Society of Georgia Archivists

SGA Statement on the passing of Dr. David B. Gracy, II

2020-09-28T13:36:00.002-04:00

The Society of Georgia Archivists joins the entire archives profession in mourning the passing of Dr. David B. Gracy, II. Many in our community knew Dr. Gracy well--as colleagues, students, friends, or fellow SGA members--and his loss will be deeply felt. Dr. Gracy was an early leader in archival education and many will recall not only his achievements in the field, but also his great kindness, enthusiasm, and sense of humor.

Dr. Gracy came to Georgia in 1971 as Archivist for Georgia State University’s Southern Labor and University Archives, a department he helped to cultivate to its current status as one of the leading collections of organized labor history in the South. During his six years in Georgia, Dr. Gracy made a tremendous impact on the archives profession: he was instrumental in establishing the Southern Labor Studies Conference; was appointed by Governor George Busbee to serve on the 1976 State Historical Records Advisory Board of Georgia; served as the third President of this organization from 1972-1974; was founding editor of Provenance (then Georgia Archive); and for twelve years taught “Introduction to Archival Enterprise” at the Georgia Archives Institute. SGA's David B. Gracy, II Award, first bestowed in 1990, honors superior contributions to Provenance.

Following his time in Georgia, Dr. Gracy went on to become Director of Archives at Texas Tech and State Archivist of Texas. He served as President of the Society of American Archivists, the Academy of Certified Archivists, and Austin Archivists. He was also a Fellow of the Texas State Historical Society and President of the Austin Chapter of the Association of Records Managers and Administrators. Dr. Gracy was the author of several books, including Archives and Manuscripts: Arrangement and Description; Littlefield Lands: Colonization on the Texas Plains, 1912-1920; Too Lightly Esteemed in the Past: Archival Enterprise, Records Management and Preservation Administration in Texas; Moses Austin: His Life; and most recently, A Man Absolutely Sure of Himself: Texan George Washington Littlefield.

The Society of Georgia Archivists is grateful to Dr. Gracy for his crucial early work in support of the Society and is deeply saddened by the loss of such a powerful force in the archives profession. May Dr. Gracy rest in peace, and may we all continue to honor his legacy through our care and advocacy for archives and archivists.

Digital Library of Georgia Announces Subgrants to Support Projects up to $7500

2020-09-09T10:40:00.000-04:00

To broaden partner participation in the Digital Library of Georgia (DLG), DLG is soliciting proposals for historic digitization projects costing up to $7500 from non-profit Georgia cultural heritage institutions. Applicant organizations must be open to the public, and their collections must be available for public research either by appointment or through regular hours. Project metadata will be included in the DLG portal and the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA). Projects may include the reformatting of textual materials (not including newspapers), graphic materials, or audio-visual materials. Applicants should have materials prepared for a project start date of January 1, 2021.

Selection of materials or collections to digitize will be made in accordance with the DLG's Collection Development Policy and will depend on the availability of resources and funding. Applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

Clarity of proposal--Project scope and responsibilities should be well-defined.
Diversity--Materials that represent the cultural, political, social, geographic, and/or economic diversity of the state of Georgia will be given priority.
Reusability--Materials should be free of legal restrictions or have permissions granted by the copyright holder. Preference is given to materials that are freely available or available for free reuse for either educational or non-commercial uses.
Historic value--Materials should have high research, artifactual, or evidential value and/or be of particular interest to multiple audiences.
Added value through digitization--Materials for which access will be substantially improved by digitization or which have a high potential for added value in the digital environment through linkages to existing digitized content will be given priority.
Capacity building--Preference will be given to organizations who have not yet collaborated with the DLG and/or those with limited digitization resources or experience.

A committee consisting of DLG, Georgia HomePLACE, Georgia Humanities Council, and Georgia Council for the Arts staff and representatives of GHRAC and the DLG partner community will determine awards. Awards committee members will recuse themselves from review of a proposal should a conflict of interest exist.

For textual and graphic materials, digitization and descriptive services will be performed by DLG staff. In the case of audio-visual collections, digitization will be outsourced to a vendor. Partners are responsible for transporting materials to and from the DLG or for costs associated with shipping to and from vendors.

Nominated materials must have clear rights statements and documentation. Any metadata created will be shared under a Creative Commons License Public Domain License (CC0), through the DLG's portal and the DPLA.

To apply, submit a 2 MB or smaller zip file of the following to our proposal submission form (you will need a gmail account) by October 1, 2020:

Application form;
One letter of reference from a previous user of the materials describing their historic value and potential for reuse by multiple audiences;
Five samples of selected content;
A budget that includes conversion costs, metadata services, and hosting fees based on the DLG Digital Services Cost Recovery for Proposal Development and using the application budget form; and
If requesting DLG hosting, proof of rights status for materials (e.g., letter of permissions from copyright holder, donor’s agreement, orphan works status assessment, release form, etc.).

Important dates

August 12, 2020, 2 pm, Webinar
August 25, 2020, 9 am-noon, Phone office hours with DLG staff
August 26, 2020, 1-4 pm, Phone office hours with DLG staff
October 1, 2020, Proposals due
November 7, 2020, Committee reviews proposals
November 16, 2020, Recipients notified
December 16, 2020, Service agreements signed (Sample MOU available here) and project schedules agreed
January 1, 2021, Projects begin

Sample applications, reviewer materials, and information about past recipients and their projects are all available at https://sites.google.com/view/dlg-docs/dlg-documentation/dlg-subgranting-program.

Digitization of Materials Documenting the Beginning of Peachtree City, Georgia Now Available Online

2020-08-26T12:37:00.006-04:00

WRITER: Mandy Mastrovita, mastrovi@uga.edu, 706-583-0209

CONTACT: Sheila McAlister, mcalists@uga.edu, 706-542-5418

ATHENS, Ga. -- Digitization of materials documenting the beginning of Peachtree City, Georgia are now available freely online.

New online records that describe the history of Peachtree City, Georgia, one of the country's most successful post-World War II "new towns," are now available for researchers in the Digital Library of Georgia. The collection, Peachtree City: Plans, Politics, and People, “New Town” Beginnings and How the "New Town" Grew, is available at dlg.usg.edu/collection/frrls-pt_newtown and contains prospectuses, master plans, maps, conceptual drawings, newsletters, and administrative records dating from the 1950s to 2007.

Rebecca Watts, the librarian for the Joel Cowan History Room at Peachtree City Library, describes the importance of these resources:

“These materials will provide land planners, city planners, and those interested in how a city like Peachtree City came to be, with insight on its beginnings and early history, when the city was devoted to slow growth in an effort to keep a balance between industry, residential, and community amenities.”

Ellen Ulken, the co-author of Peachtree City: Images of America (Arcadia Publishing, 2009) notes: “I found the city’s early newsletters invaluable for tracking down stories, photos of people, issues, and progress of the early 1970s…I feel certain that the next person to come along and write a history of Peachtree City will be glad if this material is available and findable online. The digital format would ensure a long life for these newsletters.”

Link to featured images:

Peachtree City promotional map [Map 2]

peachtree-city.org/DocumentCenter/View/16664/ptc05

Description: A later version of a larger 1974 Peachtree City, Georgia, promotional map (see peachtree-city.org/DocumentCenter/View/16684/ptc26), which highlights 24 named businesses, this map also prominently shows Lake McIntosh with a label indicating "under construction" rather than the more specific "opening in 1974" of the earlier map.

The lake was not completed until December 2012. Other notable changes to this map are that the "Ryland Model Home Park" is now shown east of Highway 74 on the south side of Highway 54 in the area of Hunter's Glen subdivision (not named as such on the map). Also, the Information Center has moved to Aberdeen Center on the north side of Highway 54 near the center of town, not far from its previous location.

What had been "Peachtree City Realty" on the earlier map is now renamed "Garden Cities Reality [sic]," which was formed in December 1974.

