Georgia College & State University houses the Paul D. Coverdell United States Senate Papers. The initial relationship between Paul D. Coverdell and GCSU began in the latter half of 1990 when former GCSU president, Edwin Speir, signed an agreement to begin the Peace Corps Fellows/USA Program at Georgia College. Coverdell later signed a gift agreement at Georgia College & State University in the fall of 1996, donating his Peace Corps papers to Ina Dillard Russell Library.

Coverdell, being impressed with GCSU's mission, returned to campus in June of 1999 to officially donate his United States Senate papers to GCSU's library.

The collection is currently being processed and is not open for review.

Paul D. Coverdell as United States Senator

In September 1991, Coverdell resigned as director of the Peace Corps to pursue a Republican seat in the United States Senate. President Bush showed his support for Coverdell, and Barbara Bush campaigned for him during the senate race. He successfully won the seat in 1992 in a runoff election against Democrat Wyche Fowler. Coverdell was re-elected to his senate seat in 1998, defeating Democrat Michael Coles.

Coverdell was known by his peers in the US Senate for being a hardworking, intelligent, and devoted Senator. As a United States Senator, Coverdell supported the war against drugs and violence and worked to ensure a good education for all children. He sponsored efforts to allow parents to create special tax fee savings accounts for their children's educational future. As Chairman of the Agriculture subcommittee on Marketing, Inspection, and Product Promotion, Coverdell promoted Georgia's agriculture and worked to ensure food safety. Coverdell also served on the Small Business Committee working to create a fairer tax code. Coverdell supported volunteerism throughout his career. In June 1997 President Clinton signed into law Coverdell's Volunteer Protection Act, a law that protects volunteers, nonprofit organizations, and governmental entities from lawsuits when they are involved in charitable and non-profit activities. Coverdell also worked hard to combat problems concerning drugs in the state of Georgia and worked to impose stiffer penalties for drug smugglers and dealers. Coverdell served on the subcommittee for Foreign Relations and has worked in Georgia to initiate Operation Drug-Free Georgia.

Coverdell served as secretary to the Senate Republican Conference and was in line to become chairman of that committee at the end of 2000. He was also named Chairman for the Senate Republican Task Force on Education.

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