Georgia Historical Society
Encyclopedia
Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia history. GHS houses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusively to Georgia history in the nation.
Chartered as a private institution by the Georgia General Assembly in 1839, the Georgia Historical Society is the oldest continuously operated state historical society in the South and one of the oldest state historical societies in the nation. As a teaching and research institution, GHS promotes a better understanding of the past through a variety of educational programs, publications, and research services. It publishes the award-winning Georgia Historical Quarterly (Georgia's journal of record since 1917), maintains a library and archives, manages the Historical Marker Program for the State of Georgia, organizes the annual Georgia History Festival, and, with the Office of the Governor, inducts the Georgia Trustees, the highest honor the State of Georgia can confer. Headquartered in Savannah with an office in Atlanta, GHS has over 6,000 members and nearly 200 affiliates in 80 counties.
in 1839, with headquarters in Savannah, Georgia
. Founding members included some of the most prominent political, civic, and intellectual leaders of the day: Attorney General of the U.S. John Macpherson Berrien, American Medical Association founder Dr. Richard D. Arnold, Georgia State Supreme Court Justice Eugenius A. Nisbet, U.S. Congressman Thomas Butler King, Sea Island planter James Hamilton Cooper, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice James Moore Wayne.
The Society began collecting artifacts and archival material in 1840 and published its first book the same year. In 1849, GHS acquired its first library and archives building and received from Mary Telfair its current research library building, Hodgson Hall, in 1876. In 1886, GHS founded the oldest public art museum in the South when Telfair bequeathed her home and funding to create the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, which GHS operated until it spun off in 1920. In 1917, GHS launched the Georgia Historical Quarterly, the influential journal of record for Georgia history and a major outlet for scholars to publish cutting edge research on Georgia and the South. By the late 1960s the Society's archival collection had become so extensive that a new wing, the Abrahams Annex, was built to house the material. In 1966, the Society became a branch repository of the Secretary of State's office, and received state funding and staff to operate its library and archives. In 1997, GHS proposed a voluntary privatization, moving the public-private partnership with the state to a new level. As a result of regaining full operational control over the institution, the Society began the most extraordinary period of growth in its nearly 175 year history, a growth that continues unabated to this day.
founder Detlef Lienau
and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
The Society's archives are housed in the Abrahams Annex built in 1970 and named in honor of civic leader Edmund Abrahams. The Society is currently developing the Jepson House Education Center to house the office of the president and the administrative offices. Built in 1856 and named for businessman and philanthropist Robert S. Jepson, Jr., Jepson House is the center from which the Society's educational programming and publications will emanate around the state and beyond.
The new Georgia Historical Marker Program, administered by the Georgia Historical Society, differs in many ways from the State program, most noticeably in the appearance of the actual markers. The GHS markers, of the same size, shape, and material, bear the Georgia Historical Society seal rather than that of the State. Also, rather than being dark green with gold lettering, the new markers have a black background, silver seal, and silver lettering.
The Georgia Historical Society also made changes in sponsorship requirements and revised the review process, which is highly competitive. Markers are selected by an independent review board composed of professional historians. Since 1998, nearly 200 new historical markers have been erected by GHS in 57 counties.
Most significant of all, GHS has re-purposed the program by diversifying the topics and people represented in the markers. In addition to new markers about Bobby Jones' Grand Slam Year, German WWII submarines off the Georgia coast, and a plethora of schools, churches, and hospitals across the state, stories about controversial events such as the lynching of Leo Frank, Civil War bread riots, the murder of black WWII Army officer Lemuel Penn, a massacre of Unionists by Confederate guerrillas, and an attempted slave insurrection are now being told. Forty-four percent of the new markers are about African-Americans, women, and Native-Americans, subjects virtually ignored in the old program.
As a part of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, GHS launched the Civil War 150 Historical Marker Project. In addition to installing a dozen new markers about topics previously overlooked in historical markers, the Society created a micro website that uses the latest in online technology to allow students and tourists to find the 1,000 Civil War markers in the state and create custom designed driving tours. A free iPhone application was also developed for discovering, locating, and reading markers. This innovative project was recognized by the American Association for State and Local History with a prestigious Leadership in History Award.
