at Adams Park. His political career reflected the close relationship between public infrastructure allocations and suburban residential expansion during the mid-twentieth century.

Bibliography

  • Atlanta Daily World. “WHITE SLIPS FOR RACE VOTERS: Qualified Colored Voters To Ballot For Sheriff FIVE IN RACE.” March 2, 1938.
  • History of Audubon Forest Methodist Church Document. Detailing the June 5, 1949 founding, charter members, and early construction.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “12-12-18 Sanitary Tax Considered by Commission.” November 2, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “$13 Million Expressway Bond Issue Study Likely.” February 26, 1952.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “3,600 Farm Leaders Warned To ‘Stay Out of Politics’.” March 3, 1940.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “40-Mile Speed Limit on Fulton Roads Is Urged.” December 12, 1940.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Adams to Fight Selling of Autos of Fulton Police.” July 30, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “At the Courthouse.” November 18, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Chastain, Adams Actions Attacked by Grand Jury.” November 1, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Chastain Denies Personal Profit.” September 15, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Col. Cox Named Engineer Of Joint Bond Commission.” May 25, 1947.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “COMMISSION PICKS IRA DODD AS HEAD OF REFORMATORY.” October 17, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Commissioners Defend Right to Employe Trade.” November 2, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Commissioners Near Fist Fight in Stormy Meet.” February 2, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Commissioners Vote to Retain Offices.” January 2, 1936.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “County Drafts Program for Public Works.” January 10, 1941.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “County Political Picture Shapes Up for ’46 Races.” December 23, 1945.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “County Salaries to be Cut in 1936.” November 27, 1935.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “County Votes $21,876 for Siren Service.” July 17, 1942.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “County Workers’ Union Head Defies Grand Jury Quiz.” October 6, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. Display Ad 9 (Ellis Barrett Campaign). September 6, 1942.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Early Vote Urged on Hospital Tax by Dr. C.R. Adams.” June 24, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Fulton Commissioners Delay Action on Welfare ‘Vacancies’.” October 5, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Fulton County Grand Jury Presentments for September and October Term.” November 4, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Fulton Fire Coverage Change is Suggested.” May 31, 1936.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Fulton Lateral Sewer Program Probe Pushed.” August 3, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Generous Atlantans Give To Aid ‘Opportunities’.” December 23, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Grady’s Transfer to Fulton County Urged by Adams.” June 22, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “GRAND JURY DEMANDS GENERAL MANAGER.” May 2, 1942.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Grand Jury Hears Pharr Fee Record.” February 22, 1936.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Group in West End Defends Dr. Adams.” November 8, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Handsome and Palatial Homes in West End Section.” September 26, 1937.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Happy Group Sees Dedication Of Adams Park.” May 30, 1940.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Heated Words Exchanged at County Session.” September 26, 1940.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Homer Gullatt Wins ‘Not Guilty’ Verdict.” November 19, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Jury Refuses To Drop Opposition To Creation of New Court Divisions.” February 19, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Jury to Consider Rigid Budget Law.” February 12, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Lions’ Heads Installed.” June 22, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Merger, Tax Plan Put Up to Jurors by City, County.” December 19, 1935.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “New Instances of County Work Aiding Dr. Adams Are Reported.” October 15, 1948.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Obituary: Dr. Charles Ross Adams Jr.” June 15, 2001.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Politics Behind Worker Purge, Adams Charges.” September 25, 1942.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “RADIO PROGRAMS: WSB.” September 8, 1942.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “RAPIDLY DEVELOPING FULTON COUNTY.” July 30, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “River Convict Camp Will Be Abandoned.” September 23, 1942.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Selling From 4 Subdivisions.” May 19, 1940.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Special Tax Seen in Fulton County.” June 29, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Spick and Span County Dairy Model for Fulton Farms.” May 31, 1937.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “Trial of Gullatt on Fraud Charge Will Open Today.” November 15, 1939.
  • The Atlanta Constitution. “WPA Allots Funds for Fulton Parks.” September 11, 1938.
  • The Atlanta Journal. “Atlanta Real Estate News.” May 12, 1935.
  • The Atlanta Journal. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs.” March 8, 1934.
