The Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies was established in 1974 through the efforts of the Richard B. Russell Foundation, Inc., the Georgia General Assembly, and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. The Library’s original mission was to collect and preserve materials documenting the life and career of Richard B. Russell, Jr., United States Senator from Georgia from 1933 to 1971. The Russell Library's holdings and mission have since expanded tremendously.

Serving as a center for research and study of the modern American political system, with particular emphasis on the role of Georgia and the U. S. Congress, the Russell Library focuses on the dynamic relationship of politics, policy, and culture—where the public interest intersects with the three branches of government at all levels—through the papers, archival records, material culture, and oral history of individuals and organizations.

The Russell Library is also dedicated to developing public programming and educational materials that encourage and facilitate research, raise public awareness of the Library and its collections and services, and provide learning opportunities for the communities it serves. The breadth and depth of the Library’s collections provide an interconnected framework of perspectives and experiences for understanding the increasingly diverse people, events, and ideas shaping Georgia’s modern political landscape.