« Back to Finding Aids

John Jay Hooker Papers

Dates

1950-1990

Creator

Fox, David, Hooker, John Jay

Summary/Abstract

The John Jay Hooker Papers contain documents covering John Jay Hooker’s political, legal, and business careers and the personal notes of biographer David Fox. The materials appear to have been assembled for use in preparation for a written biography of Hooker.

Quantity/Physical Description

Less than 1 linear foot of documents.

Language(s)

English

Repository

Albert Gore Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, (615) 898-2632

Restrictions on Access

None

Copyright

It is presumed that corporate and individual copyrights in manuscripts, photographs, and other materials have been retained by the copyright owners. Copyright restrictions apply. Users of materials should seek necessary permissions from the copyright hol

Preferred Citation

(Box Number, Folder Number), John Jay Hooker Papers, Albert Gore Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Acquisition

Processed By

Original processor undetermined

Arrangement

The John Jay Hooker papers are divided into three series: Book Research, Personal Research, and Court Documents.

Biographical Note

John Jay Hooker (1930- ) is a Tennessee Lawyer, politician, and businessman. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, he graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville and attended the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He served in the United States Army from 1953-55 and graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1957.
Hooker’s law career included special appointments by Tennessee Governor Frank Clement and the Tennessee House of Representatives, involvement in the Baker v. Carr case, and serving as general counsel for the Nashville Tennessean. He was a founding partner of the law firm of Hooker, Hooker and Willis. He later was involved in several legal actions regarding the election processes and constitutional issues in Tennessee and the United States.

Hooker was active in politics from the late 1950s. His political activities have been numerous, but, among other things, he worked for Tennessee Governor Frank Clement, for Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and for the campaign of John F. Kennedy. He ran for Governor in the Tennessee Democratic Primary in 1966, losing to Buford Ellington, and obtained the nomination in 1970, but lost to Republican Winfield Dunn. He also ran for the United States Senate on several occasions as well as additional campaigns for Governor. Mr. Hooker has also been active in Tennessee politics on multiple levels that are not covered in depth in these papers.
Hooker has also been an active businessman, founding Minnie Pearl’s Fried Chicken, was one of five founders of Hospital Corporation of America, and helping to establish Newspaper Printing Corporation. He served as chairman of STP Corporation, was publisher of the Nashville newspaper, the Banner, and served chairman of United Press International. His varied business interests also included the establishment of Hookers Hamburgers, a food chain in Florida.

 

Scope and Content

The John Jay Hooker Papers cover John Jay Hooker’s political, legal, and business careers spanning from the late 1950s to the late 1990s. The collection contains the personal notes of David Fox and John Jay Hooker, oral history interviews with various members of the Hooker family, and documentation of Hooker’s career. Materials are arranged in three series, Book Research, Personal Research, and Court Filings. They are comprised primarily of biographical notes, collected published materials relating to Hooker’s career, and copies of court documents filed by Hooker, some containing hand-written comments, apparently by Mr. Hooker. All the material appears to have been gathered in preparation for a biographical work. The series are:

Series One: Book Research (16 folders) This series includes the contract John Jay Hooker made with David Fox to write Hooker’s biography. The majority of the series includes notes created by David Fox to complete this biographical project.

Series Two: Personal Research (21 folders) This series consists of personal notes, interviews, and media coverage of Hooker and political issues.

Series Three: Court Documents (3 folders) This series contains copies of court documents filed by Hooker as part of a series of court actions relating to political processes.

Associated Materials

None

Related Collections

None

Subject Terms

Persons/Families

Hooker, John Jay, Fox, David, Seigenthaler, John, Hooker, Teenie, Hooker, Tish, Norman, Jack, Neal, Jim, Van Tyne, C.H., Perot, Ross, Clinton, Bill

Organizations/Corporate Names

The Tennessean

Places

Nashville, Tennessee

Subjects (General)

Tennessee politics, Tennessee business, Minnie Pearl Chicken

Occupations

Material Types

Notes, Newspaper clippings, Memos, Oral history, Magazines

Facebook Logo  Twitter Logo  YouTube Logo  Instagram Logo  Wordpress Logo


Albert Gore Research Center

P. O. Box 193, 1301 E. Main St.
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37132

Main: 615-898-2632
University Archives: 615-898-5202
Director: 615-898-2633

Location

Todd Hall Suite 128

Hours

Monday - Friday
9:00AM - 4:00PM

Or by appointment

Summer Hours
Monday - Thursday
9:00AM - 4:00PM

Friday
Closed

Request Class Visit


Register to Vote!


 acsc oha