Happen: Peachtree City updated newsletter for 1974

peachtree-city.org/DocumentCenter/View/16655/ptc04-74

Description:

Happen: Peachtree City updated newsletter. Volume 3, issue 1, January 1974. Appeal letter signed by leaders of both Kiwanis and Rotary clubs to support the school referendum. Peachtree City police: Haskell Barber, Chief, Bob Mathis, John Hay, Fred Cox, Orval Harris, Richard Andrews, J.B. Wright. Greg and Nancy Pearre purchase a 1973 Volkswagen bus to provide carpool service for Peachtree Citians to commute to Atlanta. Lutheran Church being organized.

(attachments to this email: frrls-pt_newtown_ptc04-74, frrls-pt_newtown_ptc05)

About Peachtree City Library

The Peachtree City Library serves the residents of Peachtree City, Georgia with adult programs, children's programs, and is a proud member of the PINES Library Consortium. Learn more at their web site, peachtree-city.org/125/Library.

About the Digital Library of Georgia

Based at the University of Georgia Libraries, the Digital Library of Georgia is a GALILEO initiative that collaborates with Georgia's libraries, archives, museums and other institutions of education and culture to provide access to key information resources on Georgia history, culture, and life. This primary mission is accomplished through the ongoing development, maintenance, and preservation of digital collections and online digital library resources. DLG also serves as Georgia's service hub for the Digital Public Library of America and as the home of the Georgia Newspaper Project, the state's historic newspaper microfilming project. Visit the DLG at dlg.usg.edu.

GEORGIA HISTORICAL RECORDS ADVISORY COUNCIL SOLICITS SUB-GRANT APPLICATIONS

2020-08-11T13:23:00.002-04:00

The Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council (GHRAC) seeks to enrich the culture and protect the rights of Georgians by fostering activities that identify, preserve, and provide access to the State’s documentary heritage. Using funds awarded to the University of Georgia Libraries and the Georgia Archives by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), GHRAC is offering grants of $2,500 to $5,000 to local historical repositories in Georgia to develop and/or implement projects to identify, preserve, and provide access to historical records. Any size local historical repository with permanently valuable archival materials may apply.

Applications must be submitted by September 14, 2020. The 2020 GHRAC Historical Records Grants
Application guidelines can be found at https://www.georgiaarchives.org/ghrac.

A historical repository is defined as a non-profit or government organization/institution that houses, preserves, and provides access to historical documents on a regularly scheduled basis. This may be a local government, historical society, library, museum, or similar organization. The archival collections of the applying institution must be available, without charge, to the public on a regularly scheduled basis. Recipients of grant awards must provide a minimum one-to-ten ($1 for $10) match of grant funds requested. The match may be met through cash and or in-kind contributions. Greater than one-to-ten matches are encouraged, but not required.

If the applicant is a local government, it must provide proof of compliance with OCGA § 50-18-99 by
supplying a records management resolution/ordinance and the name of the records management officer. If the organization does not have a records management resolution, development and passage of this resolution must be included in the project’s description and completed by the end of the grant period. Grant requests should be between $2,500 and $5,000 for local governments and non-profit repositories in Georgia to develop and/or implement projects to identify, preserve, and provide access to historical records. There is a total of $34,000 available for these grants.

Questions about the grant application process or project administration may be sent to Christopher M.
Davidson, J.D., University System of Georgia Assistant Vice-Chancellor/State Archivist, Georgia Archives at christopher.davidson@usg.edu.

Eligible projects must identify, organize, and/or improve access to historical records. Eligible expenditures include shelving; archival file folders and/or boxes; dehumidifiers; humidifiers; analog monitors; photo sleeves; HEPA vacuum cleaners; hiring consultants to identify needs and priorities for improving the organization, description, preservation and access to collections; contracting services such as reproduction services; etc.

Eligible activities include rehousing collections, adding collections to an online catalog, scanning collections, or creating an online database or websites designed to support access to researchers (e.g., online catalogs, finding aids, and digitized collections, rather than curated web exhibits), etc.

Complete applications, which include all requested information, will be reviewed by a GHRAC committee which will submit its recommendations to GHRAC for approval. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, with some preference given to underserved communities. Applicants will be notified of GHRAC's decisions by October 1, 2020. Grant recipients will receive a grant acceptance agreement, which should be signed and returned by December 1, 2020. All grant recipients must complete and sign an agreement with the University System of Georgia before beginning a grant project. Grant projects can begin once the grantee receives the signed and executed contract. Final invoices for grant reimbursements should be submitted by recipient entities by April 15, 2021.

In determining whether an applicant shall receive a grant, some of the criteria that GHRAC will consider are the following: Does the project identify, preserve and/or make accessible records significant to Georgia’s history? Does the project utilize sound archival practices? Are the proposed activities and expenditures appropriate and cost effective? Does the proposal adhere to grant project application requirements and does it contain sufficient information for GHRAC decision-making? Is the financial information submitted realistic and accurate? In general, is the application meeting the mission, goals, and objectives of GHRAC?

All grants are contingent on funding by NHPRC.

Georgia Archives Spring Book and Paper Conservation Workshops

2020-08-04T16:03:00.006-04:00

RESCHEDULED DATES

Spring Book and Paper Conservation/Preservation Workshop Series

The Georgia Archives Conservation Department together with the Big River Bindery are excited to re-
open registration for the previously postponed 3-day workshops on the conservation and preservation
of books and paper artifacts:

Introduction to Paper Conservation – August 7 - 9 ($350)
Book Conservation for Circulating and Reference Collections – August 21 - 23 ($350)

These workshops are for anyone who works in cultural heritage institutions, libraries, museums,
galleries, or just has an interest in learning on how to best look after their own objects. The workshops
are set at a foundational level and no prior experience or training is required. Join us to gain a greater

understanding of book and paper conservation/preservation and how to best look after your treasures!

Registration fees include all materials, and lunch and snacks will be provided.

Location: Georgia Archives, Morrow, GA (Greater Atlanta)

For more information and to register: http://www.cvent.com/d/8hqvbq.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are implementing additional health and safety measures to protect
the workshop attendees and staff. These include:

Reducing the maximum workshop capacity to 10 people to ensure a 6-foot distance between persons and individual work areas.
Increasing cleaning and disinfection of all the workshop spaces and surfaces.
Limiting sharing of work areas to an absolute minimum and cleaning the surfaces between use.
Requesting attendees to bring and wear face masks for the duration of the workshop.
Requiring all workshop staff and assistants to follow CDC hygiene and social distancing guidelines and to wear face masks.
Requiring hand washing upon entry for all persons.
Providing individual pre-packaged lunches and snacks.
Including video projection for demonstrations.
Prohibiting sharing of tools and materials.
Prohibiting non-workshop persons access to the workshop areas.
Require staff and attendees to complete a COVID-19 screening form before the workshop.
Daily temperature checks upon entry for all persons.

If you have any questions or concerns about the workshop and/or the health and safety measures
please contact Sigourney Smuts at sigourney.smuts@usg.edu. If you require any additional measures to
be implemented, we will gladly work with you to ensure you feel safe and comfortable to attend.

Georgia Archives Programs and Education Resources

2020-06-22T18:39:00.000-04:00

The Georgia Archives’ offers resources available on the Program and Education page of the Archives’ website. “Programs” is located under the “visit” tab on the navigation bar. Posted here is the video of the Georgia Archives’ virtual Lunch and Learn program Discovering Your Georgia Roots Using the Virtual Vault presented by Reference Archivist Tamika Strong. On this video, Strong explores genealogy resources available on the Virtual Vault. Included on the site to compliment the presentation are several handouts: How to use the Virtual Vault and instructions, presentation slides, and a Virtual Vault scavenger hunt.

The Lunch and Learn video can also be viewed on the YouTube channel “Georgia Archives.”
On the Program and Education page are also handouts and PowerPoints on genealogy, slave laws, and family research. You can view curated digitally accessible exhibits showcasing resources at the Georgia Archives. Exhibits illustrate subjects in Georgia history with primary sources and include useful information for the family history researcher.

Look for future additions to the Program and Education page.

If you have any questions, please email Georgia Archives Education Specialist Penny Cliff at penelope.cliff@usg.edu.

