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The Max Cleland Collection

Joseph Maxwell "Max" Cleland was born in Atlanta, Georgia on August 24, 1942. He grew up in Lithonia, Georgia and graduated from Stetson University in 1964; he received a Master's degree from Emory University in 1968.

While serving in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1968, Max attained the rank of Captain. He was seriously wounded in combat in Vietnam and, after a long recovery and rehabilitation, he began a career in politics.

Max first served as a member of the Georgia state senate (1971-1975) and then worked as a consultant to the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and as a professional Senate staff member until 1977. He was appointed Administrator of the United States Veterans Administration by President Jimmy Carter in 1977 and served until 1981.

Returning to his home state, Max became Georgia Secretary of State (1982-1996) and was subsequently elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1996, serving from January 7, 1997 to January 3, 2003. After leaving the Senate, Max served on the Board of Directors for the Export-Import Bank of the United States; he also served on the 9-11 Commission that explored the terrorist attacks on the United States.

In June 2009, Max received a presidential appointment from President Obama as Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The Commission, established by Congress in 1923, serves as the guardian of America's overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials.

The Stetson University duPont-Ball Library is pleased to hold in our Archives much of Max Cleland's personal memorabilia, including items from his time in Vietnam, his time in the U.S. Senate and other political offices, and much more. Specifically included are items from his government offices, items from campaigns, plaques, awards, DVDs, CDs, letters from U.S. presidents and prominent government officials, and almost 5,000 photos, many of them autographed. The collection was acquired in 2007. The Stetson library also holds Max's two books, Strong at the Broken Places and Going for the Max!

Max Cleland's official Senatorial papers and memorabilia are held by the University of Georgia's Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies. His Veterans Administration papers are held by the Carter Center.

Cleland Collection

• Cleland Collection
• Memorabilia
• Photos
• Video Clips
• Vietnam
• Vietnam Audio Clips
• Dedication