, and the colorful Georgia Day parade. By engaging students in interactive learning experiences, Georgia History Festival sparks imagination, develops critical thinking processes, and opens the exciting world of the past to exploration, study, and understanding.
In conjunction with the Governor’s Office, the Georgia Historical Society reconstituted the Georgia Trustees as a way of recognizing Georgians whose accomplishments and community service reflect the highest ideals of the founding body of Trustees. Governor Sonny Perdue signed an executive order in 2009 reinstating the selection of Georgia Trustees upon the recommendation of GHS, and it is recognized as the highest honor the state can confer on an individual.
In the spirit of the original Georgia Trustees, the Office of the Governor and GHS annually induct new Georgia Trustees whose accomplishments and service reflect the ideals of our state’s founders. The Governor makes an annual appointment of new Trustees whose history-making accomplishments and service reflect the original Trustees’ ideals. During their induction, the newly-appointed Trustees are presented with an exact replica, cast in bronze, of the 1733 Trustees’ seal. This seal is presented by the Governor and the President of the Georgia Historical Society.
Former inductees include Vince Dooley, Sam Nunn, Hank Aaron, Ted Turner, Marguerite Neel Williams, and Bernard Marcus.
Georgia History Today is a popular history magazine that examines efforts underway around the state to promote history, including articles on some of the documents and artifacts in the Georgia Historical Society collection, historic sites around the state, new books being published, and the programs of the Affiliate Chapters.
The short segments are also available on the Today in Georgia History website, www.todayingeorgiahistory.org. This interactive website allows you to access streaming audio and video of the episodes, as well as transcripts, tips for teachers, curriculum, writing prompts, review questions and discussion topics, classroom exercises, follow-up research topics and selected primary-source material. Together, these resources will reach students of all grade levels, cover all subject areas based on content, and will align with Georgia's social studies curriculum and performance standards.
Chartered as a private institution by the Georgia General Assembly in 1839, the Georgia Historical Society is the oldest continuously operated state historical society in the South and one of the oldest state historical societies in the nation. As a teaching and research institution, GHS promotes a better understanding of the past through a variety of educational programs, publications, and research services. It publishes the award-winning Georgia Historical Quarterly (Georgia's journal of record since 1917), maintains a library and archives, manages the Historical Marker Program for the State of Georgia, organizes the annual Georgia History Festival, and, with the Office of the Governor, inducts the Georgia Trustees, the highest honor the State of Georgia can confer. Headquartered in Savannah with an office in Atlanta, GHS has over 6,000 members and nearly 200 affiliates in 80 counties.
History
For nearly 175 years, the Georgia Historical Society has been collecting, teaching, and making history accessible to the state, nation, and the world. The institution was chartered by the Georgia General AssemblyGeorgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
in 1839, with headquarters in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. Founding members included some of the most prominent political, civic, and intellectual leaders of the day: Attorney General of the U.S. John Macpherson Berrien, American Medical Association founder Dr. Richard D. Arnold, Georgia State Supreme Court Justice Eugenius A. Nisbet, U.S. Congressman Thomas Butler King, Sea Island planter James Hamilton Cooper, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice James Moore Wayne.
The Society began collecting artifacts and archival material in 1840 and published its first book the same year. In 1849, GHS acquired its first library and archives building and received from Mary Telfair its current research library building, Hodgson Hall, in 1876. In 1886, GHS founded the oldest public art museum in the South when Telfair bequeathed her home and funding to create the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, which GHS operated until it spun off in 1920. In 1917, GHS launched the Georgia Historical Quarterly, the influential journal of record for Georgia history and a major outlet for scholars to publish cutting edge research on Georgia and the South. By the late 1960s the Society's archival collection had become so extensive that a new wing, the Abrahams Annex, was built to house the material. In 1966, the Society became a branch repository of the Secretary of State's office, and received state funding and staff to operate its library and archives. In 1997, GHS proposed a voluntary privatization, moving the public-private partnership with the state to a new level. As a result of regaining full operational control over the institution, the Society began the most extraordinary period of growth in its nearly 175 year history, a growth that continues unabated to this day.