The Georgia Archives is a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. The Georgia Archives identifies, collects, manages, preserves, provides access to, and publicizes records and information of Georgia and its people, and assists state and local government agencies with their records management. This work is done within the framework of the USG’s mission to create a more highly educated Georgia.

130 Years of Atlanta Area African American Funeral Programs Now Freely Available Online

2020-06-16T11:18:00.000-04:00

Over 130 Years of Atlanta Area African American Funeral Programs Now Freely Available Online

Georgia’s public libraries and their partners continue to make new content freely available online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Newly digitized African American funeral programs are a boon to remote researchers, genealogists, and learners of all ages.

ATLANTA-- Over 11,500 pages of digitized African American funeral programs from Atlanta and the Southeast are now freely available in the Digital Library of Georgia. The digital collection of 3,348 individual programs dates between 1886-2019 and contains contributions from the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, a special library of the Fulton County Library System; the Wesley Chapel Genealogy Group; and the Atlanta Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. Digitization was funded by Georgia HomePLACE, a program of the Georgia Public Library Service.

“Funerals are such an important space for African Americans, said Auburn Avenue Research Library archivist and lead project contributor Derek Mosley. “The tradition of funerals is not reserved for the wealthy or privileged, but the community. It is that lasting document of someone’s life. In the program is the history and throughout this collection you see the evolution of the stories people left for future generations. I was amazed at the one pagers from the 1940’s, and by the 2000’s there was full color, multiple pages, and a ton of photographs highlighting the life and love shared by the families. This collection is public space for legacy.”

Funeral programs provide valuable social and genealogical information, typically including a photograph of the deceased, an obituary, a list of surviving relatives, and the order of service. Some programs provide more extensive details about the deceased, such as birth and death dates, maiden names, past residences, and place of burial. This data that can otherwise be hard to find, particularly for marginalized populations. Records of these communities were often either destroyed, kept in private hands, or never created in the first place.

“The challenge for African American genealogy and family research continues to be the lack of free access to historical information that can enable us to tell the stories of those who have come before us,” said Tammy Ozier, president of the Atlanta Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. “This monumental collection helps to close this gap, allowing family researchers to get closer to their clans, especially those in the metro Atlanta area, the state of Georgia, and even those outside of the state.”

The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History began collecting funeral programs in 1994 with an initial donation by library staff. Since then, staff and the public have continued to add to the collection with a focus on the city of Atlanta. Although the materials have been physically open for research for decades, they can now be accessed beyond the library’s walls. In 2012, the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Atlanta Chapter began its funeral program collection project in partnership with the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History and the Wesley Chapel Genealogy Group.

Fulton County Library System Director Gayle Holloman said, “Funerals are filled, of course, with moments that allow expressions of great sorrow. However, for so many, especially in black communities, the funeral program is the written and preserved benediction to a life lived. It is my hope that the understanding of that fact will be treasured for generations to come.”

Funeral programs are still being accepted by both organizations; to contribute to either collection, contact the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History or the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Atlanta Chapter at the links below.

####

Georgia HomePLACE encourages public libraries and related institutions across the state to participate in the Digital Library of Georgia, and offers a highly collaborative model for digitizing primary source collections related to local history and genealogy. HomePLACE is a project of the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. HomePLACE is supported with federal Library Services and Technology Act funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service.

Based at the University of Georgia Libraries, the Digital Library of Georgia is a GALILEO initiative that collaborates with Georgia's libraries, archives, museums, and other institutions of education and culture to provide access to key information resources on Georgia history, culture, and life. The Digital Library of Georgia also serves as Georgia’s service hub for the Digital Public Library of America and as the home of the Georgia Newspaper Project, the state’s historic newspaper microfilming project.

Anchoring the west end of the Sweet Auburn historic district, the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History opened May 1994 in Atlanta. A special library of the Fulton County Library System (formerly the Atlanta Fulton Public Library System), it is the first public library in the Southeast to offer specialized reference and archival collections dedicated to the study and research of African American culture and history and of other peoples of African descent.

The Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc., Metro Atlanta Chapter was established in February 2000. It is one of 39 chapters of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc., a national non-profit membership organization of diverse membership committed to the preservation of the history, genealogy and culture of African-ancestored populations of the local, national and international communities.

Created in 2007 in response to a strong interest in genealogy in South DeKalb County, the Wesley Chapel Genealogy Group is a monthly discussion group that strives to support attendees in their genealogical endeavor. Expanding its roots from its home base at the Wesley Chapel Library, the group has served the DeKalb County Public Library and the communities it serves by providing several genealogy workshops in the hopes of helping others trace their familial roots. The funeral program project is one of its most successful endeavors to date.

Selected images from the collections:

· Homegoing Celebration for Deacon James Climmie Barber, Sr. "Jack", October 23, 1917- August 9, 2000. Monday, August 14, 2000, 1:00 P.M., Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 469 Mt. Olive Road, Stockbridge, Georgia 30281, The Reverend Doctor Hopie Strickland, Jr., Pastor & Eulogist

· Funeral Services for Mrs. Julia Burton, 1:00 P.M., June 26, 1967, West Mitchell Street C.M.E. Church, 575 Mitchell Street, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia, Rev. E.H. Hicks, Pastor

· Funeral Services for Mr. Stanley Maddox, Second Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Markham Street at Northside Drive, Monday, June 1, 1970, 2:00 P.M., George W. Baker, Officiating

· Homegoing Services for Mrs. Susie Gibson McIver, Wednesday, July 7, 1993, 11:00 A.M., Turner Monumental A.M.E. Church, 66 Howard Street, Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia, The Reverend S.W. Wicker, Pastor, Officiating

· Celebration of Life, Ollisteen "Steen" Davis King Miles, August 20-1946- March 29, 2017

SGA Board Approves Salary Transparency Statement

2020-06-12T13:18:00.002-04:00

Salary Transparency Statement

Statement from the SGA Board of Directors

Atlanta, Ga.-- On April 20, 2020, the Society of Georgia Archivists’ Board of Directors voted to endorse the Society of American Archivists' Ad-Hoc Salary Transparency Working Group's open letter to the SAA Council in favor of a salary transparency policy. As of June 1, 2020, the Society of Georgia Archivists will no longer post professional opportunities (part-time/temporary jobs, full-time/permanent jobs, or internships) that do not include salary information through any of its organizational communication channels. We will also not accept postings for unpaid internships.

SGA is taking this step for several reasons:

Multiple surveys of the broader GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) field specifically have affirmed that lack of transparency regarding salaries and earnings expectations is a significant concern for professionals at all stages of their careers.
Several other professional organizations such as AMIA, Northwest Archivists, and Society of Southwest Archivists have changed their policies on job postings to dissuade employers from posting jobs without salary information or unpaid internships.
Recently a group of archivists have included recommendations for active steps to promote salary transparency and advocate for fair wages and hiring practices in our field. In this respect, we are also acting alongside other professional organizations including the Society of American Archivists, American Library Association, and regional archives associations.

This will mean some open positions available in our field will not be posted on the SGA website or through our other organizational communication channels.

We believe this step is justified. By keeping salary information secret, employers obscure structural inequalities and enable them to persist. Without salary information, it becomes harder to make the case that one is experiencing pay discrimination. Job postings with undisclosed salary information are a drain on everyone's resources, wasting both the employer's and the interviewee's valuable time and money, even as candidates may not be able to work for the salary offered.

As with salary transparency, a wealth of recent research and reports from the field emphasize the ways in which reliance on unpaid labor in the form of internships further perpetuates systemic inequities and economic injustice, and devalues the skilled labor

performed in archival institutions and collections.

In restricting employment postings to paid positions only, the Society of Georgia Archivists stands with archival workers to increase the visibility and accessibility of paid professional experiences for students and work for professionals at all career stages.

Related Resources

SAA Update: Advocating for archivist pay, view here.
Business Archives Section (BAS) Salary Requirement Survey, view here.
Endorsement of a living wage for all library employees and a minimum salary for professional librarians, view here.
Things that must be talked about, view here.
Salary information now required in job postings.
Northwest Archivists Policy for Accepting Job Postings, view here.
Wages for intern work: De-Normalizing unpaid positions in libraries and archives, view here.