  • The Atlanta Journal. “Georgia Asks $5,000,000 Building Fund From WPA.” April 12, 1938.
  • The Atlanta Journal. “Obituary: Ruth S. Knight.” August 14, 1986.
  • The Atlanta Journal. “RADIO PROGRAMS: WGST.” September 7, 1942.
  • The Atlanta Journal. “West End’s Park Nearing Completion.” May 5, 1939.
  1. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  2. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  3. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  4. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  5. “Obituary: Dr. Charles Ross Adams Jr.,” The Atlanta Constitution, June 15, 2001; “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  6. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  7. “Handsome and Palatial Homes in West End Section,” The Atlanta Constitution, September 26, 1937.
  8. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  9. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  10. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  11. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  12. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  13. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  14. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  15. “Dr. Adams Hopes to Apply Science to County Affairs,” The Atlanta Journal, March 8, 1934.
  16. “Merger, Tax Plan Put Up to Jurors by City, County,” The Atlanta Constitution, December 19, 1935.
  17. “Grand Jury Hears Pharr Fee Record,” The Atlanta Constitution, February 22, 1936.
  18. “Grand Jury Hears Pharr Fee Record,” The Atlanta Constitution, February 22, 1936.
  19. “Commissioners Vote to Retain Offices,” The Atlanta Constitution, January 2, 1936.
  20. “County Salaries to be Cut in 1936,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 27, 1935.
  21. “Commissioners Near Fist Fight in Stormy Meet,” The Atlanta Constitution, February 2, 1939.
  22. “Fulton Fire Coverage Change is Suggested,” The Atlanta Constitution, May 31, 1936.
  23. “WHITE SLIPS FOR RACE VOTERS: Qualified Colored Voters To Ballot For Sheriff FIVE IN RACE,” Atlanta Daily World, March 2, 1938.
  24. “WHITE SLIPS FOR RACE VOTERS: Qualified Colored Voters To Ballot For Sheriff FIVE IN RACE,” Atlanta Daily World, March 2, 1938.
  25. “WHITE SLIPS FOR RACE VOTERS: Qualified Colored Voters To Ballot For Sheriff FIVE IN RACE,” Atlanta Daily World, March 2, 1938.
  26. “Special Tax Seen in Fulton County,” The Atlanta Constitution, June 29, 1939.
  27. “Spick and Span County Dairy Model for Fulton Farms,” The Atlanta Constitution, May 31, 1937.
  28. “Grady’s Transfer to Fulton County Urged by Adams,” The Atlanta Constitution, June 22, 1939.
  29. “Grady’s Transfer to Fulton County Urged by Adams,” The Atlanta Constitution, June 22, 1939.
  30. “Early Vote Urged on Hospital Tax by Dr. C.R. Adams,” The Atlanta Constitution, June 24, 1939.
  31. “Special Tax Seen in Fulton County,” The Atlanta Constitution, June 29, 1939.
  32. “12-12-18 Sanitary Tax Considered by Commission,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 2, 1939.
  33. “Fulton Commissioners Delay Action on Welfare ‘Vacancies’,” The Atlanta Constitution, October 5, 1939.
  34. “COMMISSION PICKS IRA DODD AS HEAD OF REFORMATORY,” The Atlanta Constitution, October 17, 1939.
  35. “At the Courthouse,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 18, 1939.
  36. “Adams to Fight Selling of Autos of Fulton Police,” The Atlanta Constitution, July 30, 1939.
  37. “40-Mile Speed Limit on Fulton Roads Is Urged,” The Atlanta Constitution, December 12, 1940.
  38. “Fulton Lateral Sewer Program Probe Pushed,” The Atlanta Constitution, August 3, 1939.
  39. “County Votes $21,876 for Siren Service,” The Atlanta Constitution, July 17, 1942.
  40. “Heated Words Exchanged at County Session,” The Atlanta Constitution, September 26, 1940.
  41. “Heated Words Exchanged at County Session,” The Atlanta Constitution, September 26, 1940.
  42. “Heated Words Exchanged at County Session,” The Atlanta Constitution, September 26, 1940.
  43. “Atlanta Real Estate News,” The Atlanta Journal, May 12, 1935.
  44. “$13 Million Expressway Bond Issue Study Likely,” The Atlanta Constitution, February 26, 1952.