Mission statement
It is the mission of the Georgia Historical Society to collect, examine, and teach Georgia and American history.Facilities
The GHS campus in Savannah currently consists of Hodgson Hall, which houses the Society's statewide headquarters, research library, and administrative offices and the Abrahams Annex which houses the Society's archives. Built for the Society in 1876 and named for diplomat and Middle Eastern scholar William B. Hodgson, Hodgson Hall features high-vaulted ceilings and decorative ironwork. The building was designed by American Institute of ArchitectsAmerican Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
founder Detlef Lienau
Detlef Lienau
Detlef Lienau was a German architect born in Holstein. He is credited with having introduced the French style to American building construction, notably the mansard roof and all its decorative flourishes...
and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The Society's archives are housed in the Abrahams Annex built in 1970 and named in honor of civic leader Edmund Abrahams. The Society is currently developing the Jepson House Education Center to house the office of the president and the administrative offices. Built in 1856 and named for businessman and philanthropist Robert S. Jepson, Jr., Jepson House is the center from which the Society's educational programming and publications will emanate around the state and beyond.
Library and Archives
Within the Society’s library and archives is preserved the oldest collection of materials related to Georgia history in the nation, including 4 million manuscripts, 100,000 photographs, 25,000 architectural drawings, 20,000 rare books, and thousands of maps, portraits, and artifacts representing every era of the state's history. Each year thousands of scholars, genealogists, historic preservationists, teachers, and students from around the world access this material, either on site or online, in order to discover the past. The library and archival collections are used for writing history books and articles, tracing ancestry, preserving historic buildings, student research projects, and classroom teaching.Georgia Historical Marker Program
In 1997, the State of Georgia privatized the historical marker program and turned the program's management over to the Georgia Historical Society. Although the maintenance and replacement of markers erected prior to July 1, 1998, remains the purview of the State of Georgia, the Georgia Historical Society, through a contract with the State, is responsible for receiving and approving applications for new historical markers, and erecting those historical markers.The new Georgia Historical Marker Program, administered by the Georgia Historical Society, differs in many ways from the State program, most noticeably in the appearance of the actual markers. The GHS markers, of the same size, shape, and material, bear the Georgia Historical Society seal rather than that of the State. Also, rather than being dark green with gold lettering, the new markers have a black background, silver seal, and silver lettering.
The Georgia Historical Society also made changes in sponsorship requirements and revised the review process, which is highly competitive. Markers are selected by an independent review board composed of professional historians. Since 1998, nearly 200 new historical markers have been erected by GHS in 57 counties.
Most significant of all, GHS has re-purposed the program by diversifying the topics and people represented in the markers. In addition to new markers about Bobby Jones' Grand Slam Year, German WWII submarines off the Georgia coast, and a plethora of schools, churches, and hospitals across the state, stories about controversial events such as the lynching of Leo Frank, Civil War bread riots, the murder of black WWII Army officer Lemuel Penn, a massacre of Unionists by Confederate guerrillas, and an attempted slave insurrection are now being told. Forty-four percent of the new markers are about African-Americans, women, and Native-Americans, subjects virtually ignored in the old program.
As a part of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, GHS launched the Civil War 150 Historical Marker Project. In addition to installing a dozen new markers about topics previously overlooked in historical markers, the Society created a micro website that uses the latest in online technology to allow students and tourists to find the 1,000 Civil War markers in the state and create custom designed driving tours. A free iPhone application was also developed for discovering, locating, and reading markers. This innovative project was recognized by the American Association for State and Local History with a prestigious Leadership in History Award.
