Many of the state’s archives and libraries celebrate October as Georgia Archives Month.
Among the institutions that collect and preserve historical documents, books and other artifacts are the Georgia Archives, National Archives at Atlanta, larger universities, as well as public and private regional colleges and many local historical societies.
The Society of Georgia Archivists encouraged organizations and local government to mark the month by creating exhibits, hosting receptions, giving tours, writing articles, or developing special programs.
But it’s also a good time for you to reflect on decisions you have made about things you have inherited or purchased. The television show “Strange Inheritance,” on the Fox Business Network since 2015, focuses on people who have inherited things they have to figure out what to do with. Sometimes they auction items off. Other times, they donate them to a local archives. But it gives one food for thought: What are you planning to do with items you have?
Contact your local archives or historical society for advice if you have items that ought to be donated for historical purposes. Letters, diaries, scrapbooks, community photographs and pamphlets are just some of the things a local archives will accept. Find out the donation acceptance policy or collection development policy of an archives/library. Don’t discard material before you confer. The Society of Georgia Archivists, sponsors of Georgia Archives Month, can direct you to an archivist.
Go to soga.wildapricot.org, then “resources” for a list of Georgia’s Archival Repositories, or ask your public library for guidance.
Veterans History Project at the Atlanta History Center is topic
Sue VerHeof, director of Oral History and Genealogy at the Atlanta History Center, will speak November 9 at the Georgia Archives Lunch and Learn Lecture. The noon event is free, but bring your lunch. She will focus on the oral histories collected from those who served in World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam and subsequent conflicts. For more information, go to GeorgiaArchives.org, call 678-364-3710, or check atlantahistorycenter.com.
Is your historical tourism information accurate?
Having just returned from a weekend of tours, and with more time to re-read some of the material given out, I am surprised at the typographical, grammar and punctuation errors in many brochures. If you are in charge of preparing and distributing such material, insist on accuracy, have someone with writing skills proofread and get a local historian to review.
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