  45. “Georgia Asks $5,000,000 Building Fund From WPA,” The Atlanta Journal, April 12, 1938.
  46. “WPA Allots Funds for Fulton Parks,” The Atlanta Constitution, September 11, 1938.
  47. “West End’s Park Nearing Completion,” The Atlanta Journal, May 5, 1939.
  48. “Happy Group Sees Dedication Of Adams Park,” The Atlanta Constitution, May 30, 1940.
  49. “Chastain, Adams Actions Attacked by Grand Jury,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 1, 1939.
  50. “Selling From 4 Subdivisions,” The Atlanta Constitution, May 19, 1940.
  51. “Col. Cox Named Engineer Of Joint Bond Commission,” The Atlanta Constitution, May 25, 1947.
  52. History of Audubon Forest Methodist Church Document, detailing the June 5, 1949 founding, charter members, and early construction.
  53. “Chastain, Adams Actions Attacked by Grand Jury,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 1, 1939.
  54. “Chastain Denies Personal Profit,” The Atlanta Constitution, September 15, 1939.
  55. “Chastain, Adams Actions Attacked by Grand Jury,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 1, 1939.
  56. “Chastain, Adams Actions Attacked by Grand Jury,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 1, 1939.
  57. “Fulton County Grand Jury Presentments for September and October Term,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 4, 1939.
  58. “Fulton County Grand Jury Presentments for September and October Term,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 4, 1939.
  59. “Fulton County Grand Jury Presentments for September and October Term,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 4, 1939.
  60. “Fulton County Grand Jury Presentments for September and October Term,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 4, 1939.
  61. “Group in West End Defends Dr. Adams,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 8, 1939.
  62. “Chastain Denies Personal Profit,” The Atlanta Constitution, September 15, 1939.
  63. “County Workers’ Union Head Defies Grand Jury Quiz,” The Atlanta Constitution, October 6, 1939.
  64. “Commissioners Defend Right to Employe Trade,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 2, 1939.
  65. “Trial of Gullatt on Fraud Charge Will Open Today,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 15, 1939; “Homer Gullatt Wins ‘Not Guilty’ Verdict,” The Atlanta Constitution, November 19, 1939.
  66. “County Drafts Program for Public Works,” The Atlanta Constitution, January 10, 1941.
  67. “County Drafts Program for Public Works,” The Atlanta Constitution, January 10, 1941.
  68. “3,600 Farm Leaders Warned To ‘Stay Out of Politics’,” The Atlanta Constitution, March 3, 1940.
  69. Display Ad 9 (Ellis Barrett Campaign), The Atlanta Constitution, September 6, 1942.
  70. Display Ad 9 (Ellis Barrett Campaign), The Atlanta Constitution, September 6, 1942.
  71. “RADIO PROGRAMS: WGST,” The Atlanta Journal, September 7, 1942; “RADIO PROGRAMS: WSB,” The Atlanta Constitution, September 8, 1942.
  72. “GRAND JURY DEMANDS GENERAL MANAGER,” The Atlanta Constitution, May 2, 1942.
  73. “County Political Picture Shapes Up for ’46 Races,” The Atlanta Constitution, December 23, 1945.
  74. “River Convict Camp Will Be Abandoned,” The Atlanta Constitution, September 23, 1942.
  75. “River Convict Camp Will Be Abandoned,” The Atlanta Constitution, September 23, 1942.
  76. “Politics Behind Worker Purge, Adams Charges,” The Atlanta Constitution, September 25, 1942.
  77. “New Instances of County Work Aiding Dr. Adams Are Reported,” The Atlanta Constitution, October 15, 1948.
  78. “New Instances of County Work Aiding Dr. Adams Are Reported,” The Atlanta Constitution, October 15, 1948.
  79. “Obituary: Dr. Charles Ross Adams Jr.,” The Atlanta Constitution, June 15, 2001.
  80. “Obituary: Ruth S. Knight,” The Atlanta Journal, August 14, 1986.
  81. “Obituary: Ruth S. Knight,” The Atlanta Journal, August 14, 1986.
  82. “Obituary: Ruth S. Knight,” The Atlanta Journal, August 14, 1986.
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