This policy is based on AMIA’s “Board Position Statement on Salary Transparency.”

View the SGA Board's full statement here.

SGA Endorses the SAA Council's Statement on Black Lives and Archives

2020-06-10T16:15:00.001-04:00

On June 4, 2020, the SGA Board voted unanimously to endorse the SAA Council's Statement on Black Lives and Archives, and voiced its unequivocal opposition to the harassment, violence, and neglect of Black and brown communities

It is now up to each of us to continue the much harder work of putting this statement into action. As archivists, we reckon with history deeply and often, and we acknowledge the existence and particular U.S. legacy of structural racism, white supremacy, militarism, gatekeeping, and institutional power. We also recognize moments of grace, collective uprising, community solidarity, cultural exchange, and the power of transformative justice.

As we are each called to consider our spheres of influence and how within them we might effect change, I would also ask you to consider ways SGA might change, too. Your Board is in the process of identifying short-term internal and external actions we can take, as well as finalizing a proactive strategic plan for the longer term. We will be coming to you with questions that will help inform our priorities for future action, and we hope you'll consider providing your thoughtful feedback.

As always, your Board members are here for your concerns, questions, and ideas. Please don't hesitate to reach out to any of us at any point if there is something you'd like to discuss.

Wishing each of you and your families safety, health, and peace.

Georgia Archives Virtual Lunch and Learn: Discovering Your Georgia Roots Using the Virtual Vault

2020-06-08T12:21:00.000-04:00

Discovering Your Georgia Roots

Using the Virtual Vault

June 2020 Virtual Lunch and Learn

On Friday, June 12, 2020, noon-1:00 p.m., the Georgia Archives’ first virtual Lunch and Learn program will be available to the public. Discovering Your Georgia Roots Using the Virtual Vault will be presented by Reference Archivist Tamika Strong.

The goals for the presentation are to discuss and explore resources that can be utilized to trace family roots in Georgia and share the methodology and research tips to locate records in the Virtual Vault.

The Georgia Archives’ Virtual Vault is a portal to some of Georgia’s most important historical documents, from 1733 to the present. The Vault provides virtual access to historic Georgia manuscripts, photographs, maps, and government records housed at the Archives.

The live event is hosted through Microsoft Teams. Use browsers Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Internet Explorer 11. If you plan on using an iPhone or tablet, you may have to download the Microsoft Teams app. Click on Join Live Event to join the Lunch and Learn.

If you have any questions, please email Georgia Archives Education Specialist Penny Cliff at penelope.cliff@usg.edu.

Lunch and Learn Programs are free and open to the public and are sponsored by Friends of Georgia Archives and History (FOGAH).

Church Record Book from Harris County Covering the Years 1828-1915 now Available Online in the Digital Library of Georgia

2020-05-26T09:50:00.000-04:00

WRITER: Mandy Mastrovita, mastrovi@uga.edu, 706-583-0209

CONTACT: Sheila McAlister, mcalists@uga.edu, 706-542-5418

ATHENS, Ga. -- Church record book from Harris County covering the years 1828-1915 now available online in the Digital Library of Georgia.

A record book covering the years between 1828-1915 of the Sardis Church of Christ is now available in the Digital Library of Georgia. The Sardis Church of Christ, associated with the Primitive Baptist Church, was one of the first churches to be established in Harris County, in west-central Georgia. This resource belongs to the Chipley Historical Center of Pine Mountain, Georgia, and has been made available online thanks in part to the DLG's Competitive Digitization grant program, a funding opportunity intended to broaden DLG partner participation for statewide historic digitization projects.

The record book and descriptive information are available at:

dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:chipley_scc_sard.

Harris County was established in 1827, carved from Muscogee and Troup Counties, and from lands ceded by the Creek Nation in the 1825 Treaty of Indian Springs, and reaffirmed in the 1826 Treaty of Washington. A year later, in 1828, the Sardis Church of Christ was formed.

For the most part, the Sardis Baptist Church of Christ records follow a predictable format of when a meeting was held, who preached at the meeting, and that an invitation was given. The records also contain names of those that joined by declaration or by letter, and those that left by their own choice.

The Sardis Church also had African American members. Before the Civil War, these members are often listed only by their first names and are often denoted as “property of,” indicating their status as enslaved individuals. After the Civil War, the notations change to “colored” or sometimes “freedman” and their last name was often included. However, no matter what race, the Church always referred to a member as Brother or Sister.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the church minutes in the record book become shorter and shorter for each meeting, and membership declines. This is probably due to the establishment of other churches nearby and the increased reliability of roads and transportation.

Although the Sardis church no longer exists, the church record book is a valuable tool for both those researching Primitive Baptists in regions other than the wiregrass region of Georgia or for those researching very early Georgia churches.

Malinda Brooks, a member of the board of directors of the Chipley Historical Center, notes:

“Personally, I have used the Sardis minutes in preparation of two published family genealogy books...Researchers are excited to find out when their family members entered and exited the Sardis membership, including the death dates of some members. These death dates, especially those that have not been found elsewhere, are treasures to researchers. Most recently, a woman researching her family for her Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) membership application was able to find ancestors in the Sardis record book which helped strengthen her DAR research, especially given that the DAR was unable to track the correct ancestor.”

Featured image:

Title: Record book of the Sardis Church of Christ

URL: dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:chipley_scc_sard

(attachment: chipley_scc_sard_Page_005.jpg)

About the Chipley Historical Center of Pine Mountain

The Chipley Historical Center is located in Pine Mountain, Georgia next to City Hall in the original city hall building, built just after the turn of the twentieth century, and still contains the original jail cells. Learn more at the Chipley Historical Center's web site at chipleyhistoriccenter.org.

About the Digital Library of Georgia

Registration open for Conservation Enclosures for Libraries and Archives

2020-05-12T16:04:00.001-04:00

UPDATE: Georgia Archives Spring Book and Paper Conservation/Preservation Workshop Series

Registration open for Conservation Enclosures for Libraries and Archives

Date: June 12 – 14, 2020

Fees: $350

Location: Georgia Archives, Morrow, GA (Greater Atlanta)

Registration deadline: June 5, 2020

Registration fees include all materials, and lunch and snacks will be provided.

Should the minimum number of attendees not be met by the registration deadline, the workshop will be postponed and the attendees refunded if they wish to cancel their registration.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are implementing additional health and safety measures to protect the workshop attendees and staff. These include:

· Reducing the maximum workshop capacity to 10 people to ensure a 6-foot distance between persons and individual work areas.

· Increasing cleaning and disinfection of all the workshop spaces and surfaces.

· Limiting sharing of work areas to an absolute minimum and cleaning the surfaces between use.

· Requesting attendees to bring and wear face masks for the duration of the workshop.

· Requiring all workshop staff and assistants to follow CDC hygiene and social distancing guidelines and to wear face masks.

· Requiring hand washing upon entry for all persons.

· Providing individual pre-packaged lunches and snacks.

· Including video projection for demonstrations.

· Prohibiting sharing of tools and materials.

· Prohibiting non-workshop persons access to the workshop areas.

For more information or if you have any concerns please contact Sigourney Smuts at sigourney.smuts@usg.edu

Registration is open for the other postponed workshops, which will be rescheduled for later in 2020 with additional health and safety measures.

· Preservation Management for Cultural Heritage Institutions – $200 - date to be determined

· Introduction to Paper Conservation – $350 - date to be determined

· Book Conservation for Circulating and Reference Collections – $350 - date to be determined

A discounted price of $1050 is available for registering for all four workshops.

Location: Georgia Archives, Morrow, GA (Greater Atlanta)

For more information please contact Sigourney Smuts at sigourney.smuts@usg.edu

Call for GHRAC Awards Nominations

2020-05-01T14:36:00.000-04:00

Reward Excellent Work in Archives

Call for GHRAC Awards Nominations

Morrow, GA, April 9, 2020 – Do you know someone who has done outstanding work using, preserving, or making historical records more accessible? Think about the historical or genealogical society, library, museum, county or municipal government, researcher, local historian, educator or student. The Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council (GHRAC) wants to encourage and reward their exceptional efforts.

The Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council (GHRAC) established the Outstanding Archives Awards Program in 2003 to recognize outstanding efforts in archives and records work in Georgia. By publicly recognizing excellent achievements, the Board strives to inspire others. Hundreds of organizations and individuals play a significant role in the preservation of our state’s documentary heritage.

GHRAC has twelve different award categories for individuals and organizations. Award recipients will be honored at the Georgia Archives by the GHRAC Board at a ceremony during Archives Month in October. Nominations may be submitted through June 1. Nominations must be postmarked on or before June 1, 2020.

All of the following are eligible for an award. (You may nominate your own organization.)

local governments, courts, school systems, state agencies, and institutions
historical records repositories, historical societies, libraries, and museums
educators, students, and researchers
legislators and government officials
individuals and organizations who support archives and records management
specialized subject societies in related fields such as oral history, genealogy, folklore, archaeology, business history, etc.

A nomination package consists of the one-page nomination form (please provide all requested contact information), a 500-word summary or project description, a copy of the work itself, and any supporting documentation necessary to appropriately portray the complete work (in the case of a project which includes an exhibit, a website, or an audiovisual, instructional, service, or performance component). Please note requirements in the appropriate selection criteria for nominations.

If submitted electronically, one copy of the nomination package should be emailed to: christopher.davidson@usg.edu. If submitted as hard copy, seven (7) complete nomination packages should be sent to: GHRAC, Georgia Archives 5800 Jonesboro Rd. Morrow, GA 30260 [Copies will not be returned.] Nominators should pay particular attention to the following requirements: 1. Georgia students who research and write in an area other than Georgia history or a Georgia subject must use the resources of Georgia records repositories to qualify for these awards. 2. A letter of support from a professor, teacher, adviser, or other appropriate representative of an organization or institution must accompany students who nominate themselves or are nominated by a family member. Award recipients are typically notified in August or September, and the annual GHRAC Awards Reception and Ceremony are held at the Georgia Archives in October.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get involved and shine the spotlight on the organizations and individuals all across Georgia who are dedicated to preserving and sharing our history, and improving our record keeping.

For additional information, please contact GHRAC by phone at 678-364-3806, or email christopher.davidson@usg.edu.

2020 HomePLACE Summer Digitization Internship

2020-04-23T14:35:00.001-04:00

Purpose and Scope

The Roddenbery Memorial Library in Cairo, GA seeks highly-motivated, responsible applicants for a Summer Digitization Internship fieldwork opportunity. This is a part-time, paid summer internship opportunity lasting from May-August 2020, $10 an hour for a total of 200 hours of work. Intern work shall be conducted onsite at either the Roddenbery Memorial Library in Cairo, GA or at the Georgia Public Library Service offices in Atlanta, GA as determined by the project needs and student’s location. Accommodations will gladly be made for candidates completing the internship for course credit.

Minimum Education, Training, and Experience

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated desire to work with archival materials, will possess excellent communication skills, be detail-oriented, able to work independently, have fine manual dexterity, strong written and verbal communication skills, and strong experience using Windows-based applications and the Google Suite.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This position requires dependability, tact, knowledge of library policies and procedures, and the ability to work as part of a team. The ability to start, finish, or pick up work projects at various points, without direct supervision, is vital. Assignments will vary according to the individual project needs, and the intern may assist with other tasks as assigned. All equipment and training will be provided by Georgia HomePLACE.
The 2020 HomePLACE Summer Intern will contribute toward making digitally available 54 audio oral history interviews with African American citizens from the Cairo, Georgia area. The project, which was conducted in 1982, will also include scanning and description of 50 color slides of African American churches in the area.
The Digitization Intern will:

Research biographical details about the interviewees, as well as relevant historical information about Cairo in order to best describe the collection;
Research any privacy restrictions;
Create a collection-level finding aid and box list;
Rehouse original media into archival enclosures where required;
Convert recordings from VHS to digital video;
Scan slides on a provided flatbed scanner;
Perform quality control checks to ensure successful conversion;
Record descriptive metadata and create a detailed record for each recording and image;
Upload recordings to the Roddenbery Memorial Library’s YouTube account;
Create subject access to the recordings using the Oral History Metadata Synchronizer;
Create a press release and other promotional material, including but not limited to blog and social media posts and a web graphic;
Assist staff of the Roddenbery Memorial Library in designing a public program related to the themes and content of the digitized collection;
Keep a daily log of work and prepare a final report of work completed;
Tour the DLG and GPLS offices and work with staff to ingest the records and recordings;
If applicable, complete work required for course credit.

The Digitization Intern may:

Reach out to the partner organizations for possible collaboration;
Hand key transcription for full-text searchability;
Assist staff of the Roddenbery Memorial Library in implementing a public program related to the themes and content of the digitized collection;
Co-curate an online exhibit and/or subject guide to related collections. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of general library and archival principles and philosophy;
Computing proficiency, including the use of Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications;
Knowledge of basic library operational principles, practices, and application of Roddenbery Memorial Library policies, procedures, and activities;
Effective communication and interpersonal skills;
Ability to work with people with tact, patience, and courtesy;
Ability to maintain regular, predictable, and punctual attendance;
Ability to learn metadata standards and schemas;
Ability to learn technical processes for making digital files publicly accessible;
Ability to read and interpret print, script, or cursive handwriting.

About the Partnership

The Summer Digitization Internship program is a partnership between the Roddenbery Memorial Library and Georgia HomePLACE, a unit of the Georgia Public Library Service.
The mission of the Roddenbery Memorial Library is to continue our commitment to public service, assisting all individuals and groups in Grady County to attain the highest level of educational, cultural, economic and social enrichment possible.
Georgia HomePLACE encourages public libraries and related institutions across the state to participate in The Digital Library of Georgia, an initiative of GALILEO. HomePLACE offers a highly collaborative model for digitizing primary source collections, and is supported with Federal LSTA funds administered by IMLS through the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

Apply

Applications can either be filled out online or printed and mailed to:

Director
Roddenbery Memorial Library
320 N. Broad St.
Cairo, Ga 39828.

Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2020.
Questions may be sent to jboudet@rmlibrary.org

Three Webinars about OHMS (Oral History Metadata Synchroniser)

2020-04-13T11:55:00.001-04:00

Doug Boyd from the University of Kentucky is hosting three workshops about OHMS (Oral History Metadata Synchroniser). Registration is $39 per workshop. Learn more and register below.

Webinar: Introduction to OHMS

Tuesday, April 14, 2020 from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM (EDT) (Click on the link for more details and to register)

Webinar participants will get a comprehensive introduction to OHMS and its capabilities, then focus in on the process of getting started using OHMS, the creation of new records, synchronizing transcripts, and indexing interviews, as well as the installation and configuration of the OHMS Viewer. The webinar will discuss both practical strategies for integrating OHMS into archival workflows and the utilization of OHMS by oral history projects outside of the archive. Finally, the webinar will look at different implementations of OHMS and provide a space for workshop participants to discuss and to ask questions.

Webinar: OHMS Next Steps

Thursday, April 16, 2020 from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM (EDT) (Click on the link for more details and to register)

OHMS Next Steps is a webinar designed for those who want more in-depth practical training, as well as an opportunity to explore more advanced features and workflows. Registrants will participate in a full training session on indexing oral history interviews and synchronizing oral history transcripts. In addition to indexing and synchronization, topics will focus on the batch importing of metadata, the new auto-synchronization feature for importing transcripts with embedded time code, the bilingual capabilities of OHMS, the creation of thesauri for indexing, and the implementation of the new project management capabilities. The webinar will provide a space for workshop participants to discuss and to ask questions.