Affiliate Chapter Program
The Georgia Historical Society's Affiliate Chapter Program is a statewide network designed to help local historical organizations, through workshops on the care of historical records and artifacts, consultation visits by Society staff, technical assistance, subscriptions to GHS publications, publicity, and awards in recognition of outstanding achievements. The program was started in 1996 as part of the "Initiative 2000," which sought to redirect the Society toward broader statewide service. Today that network includes nearly 200 local historical organizations in 80 counties across the state of Georgia and beyond. Affiliate membership is open to all not-for-profit organizations whose mission is consistent with that of the Georgia Historical Society. Members include historical and genealogical societies, commissions, museums, foundations, archives, preservation organizations, churches, and patriotic organizations.Georgia History Festival
The Georgia History Festival, formerly known as Georgia Days, is the signature K-12 educational program of the Georgia Historical Society. Held annually around the anniversary of the founding of the colony of Georgia on February 12, 1733, this commemoration brings history to life for students of all ages through a variety of programs, including a series of school events and curriculum, crafts workshops, the two-day Colonial Faire and Muster living-history program held at Wormsloe State Historic SiteWormsloe Historic Site
The Wormsloe Historic Site is a state historic site near Savannah, Georgia, in the southeastern United States. The site consists of protecting part of what was once the Wormsloe Plantation, a large estate established by one of Georgia's colonial founders, Noble Jones...
, and the colorful Georgia Day parade. By engaging students in interactive learning experiences, Georgia History Festival sparks imagination, develops critical thinking processes, and opens the exciting world of the past to exploration, study, and understanding.
Georgia Trustees
The original Georgia Trustees, a governing body chartered and appointed by His Majesty King George II of England in 1732 to establish a new colony in North America, founded the Georgia colony upon the principle of Non Sibi, Sed Aliis, “Not for Self but for Others.” The Trustees were the visionaries that conceived the idea of Georgia and requested a charter for its establishment. They established and governed the colony with this vision until their disbandment in 1752 when Georgia became a royal colony.In conjunction with the Governor’s Office, the Georgia Historical Society reconstituted the Georgia Trustees as a way of recognizing Georgians whose accomplishments and community service reflect the highest ideals of the founding body of Trustees. Governor Sonny Perdue signed an executive order in 2009 reinstating the selection of Georgia Trustees upon the recommendation of GHS, and it is recognized as the highest honor the state can confer on an individual.
In the spirit of the original Georgia Trustees, the Office of the Governor and GHS annually induct new Georgia Trustees whose accomplishments and service reflect the ideals of our state’s founders. The Governor makes an annual appointment of new Trustees whose history-making accomplishments and service reflect the original Trustees’ ideals. During their induction, the newly-appointed Trustees are presented with an exact replica, cast in bronze, of the 1733 Trustees’ seal. This seal is presented by the Governor and the President of the Georgia Historical Society.
Former inductees include Vince Dooley, Sam Nunn, Hank Aaron, Ted Turner, Marguerite Neel Williams, and Bernard Marcus.
Publications
The Georgia Historical Society is the oldest publisher of Georgia history in the nation. GHS published its first book in 1840 and has produced over 100 titles since then, including two histories of the state. The Georgia Historical Quarterly, the award winning journal of record for Georgia history, has been published by the Society since 1917. The GHQ features cutting edge scholarship and book reviews on Georgia, Southern, and American history. No scholarly book on Georgia history published in the last half century has not relied on research published in the GHQ.Georgia History Today is a popular history magazine that examines efforts underway around the state to promote history, including articles on some of the documents and artifacts in the Georgia Historical Society collection, historic sites around the state, new books being published, and the programs of the Affiliate Chapters.
Today in Georgia History
A joint collaboration of the Georgia Historical Society and Georgia Public Broadcasting, Today in Georgia History is a new educational program that includes daily television and radio segments focusing on significant people and events associated with a particular day in Georgia history. Episodes began airing daily September 1, 2011 on GPB.The short segments are also available on the Today in Georgia History website, www.todayingeorgiahistory.org. This interactive website allows you to access streaming audio and video of the episodes, as well as transcripts, tips for teachers, curriculum, writing prompts, review questions and discussion topics, classroom exercises, follow-up research topics and selected primary-source material. Together, these resources will reach students of all grade levels, cover all subject areas based on content, and will align with Georgia's social studies curriculum and performance standards.