Eugene Clay Shaw, Jr. was born in Miami, Florida on April 19, 1939. He grew up in Miami and graduated from Stetson University in 1961; he received his M.B.A. from the University of Alabama in 1963 and a J.D. degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1966.
Clay began his career as an attorney in private practice, becoming the assistant city attorney for Ft. Lauderdale in 1968 and chief city prosecutor from 1968 to 1969. He served as an associate municipal judge in Ft. Lauderdale from 1969 to 1971.
Clay was elected a Ft. Lauderdale City Commissioner in 1971 and served until 1973.He served as Ft. Lauderdale's Vice Mayor (1971-1973) and was subsequently elected Mayor in 1975. After five years as Mayor, Clay was elected as a Republican to the 97th Congress; he subsequently served 13 terms (January 3, 1981 to January 3, 2007). After leaving Congress, he has led classes at Harvard University as a Harvard Fellow. Clay Shaw passed away in 2013.
The Stetson University duPont-Ball Library is pleased to hold in our Archives Clay Shaw's official congressional papers (totaling more than 100 linear feet) and memorabilia. The collection includes policy notebooks, plaques, awards, videos, letters from U.S. presidents, a number of signed framed bills with the presidential signing pens, and more than 2,500 photos. The U.S. and Florida flags that stood in Clay Shaw's office are also in the collection. The collection was acquired in late 2006.
Please ask to see our Politicos Room that holds some of the Shaw Collection.