Webinar: Integrating OHMS and Omeka

Friday, April 17, 2020 (1:00 pm – 3:30 pm EDT) (Click on the link for more details and to register)

This webinar (taught by Doug Boyd and Janneken Smucker) explores how to integrate the OHMS plugin suite with Omeka to create a powerful discovery and user experience for online oral history collections. By displaying the OHMS Viewer within an Omeka item, users can conduct a text search of interviews, finding corresponding moments in an online audio or video file. By integrating the OHMS Viewer with Omeka Classic, users can search interview indexes and transcripts across entire collections. Following a brief overview of OHMS and a detailed exploration of Omeka, workshop participants will learn about installing, configuring, and deploying Omeka and the OHMS plugin suite. Instructors will present sample Omeka sites utilizing the OHMS plugins as well themes that are optimized for use with the OHMS Viewer. Additionally, workshop participants will explore workflow strategies and more advanced aspects of creating an Omeka site utilizing the OHMS Viewer.

Columbus and Macon city directories now freely available online in the Digital Library of Georgia

2020-04-02T18:21:00.000-04:00

Georgia’s public libraries continue to make new content freely available online during the public safety closures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Newly digitized Columbus and Macon city directories offer engaging social studies content for students and educator research.

March 31, 2020
CONTACT: Deborah Hakes, dhakes@georgialibraries.org

ATLANTA — Digitized city directories from Columbus (1859-1912) and Macon (1860-1899) are now available in the Digital Library of Georgia. Details in the collections about residence and resident make city directories ideally suited for local history and genealogy research, as well as student and educator research for social studies curricula.

City directories antedate the phonebook as a listing of residents, businesses, organizations, and streets. In addition to basic location information, city directories frequently provided local governmental and civic information, street maps, church and cemetery information, and historical details about the city and surrounding areas. Information about individuals typically includes the resident’s name, title or salutation, home address, marital status and spouse’s name, race, occupation, and, if applicable, information about business ownership.

“We are thrilled to share city directories from the Middle Georgia Archives with our state and the world through the Digital Library of Georgia,” said Middle Georgia Regional Library Director Jennifer Lautzenheiser. “These directories allow researchers from all backgrounds to explore the rich and nuanced history of our communities.

Academics can learn about the trends that shaped our state. Students can lift the curtain on everyday life, and family genealogists can add details to the lives of their ancestors.”

The full-text searchable digital collections are part of a statewide initiative to digitize Georgia’s public domain city directories. The project is a partnership between Georgia HomePLACE, the digitization unit of the Georgia Public Library Service; the Digital Library of Georgia; the Columbus Public Library, part of the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries; and Washington Memorial Library, part of the Middle Georgia Regional Library System.

“Our city directories are frequently used by genealogists, local historians, and even owners of historical homes to learn more about the families and businesses that have been in our community’” said Wanda Edwards, Adult Services Coordinator for Chattahoochee Valley Libraries. “Digital access makes our directories available to customers regardless of their ability to visit the library.”

Students and researchers working from home will enjoy increased access to volumes that were previously only available onsite at their local library. Additional city directories available in the Digital Library of Georgia include Albany (1922-1949), Athens (1889-1958), and Atlanta (1867-1922).

“The importance of access to digital library collections has become more evident during these past weeks, said Edwards. “This is one more service we can provide for our users.”

####

Georgia HomePLACE encourages public libraries and related institutions across the state to participate in the Digital Library of Georgia. HomePLACE offers a highly collaborative model for digitizing primary source collections related to local history and genealogy. HomePLACE is a project of the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. HomePLACE is supported with federal Library Services and Technology Act funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service.

Based at the University of Georgia Libraries, the Digital Library of Georgia is a GALILEO initiative that collaborates with Georgia’s libraries, archives, museums, and other institutions of education and culture to provide access to key information resources on Georgia history, culture, and life. This primary mission is accomplished through the ongoing development, maintenance and preservation of digital collections and online digital library resources. The Digital Library of Georgia also serves as Georgia’s service hub for the Digital Public Library of America and as the home of the Georgia Newspaper Project, the state’s historic newspaper microfilming project.

Middle Georgia Regional Library serves six counties across Central Georgia. The library’s mission is to connect all people to the information necessary to improve their lives through excellent services and materials.

The Chattahoochee Valley Libraries is a seven-branch system that serves more than 250,000 people in four counties: Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Marion and Stewart. The Library system is the most widely used cultural institution in the region, with more than 120,000 residents holding library cards. Our mission is to be your place, your partner, your library.

SGA Board of Directors Issues Statement Regarding COVID-19

2020-03-26T11:16:00.003-04:00

COVID-19 Resources

Statement from the SGA Board of Directors

March 20, 2020

Atlanta, GA -- The Board of Directors of the Society of Georgia Archivists (SGA Board) fully endorses the Society of American Archivists (SAA) Council’s March 18, 2020 statement regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Given the danger of contact with this contagion, the SGA Board calls for those archival institutions in Georgia which have not already closed to the public to do so immediately and discontinue requiring non-emergency staff to report to work. As of March 20, 2020, the infection and death rates in Georgia continue to climb at an exponential rate. In an effort to flatten the curve and avoid overwhelming our medical resources, archivists’ focus should be on supporting people—our professionals, staff, and the general public—as they self-quarantine and/or shelter-in-place.

In its statement, the SAA Council recognized "that it can be challenging to develop remote work activities that support the material and unique preservation imperatives of archives. However, in this time of crisis, individual health and safety are of utmost importance." The SGA Board agrees with this position, and furthermore endorses the inclusion of financial safety in this list of imperatives. While all effort should be put toward finding options for remote work (SAA’s Accessibility and Disability Section has created a working document or identifying projects), the SGA Board urges cultural heritage institutions, corporate, government, and private archives to continue to pay and provide benefits to their professional, staff, student, part-time, contract, temporary, and independent workers through the duration of this crisis.

SGA will be providing information and daily updates about operational changes to Georgia’s archival institutions via its website. Archivists are encouraged to report changes in their institutions’ operations using this form. Resources for archivists and librarians navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to those provided by the CDC, WHO, and Georgia Department of Public Health, can be found at the link.

The full statement can be viewed here.

The spreadsheet of Georgia archives affected by COVID-19 closings can be viewed here.

Digitization of City Directories for Albany from 1922-1950 now Available through Digital Library of Georgia

2020-03-04T16:47:00.001-05:00

WRITER: Mandy Mastrovita, mastrovi@uga.edu, 706-583-0209

CONTACT: Sheila McAlister, mcalists@uga.edu, 706-542-5418

ATHENS, Ga. -- Digitization of city directories for Albany, Georgia, dating from 1922-1950.

New online records are now available for people researching their families in Albany, Georgia. The Digital Library of Georgia has just added a collection of city directories housed at the Dougherty County Public Library, dating from 1922-1950. The collection, Albany, Georgia City Directories, is available at dlg.usg.edu/collection/zgn_albcd and contains eleven directories covering Albany during intermittent years from 1922 to 1950, and one 1937 directory from Americus.

City directories existed before telephone directories and often listed the names, addresses, occupations, and ethnicities of people in American towns and cities. Because they contain so much detailed information, they are vital resources for researchers, genealogists, and the general public. According to the Library of Congress, city directories "are among the most important sources of information about urban areas and their inhabitants. They provide personal and professional information about a city's residents as well as information about its business, civic, social, religious, charitable, and literary institutions."

Christina Shepherd, head of reference for the Dougherty County Public Library describes the relevance of Albany’s city directories to the researchers in her library:

“Several patrons have asked to use the directories to see who lived in their house, to trace an ancestor’s life, verifying use of land, or to see who ran what businesses. A specific example was in 1940 there was a tornado that came through and destroyed a lot of downtown Albany. While these directories do not show that event, they show the city stayed strong after that event. The directories have the addresses where businesses were before the tornado in 1939 to where they had to relocate in 1941. Just think, those directories were the same books that our relatives, our city leaders, and others used to find an address or phone number!”

