Georgia Historical Society


Holding Repository

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In the spring of 1839, three Savannahians—Episcopal divine William Bacon Stevens, renowned autograph collector Israel K. Tefft, and educator, scientist, and American Medical Association founder Dr. Richard D. Arnold—hatched the idea of an organization whose mission would be to “collect, preserve, and diffuse the history of the State of Georgia in particular, and of America generally.”

In May of that year they held the first meeting of what was christened the Georgia Historical Society, the tenth state society founded in America (Massachusetts was first) and today the oldest continuously operated historical institution in the South. Within a few months membership had spread down the coast and as far west and north as Macon. The 85 charter members, who in December 1839 petitioned the Georgia General Assembly for articles of incorporation, read like a “who’s who” of Georgia society and included some of the most distinguished and progressive (for that time) leaders in the state. In addition to the original triumvirate of Stevens, Tefft, and Arnold, there were politicians like Congressman Eugene A. Nesbit and future U. S. Supreme Court Justice James Moore Wayne; Sea Island planters Thomas Butler King and James Hamilton Couper; and intellectuals like Augustus A. Smets, George White, and William A. Caruthers.

The first president was John Macpherson Berrien, U.S. Senator and Attorney General of the United States under President Andrew Jackson. To forge a link between themselves and the earliest days of the state, the founders adopted as the Society’s logo the old colonial seal used by Georgia’s founding trustees. And to demonstrate their commitment to public service, they took as a motto the latin phrase employed by the trustees more than a century earlier: “Non Sibi, Sed Aliis” – not for self, but for others. As a non-university research and educational institution, the Georgia Historical Society has collected, preserved, and shared some of the most important documents, rare books, maps, photographs, and artifacts that tell the story of our state’s journey through time.

The cornerstones of the collection are Hodgson Hall, the National Historic Landmark building that serves as the GHS Research Center, and the impressive group of manuscripts, rare books, and archival materials housed in the adjacent Abrahams Archival Annex. The collection includes over 5 million manuscripts, 100,000 photographs, 30,000 architectural drawings, 15,000 books, and thousands of maps, newspapers, portraits, and artifacts. The papers of many influential Georgians, including Griffin Bell, Vince Dooley, Benjamin Hawkins, Helen Dortch Longstreet, Juliette Gordon Low, and Bernie Marcus, are held in the society’s collections. Perhaps the most significant document in the collection is an original draft copy of the U.S. Constitution that belonged to Abraham Baldwin, a Georgia delegate to the national constitutional convention of 1787. In addition to housing the oldest collection of Georgia materials in the nation, the Society has an impressive list of programs, publications, and other activities that make cutting-edge scholarship available to a wide public audience. These include the scholarly journal The Georgia Historical Quarterly; the history newsmagazine Georgia History Today; lectures by noted historians and authors; membership programs and tours; statewide assistance in preserving local history through its Affiliate Chapter Program, the Georgia Historical Marker Program, including the Civil War 150 Project, the Georgia Civil Rights Trail, and the Georgia Business History Initiative; the Georgia History Festival, the Society’s annual K-12 education program; and the Georgia Trustees.

