C. A. Trussell Motor Company records
Scope and Contents
The most voluminous of the five series are the first, Correspondence, and third, Car sales and rentals. Both contain information on the make, model, color, and other features of the cars sold by the dealership. The correspondence primarily takes the form of sales reports from other Ford dealerships and letters informing customers of the arrival of their car orders. Also included is official communication from the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. The sales and rental records span the years, 1935-1963, and include bills of sale, contracts, and documentation of cars received. Other business records included are legal documents, financial records, advertising and promotional materials, and documentation of Trussell’s involvement with a veterans’ apprenticeship program. Some maps are found in the final series of miscellaneous items.
Dates
- 1935-1964
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
This collection has no restrictions. This collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required. Apply in the Heritage Room for access.
Biographical / Historical
The C. A. Trussell Motor Company was a Ford dealership located for much of its history in downtown Athens, Georgia, first at 548-558 East Clayton Street, then at 165 Pulaski Street. It was incorporated on August 7, 1918 and closed July 3, 1991. In later years, the dealership was located at 2740 Atlanta Highway and known simply as Trussell Ford. The dealership sold Ford vehicles to state and local agencies as well as individuals in the Athens area. It was also extensively involved with local charities.
Founder Cuyler A. Trussell, an Atlanta native born on August 9, 1890, ran the dealership for more than 50 years. He also worked as the president of the Georgia Automobile Dealer Association, director of C & S Bank, and president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce. He was socially active as well, being a charter member of the Athens Rotary Club and serving on the vestry of Emmanuel Episcopal Church for many years. He died on February 14, 1973.
The dealership’s vice president and general manager, Floyd Adams (1922-2014), played an instrumental role in its development. He was also the director of the Southern Mutual Insurance Company. Like Trussell, he was deeply involved in the Athens community, serving two terms on the Athens City Council, participating in a variety of philanthropic activities, and being a long-standing member of the First Baptist Church and the Athens Rotary Club. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Athens Community Council on Aging.
Extent
6.04 Linear Feet (Fourteen full legal document boxes and one half legal document box.)
Overview
Records of the C. A. Trussell Motor Company, a Ford dealership in Athens, Georgia, in later years known as Trussell Ford.
Arrangement
The collection is organized in five series: I. Correspondence II. Ford publications III. Car rentals and sales IV. Business records V. Miscellaneous items
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Buckie Adams
Physical Description
Fair to good
- Title
- C. A. Trussell Motor Company collection
- Author
- Beth Whitlock, Mikaela LaFave, Justin Kau
- Date
- August 2019
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Heritage Room, Athens-Clarke County Library Repository
2025 Baxter Street
Athens GA 30606