J. Douglas Porter, a writer based in Albany Georgia, notes: “Much of the material I have been looking at has been digitized and is searchable. This has not only been a useful time-saver, but it has also proven to be more reliable than my visual scans of many pages of materials. The city directories have a high level of historic value and potential for reuse by multiple audiences well into the future. In fact, they will become even more valuable as time passes and the paper copies crumble.”

Link to featured images:

Albany, Georgia city directory 1934-35 containing an alphabetically arranged list of names, a classified business directory, a street directory, and much useful miscellaneous information

dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:zgn_albcd_dir-albany1934-35

1934-1935 city directory for Albany, Georgia containing information that identifies Albany residents, their occupations and local businesses.

About Dougherty County Public Library

The Dougherty County Public Library's mission is “To Strengthen our Community by Inspiring, Encouraging, and Supporting Life-long Learning for all.” The goals of the library are to select, assemble and administer organized collections of educational and recreational library materials; to serve the community as a center of reliable information and a place where inquiring minds may encounter original, unorthodox, or critical ideas in our society; to provide opportunities and encouragement for individuals to continue their educations; to supplement and help formal education programs; to seek, continually, to identify community needs; to support civic groups, cultural activities, or cooperate with other agencies as they work for community good; to maintain and disseminate public information encouraging to individuals to better use the libraries as well as to contribute to the field of professional librarianship; to enhance interest and research in local history; and to provide opportunity for substantive recreational and constructive use of leisure time through the use of literature, music, films, and other forms. Visit docolib.org/

About the Digital Library of Georgia

Georgia Archives Hosts African-American History Program: "Genealogical Research at the Georgia Archives"

2020-02-27T11:45:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, February 1, the Georgia Archives and the Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) hosted the African American History Program: "Genealogical Research at the Georgia Archives."

The free program was held from 9:00 a.m.-3:15 p.m. at the Georgia Archives. Tours of the Archives were given after the program. There were four sessions, with a morning and afternoon break provided by Friends of Georgia Archives and History (FOGAH).

For the first session, Tamika Strong, Georgia Archives’ Reference Archivist, presented “Researching at the Georgia Archives: An Introduction.”

Reference Archivist Tamika Strong asks a question

For the second session, Kayla Barrett, Georgia Archives’ Deputy Director, presented “African American Genealogical Research at the Georgia Archives.”

Georgia Archives Deputy Director Kayla Barrett presents to group

For the third session, Paula Whatley Matabane, AAHGS Metro Atlanta Chapter, presented “Genealogy and Lies in a Courtroom Drama over Ownership of Enslaved Ancestors.”

Dr. Paula Matabane presenting

The final session was a panel discussion: “Research Techniques” with facilitator Judy Rose Weaver, AAHGS Metro Atlanta Chapter. On the panel were three AAHGS Metro Atlanta Chapter members: Tammy Ozier who presented “Finding Manumission Records in Louisiana Archives”; Janice Bryant presented “Strategies for Researching Free People of Color”; and Johnette Brooks presented “Tips for Researching Military Records.”

Standing: Panelist Johnette Brooks

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps Now Available Online

2020-02-24T21:53:00.001-05:00

WRITER: Mandy Mastrovita, mastrovi@uga.edu, 706-583-0209

CONTACT: Sheila McAlister, mcalists@uga.edu, 706-542-5418

ATHENS, Ga. -- Sanborn fire insurance maps for select Georgia towns and cities dating from 1923-1941 now available for free online

The Digital Library of Georgia has just made Sanborn fire insurance maps produced between 1923-1941 for 39 Georgia towns and cities in 35 counties freely available online. The maps, which are now in the public domain, can be retrieved at dlg.usg.edu/collection/dlg_sanb, and complement the DLG’s existing collection of the University of Georgia Map and Government Information Library’s 539 Sanborn maps dating from 1884-1922 that have been available since 2005. The DLG has also upgraded its image viewer, which will allow better access and improved navigation to the new and older Sanborn images from this collection.

Sanborn maps were designed to assist fire insurance agents in determining fire hazards for properties by outlining the construction of buildings and their elements, as well as the location of water facilities, house and block numbers, and the names of streets. They have proven useful in researching urban growth and decline, urban planning design, and the historic use of buildings in a city.

Cari Goetcheus, associate professor in the College of Environment and Design at the University of Georgia notes: “Sanborn maps are a wonderful snapshot of place in time from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s.

Originally created by insurance companies to understand building materials in cities so they could decide what and how to insure the built environment, these maps offer much more than that by providing insight into Georgia’s diverse cultural, political, social, economic, and geographic history.

For example, my students and I have most recently been using Athens Sanborn maps to document land-use change in an area known as Hot Corner, the historically black business district of Athens from the late 1800s to the 1970s.”

Valerie Glenn, librarian and Head of the University of Georgia’s Map and Government Information Library notes:

“Because the maps contain such rich details, they provide a clear picture of a town as it existed --culturally, socially, economically, geographically. Users can see how many banks, or theatres, or piano stores existed; the “colored” schools and churches; and the distance between the river and the cigar factory.

Over time this makes it easier for users to, for example, identify changes to historically African-American neighborhoods in a given town or see the development, expansion, and/or decline of a central business district.”

Link to featured images:

Arlington, Calhoun and Early Counties, Georgia, Apr. 1934/ Sanborn Map Company

dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_sanb_arlington-1934#item

Fire insurance maps which show building construction by hand coloring, locations of elevators and windows, and available water facilities. Shows commercial and religious occupancy of buildings, dwellings with property boundaries, and house and block numbers. Includes notes on population, water facilities, fire department, and prevailing winds. The maps represented are from the University of Georgia Libraries Map Collection.

About the University of Georgia Map and Government Information Library

The University of Georgia Map and Government Information Library (MAGIL)'s mission is to provide bibliographic, physical and intellectual access to cartographic and government information in all formats. The UGA Libraries serves as Georgia's regional depository for documents published by the Federal government as well as the official depository for documents published by the State of Georgia. Its collections include select international and United Nations documents. Cartographic resources include maps, aerial photography and remote sensed imagery, atlases, digital spatial data, and reference materials, with a particular emphasis on the State of Georgia. Visit libs.uga.edu/magil

About the Digital Library of Georgia

Apply for the Carol Hart Scholarship by March 1st

2020-02-21T10:56:00.003-05:00

SGA's scholarship committee will be taking applications for the Carol Hart Scholarship up through Midnight EST on March 1st, 2020.

This scholarship will fund tuition for one individual to attend the Georgia Archives Institute's summer session beginning June 8th and ending June 19th.

Please visit the following page to apply: https://soga.wildapricot.org/scholarships/hart/

To apply, you will need to fill out an application form as well as provide a 1-2 page cover letter as well as a copy of your CV or resume.

The Carol Hart Scholarship will cover an amount equal to the noncredit tuition for the institute, but not to exceed $500, and a year's membership in the Society of Georgia Archivists. After participating in the Georgia Archives Institute, the recipient will submit a brief article on the experience for use in the SGA Newsletter.

Please note that individuals must apply separately to the Georgia Archives Institute by March 15th, 2020 and pay the application fee to the Georgia Archives Institute. The deadline is Midnight on March 15, 2020 for receipt of application and $75 application fee (which is refunded if not admitted to the Institute).

Copyright and Oral History Webinar

2020-02-20T14:36:00.003-05:00

PA Digital will hold a webinar on issues of copyright in oral history collections led by PA Digital's Rights Team Lead Ana Enriquez on February 25 from 10-11 am EST.

The session will cover topics such as originality, authorship, and public domain status using examples from PA Digital collections. The session will be recorded and posted to PA Digital’s website.

Please register here: https://forms.gle/KT8Xzt2QgbYhBQVZ6.

Call in at: https://zoom.us/j/266071406

Two Upcoming DLG/SGA Co-Sponsored Workshops on Copyright

2020-02-11T12:09:00.003-05:00

Join DLG and SGA on March 20 for two copyright workshops taught by Greg Cram, Director of Copyright, Permissions and Information Policy at The New York Public Library. The workshops will be held in the Russell Special Collections Building at the University of Georgia, Athens. Registration for each workshop is $15.

