There have been substantial changes to the Atlanta Public Schools in the 100-plus years of its existence, but thanks to the persistent efforts of Howard Grant, graduates can take a stroll down school-days memory lane by just making an appointment.

Grant, the executive director Atlanta Board of Education, made it his goal for the last few years to create a museum that showcases the highlights of the APS, from sports trophies and old Dick-and-Jane readers to yearbooks from almost every year of operation. It took some sleuthing on Grant’s part to track down the photos, newspaper cuttings and artifacts, but after two years, he finally corralled everything into one space on the first floor of the APS building on Trinity Avenue downtown.

“I first had the idea to move everything here about five years ago when the system’s print shop moved out,” said Grant, an 11-year APS employee “I took that space and built it out with display cases, lighting and climate controls. Then I had to go to warehouses and closed school buildings to get some of the items. But I couldn’t stand the idea that all this history might be forgotten.”

Grant got the backing of the board to set up a museum that recounts the accomplishments of the system.

“We have such a good history that is positive,” said Grant. “I wanted to show where we come from.”

The museum traces the history of public education back to the years following the Civil War not just in Atlanta, but in Georgia. The display begins in the lobby with teacher portraits, sports trophies and a variety of documents. A hallway is adorned with blown-up photos of old school buildings, many of which no longer exist or have been converted to other uses. A roll-call of well-known alumni features photos of grads who have made it big, including actress Jasmine Guy and Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A. A timeline of photos marks the system’s milestones, such as the 1948 opening of the state’s first public radio station, WABE-FM, which still operates under the APS auspices.

Inside the main museum space, visitors can reminisce over how they once squeezed into those small wooden desks, check out an 1865 typewriter and look up the names of classmates in the yearbook collection that lines an entire wall.

“We have most every yearbook dating back to 1912,” said Grant. “I get great joy watching visitors find themselves in the pages.”

Now that the museum is organized, Grant’s next goal is to digitize school directors, meeting notes, name changes and other historic information records.

“Our goal now is to pick up from the first 100 years,” he said. “We need to tell the rest of the story in a place of honesty, not controversy, that will inspire some of the zeal that was in place when the system started.”

Each Saturday, we shine a spotlight on a local neighborhood, city or community. To suggest a place for us to visit, e-mail H.M. Cauley at hm_cauley@yahoo.com or call 404-514-6162.