October is Georgia Archives Month, when the archives and special collections that preserve so much of our historical documents and records are honored.
Institutions honored include the Georgia Archives, the state’s official repository, as well as county-based archives such as the DeKalb History Center or the Troup County Archives. Also included are special collections at many of our universities, such as Emory University, the University of Georgia (Hargrett Library), Georgia College and Kennesaw State University.
Many public libraries have archival elements, such as Washington Memorial in Macon. The Georgia Historical Society in Savannah, founded in 1839, has one of the state’s greatest collections of historical materials.
During Georgia Archives Month people are invited to visit their local archives or library to see the collections. Sponsored by the Society of Georgia Archivists, the theme of this year’s observance is “Sweet Tea and Southern Breezes.”
For more on the participating institutions and events, see soga.org. This is the time to show your appreciation for what your local or favorite archival institution does, as well as consider donating material to them.
Fortune teller’s life
The curious life of Heard County fortune teller Mayhayley Lancaster (1875-1955) is the subject of the Oct. 10 Georgia Archives Lunch and Learn lecture. The speaker will be Dot Moore, author of “Oracle of the Ages” (about Lancaster) and “No Remorse: The Rise and Fall of John Wallace.”
The lecture will be at noon and is free; bring your own lunch. For further information, call 678-364-3710 or check georgiaarchives.org.
Jackson County records
“Jackson County, Georgia, Superior Court Conveyances Recorded in 1802-1803” contains 110 pages of a long-lost deed book found with other records during the 2006 courthouse renovation.
Abstracted by Sharon Carroll Stanley, it includes scans of the original documents and a full-name index. This was the first in a series of discoveries from these documents, proving that you never know what may turn up.
Published with a grant from the Taylor Foundation, the book is available for $25 postpaid from the Jackson County Historical Society, Document Recovery Project, P.O. Box 1234, Commerce, GA 30529.
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