Friday, March 20, 2020, 8:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

As cultural heritage organizations digitize their more of their archival collections, copyright is often seen as a barrier to making these digitized collections broadly available to users. Although copyright issues tend to be more complex for archival items, this workshop will challenge the perception that copyright is a barrier to access by discussing ways archivists can use copyright to their advantage. At this workshop, attendees will increase their understanding of copyright law in the context of archival collections, including sound and moving image items. Attendees will discuss strategies for addressing these complex challenges using a number of tools, including public domain determinations, library exceptions, fair use and risk. Through a variety of interactive lessons, attendees will leave feeling more confident about copyright.

Instructor: Greg Cram, New York Public Library

Register here.

2020 Spring Workshop: Living Our Values: Advanced Considerations in Opening Digital Collections

Friday, March 20, 2020, 1:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.

For the last decade, a primary focus in the digitization of archival collections was copyright and contract law. In the last few years, there has been a renewed focus on bringing core professional values to digitization projects. These values are embodied in considerations like privacy and respect for indigenous cultural sensitivities. As new models of funding digitization projects emerge, cultural heritage organizations are often asked to restrict access to digitized collections when commercial vendors are involved. Attendees of this workshop will gain a deeper understanding of how these considerations impact digitization projects. Attendees will learn about practices and strategies to incorporate professional values into their digitization efforts and identify ways to responsibly make collections available for reuse.

Instructor: Greg Cram, New York Public Library

Register here.

Valdosta State University Archives Map and Plat Collections Now Available Online

2020-02-08T14:10:00.003-05:00

WRITER: Mandy Mastrovita, mastrovi@uga.edu, 706-542-0587

CONTACT: Sheila McAlister, mcalists@uga.edu, 706-542-5418

Three map and plat collections featuring historical maps, plats, deeds, records, and correspondence pertaining to South Georgia land holdings dating from 1767 to 1899 are now available in the Digital Library of Georgia.

These resources belong to Valdosta State University Archives. They have been made available online thanks in part to the DLG's Competitive Digitization grant program, a funding opportunity intended to broaden DLG partner participation for statewide historic digitization projects.

The three digital collections are:

Deeds and Plats, Georgia, available at dlg.usg.edu/collection/valdosta_ms18, consisting of residential and commercial deeds, plats, maps, and other documents from counties and towns, mostly in southeast Georgia, dating from 1767 to 1899.

Deeds, Camden County, Georgia, available at dlg.usg.edu/collection/valdosta_ms21, which includes deeds, plats, land grants, and legal documents dating from 1833 to 1899 regarding land in Camden County, Georgia, and northern Florida.

John Adam Treutlen, June 1767, available at dlg.usg.edu/collection/valdosta_ms165, a land grant dated June 1767 assigned by King George III of England conveying four hundred acres of land in the parish of Saint Matthew, Georgia to John Adam Treutlen, Georgia’s first elected governor.

Digitization, description, and online access to these collections provide historical value to Georgia genealogists, and researchers of South Georgia and its development.

John G. Crowley, associate professor in the department of history at Valdosta State University notes: “Materials such as these are invaluable to genealogists and historians. They reveal patterns of land use, settlement, industrial development, and those involved in such enterprises. For the genealogist, land records are a source of general background information on individuals and families, establish patterns of movement and employment, and often reveal family relationships otherwise unknown or unproven. Southern historians, local historians, and genealogists both amateur and professional will profit enormously from improved access to this material.”

Chris Meyers, professor of history at Valdosta State University states: “The collections to be digitized represent what a genealogist would consider a prized find. Deed records fill significant gaps in genealogical research and making these records available to all, through digitization, represents a significant service to all genealogists.”

Link to featured images:

Royal Land Grant, St. Matthews Parish, Georgia, 1767/ Treutlen land grant/ Treutlen Deed

hdl.handle.net/10428/3946

Land grant dated June 1767 assigned by King George III of England conveying four hundred acres of land in the parish of Saint Matthew, Georgia to John Adam Treutlen. Treutlen became Georgia's first governor in 1777.

(attachments to this email: treutlen-page-1.jpg, treutlen-page-2.jpg)

About Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections

The VSU Archives and Special Collections supports the University’s commitment to scholarly and creative work, enhances instructional effectiveness, encourages faculty scholarly pursuits, and supports research in selective areas of institutional strength focused on regional need by collecting, preserving, and providing access to records of enduring historical value documenting the history and development of VSU and the surrounding South Georgia region and in support of VSU curriculum. Visit valdosta.edu/academics/library/depts/archives-and-special-collections/

About the Digital Library of Georgia

Based at the University of Georgia Libraries, the Digital Library of Georgia is a GALILEO initiative that collaborates with Georgia's libraries, archives, museums, and other institutions of education and culture to provide access to key information resources on Georgia history, culture, and life. This primary mission is accomplished through the ongoing development, maintenance, and preservation of digital collections and online digital library resources. DLG also serves as Georgia's service hub for the Digital Public Library of America and as the home of the Georgia Newspaper Project, the state's historic newspaper microfilming project. Visit the DLG at dlg.usg.edu.

Reward Excellent Work in Archives: Call for GHRAC Awards Nominations

2020-01-29T11:30:00.000-05:00

Reward Excellent Work in Archives

Call for GHRAC Awards Nominations

Morrow, GA, January 23, 2020 – Do you know someone who has done outstanding work using, preserving, or making historical records more accessible? Think about the historical or genealogical society, library, museum, county or municipal government, researcher, local historian, educator or student. The Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council (GHRAC) wants to encourage and reward their exceptional efforts.

The Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council (GHRAC) established the Outstanding Archives Awards Program in 2003 to recognize outstanding efforts in archives and records work in Georgia. By publicly recognizing excellent achievements, the Board strives to inspire others. Hundreds of organizations and individuals play a significant role in the preservation of our state’s documentary heritage.

GHRAC has twelve different award categories for individuals and organizations. Award recipients will be honored at the Georgia Archives by the GHRAC Board at a ceremony during Archives Month in October. Nominations may be submitted February 1 through June 1. Nominations must be postmarked on or before June 1, 2020.

All of the following are eligible for an award. (You may nominate your own organization.)

local governments, courts, school systems, state agencies, and institutions
historical records repositories, historical societies, libraries, and museums
educators, students, and researchers
legislators and government officials
individuals and organizations who support archives and records management
specialized subject societies in related fields such as oral history, genealogy, folklore, archaeology,
business history, etc.

Information about the GHRAC Awards Program is located on the website of the Georgia
Archives, www.georgiaarchives.org. On the homepage, type “GHRAC” in the search bar. You can then click on the link to the “GHRAC Awards Program.” Here you will find the links for the Nomination Form and instructions, the Award Categories and Selection Criteria for all 12 awards categories, and a list of all prior award recipients.

A nomination package consists of the one-page nomination form (please provide all requested contact
information), a 500-word summary or project description, a copy of the work itself, and any supporting documentation necessary to appropriately portray the complete work (in the case of a project which includes an exhibit, a website, or an audiovisual, instructional, service, or performance component). Please note requirements in the appropriate selection criteria for nominations.

If submitted electronically, one copy of the nomination package should be emailed to: christopher.davidson@usg.edu. If submitted as hard copy, seven (7) complete nomination packages should be sent to: GHRAC, Georgia Archives 5800 Jonesboro Rd. Morrow, GA 30260 [Copies will not be returned.] Nominators should pay particular attention to the following requirements: 1. Georgia students who research and write in an area other than Georgia history or a Georgia subject must use the resources of Georgia records repositories to qualify for these awards. 2. A letter of support from a professor, teacher, adviser, or other appropriate representative of an organization or institution must accompany students who nominate themselves or are nominated by a family member. Award recipients are typically notified in August or September, and the annual GHRAC Awards Reception and Ceremony are held at the Georgia Archives in October.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get involved and shine the spotlight on the organizations and individuals all across Georgia who are dedicated to preserving and sharing our history, and improving our record keeping.

For additional information, please contact GHRAC by phone at 678-364-3806, or email christopher.davidson@usg.edu.