Primary Resources on Jewish History in Arizona and the Southwest

George Miller Papers (MS 628) document George Miller (b. 1922), who had been active in Tucson's Democratic Party politics since the 1970s. He was elected to the city council on a liberal to libertarian platform in 1977, a position which he occupied until 1991. In 1991 he was elected Tucson's mayor, and served two terms as mayor then retiring from public office in 1999. George Miller has the distinction of as Tucson's longest serving public official, serving twenty-two consecutive years in office.

Miller served in World War II, and later graduated from the University of Arizona and taught social studies at Tucson's Amphitheater High School from 1948 to 1951. After his teaching stint, Miller devoted himself to the development of his own paint contracting business (G. and M. Painting Contractors) before entering politics. Miller has long been identified with liberal perspectives, having been investigated by the House Un-American Activities subcommittee in 1954 (he refused to answer their questions about his membership in the communist party), and having served as one of the chief proponents in southern Arizona of George McGovern's 1972 presidential bid.

The files in this collection consist of photocopies of articles from the local Tucson and surrounding area's newspapers which document the political career of George Miller. Box one consists of articles from 1975 to December 1992. Box two consists of articles dated 1993 to October 1997. Miller served as a city council member from 1977 to 1991, and has served as Tucson's mayor from 1991 to 1998.