As an honor older than Georgia itself, the Georgia Trustees, revived in 2009 in conjunction with the Office of the Governor, recognizes contemporary Georgians whose accomplishments and community service reflect the highest ideals of the founding body of Trustees, which governed the colony from 1732 to 1752. It is the highest honor the state can bestow. Georgia Trustee inductees include Hank Aaron, Vince Dooley, Bernie Marcus, Marguerite Neel Williams, Sam Nunn, Arthur Blank, Ted Turner, Tom Cousins, Herman Russell, Truett Cathy, Billy Payne, Andrew Young, Paula Wallace, Alana Shepherd, Muhtar Kent, and James Blanchard. The Georgia Trustees are appointed every year in February at the GHS Trustees Gala in Savannah. In 2010 the Georgia Historical Society opened an office in Atlanta and in 2014 it expanded its Savannah campus through the edition of the Jepson House Education Center. Originally built in 1856, the 8,000 square foot mansion today houses the programming, administrative, and executive offices of the Society. This capital expansion in Atlanta and Savannah ensures that the Georgia Historical Society will continue to promote research and education as the institution approaches its third century of service to the people of Georgia and the nation.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Carr, T. W. (Thomas William), b. 1830. T.W Carr letter and autographs, 1857-1882. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Cohen, Solomon, 1802-1875. Solomon Cohen papers, 1841-1867 Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Blount, H. P. Letters, 1881-1919. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Floyd, Marmaduke Hamilton, 1888-1949. Marmaduke Hamilton and Dolores Boisfeuillet Floyd papers, 1562-1970 Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn King, T. Butler (Thomas Butler), 1800-1864. King and Wilder families papers, 1817-1946. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Spalding, Charles, 1808-1887. Charles Spalding address, 1844-1918.
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Obediah Edwards deeds and estate inventory 1852-1859 Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Baker, Joseph S. Joseph S. Baker letter and broadside, 1863. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Harvey, Margaret B. Margaret B. Harvey letters and lists, 1898-1899. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Phillipps, Thomas, Sir, 1792-1872,. Miscellaneous documents, portraits, and maps, 1681-1862 (bulk 1793-1862). Grolier Club
referencedIn Dallas, George Mifflin, 1792-1864. Papers, 1822-1865. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Georgia Historical Quarterly records, 1926-1981 (bulk 1940-1973). Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Georgia Historical Society collection of cased photographs, ca. 1840-ca. 1910. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Harden, William, 1844-1936. William Harden family papers, 1826-1936. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932. Burton family papers, 1875-1958. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Wayne, James Moore, 1790-1867. James Moore Wayne papers 1848-1863 Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Jones, Charles C. (Charles Colcock), 1831-1893. Charles Colcock Jones, Jr. letters, 1868-1893. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn De Renne, George Wymberley Jones, 1827-1880. George Wymberley Jones De Renne family papers, 1732-1939. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Lewis, Bessie. Bessie M. Lewis collection, 1849-1980. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Coffin, James H. (James Henry), 1806-1873. James Henry Coffin Papers, 1848-1884 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Hutton, H. T., Mrs. Stephen Elliott scrapbook, 1842-1867. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Mackenzie, William. William Mackenzie papers, 1843-1846. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Parsons, Edwin. Edwin Parsons collection, 1759-1862 Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Georgia Historical Society collection of photographs, ca. 1870-1960s. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIg, 1887-1891 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Bartow, Theodore B., 1806-1869. Theodore B. Bartow speech, 1839. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Bond, Stephen Pennington. Savannah River plantations / from the Savannah Writers' Project, Mary Granger editor, the Georgia Historical Society 1947 consolidated by Stephen P. Bond 1958. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Cornelius Rea Agnew letters, 1875-1886. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Elliott, Stephen, 1806-1866. Stephen Elliott correspondence and speeches, 1844-1866 Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn George Johnson Baldwin Papers, 1884-1936 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Titzell, Josiah, 1905-1943. Josiah TItzell memorial collection on Savannah and Georgia history, 1817-1945. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Georgia Historical Society collection of stereographs, ca. 1860-ca. 1920. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Georgia Historical Society collection of etchings, silhouettes, and other prints, 1800s-1900s. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Sheftall, Mordecai, 1735-1797. Mordecai Sheftall papers, 1780-1796 Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Georgia Historical Society collection of broadsides, 1746-1976. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Warlick, Roger K. (Roger Kinney), 1930-1998. Roger K. Warlick papers, 1766-1998. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Casimir Pulaski letters and baptismal certificate, 1738-1778. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Membership certificate for Zachary Taylor, 1849 May 14. New England Historic Genealogical Society
referencedIn Flournoy, J. Jacobus (John Jacobus), 1808-1879. J.J. Flournoy letter, 1845. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Papers, 1808-1889. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Morrison, Mary Lane. Mary Lane Morrison research materials, 1845-1978. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Flournoy, J. Jacobus, (John Jacobus), 1809-1879. J.J. Flournoy letter, 1845 June 24. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Jones, Charles Colcock, 1831-1893. Charles Colcock Jones, Jr. - literary and historical manuscripts, 1867-1889.
referencedIn Balch, Thomas, 1821-1877. Thomas Balch letter, 1874. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Tomkins, Ivan Rexford, 1893-1966. Ivan Rexford Tomkins papers, 1911-1966. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn R.J. Nunn Trust Fund (Savannah, Ga.). R.J. Nunn Trust Fund minute book, correspondence, and financial records, 1913-1979. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Georgia Historical Society collection of sheet music, ca. 1800s. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Georgia Historical Society collection of Arthur Joseph Funk papers, 1962-1968. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIh, 1892-1896 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society,. Georgia Historical Society collection of World War II papers and other materials, 1942-2000, bulk 1942-1945. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Brooks, Robert Preston, 1881-. Georgia Historical Association records, 1919-1922. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Bassett, Victor Hugo, 1871-1938. Victor Hugo Bassett papers, 1907-1938. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Jackson, Henry Rootes, 1820-1898. Henry Rootes Jackson papers, 1848-1890. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Harden, Edward, 1784-1849. Edward Harden letter, 1846. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Parrish, Lydia, 1871-1953. Lydia Austin Parrish letters, 1947-1952. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Georgia Historical Society collection of architectural drawings, 1822-1983. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Morgan, David B., ca. 1845-1926. David Boston Morgan letter, 1917. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1960. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn McIntosh, Lachlan H. Lachlan H. McIntosh letter, 1893. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIf, 1866-1886 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Alexander Jeffrey McKelway Papers, 1814-1942, (bulk 1900-1918) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Wylly, Naomi Stanton, 1851-1940. Naomi Stanton Wylly collection of Stanton family papers, 1757-1937. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Phillips, Ulrich Bonnell, 1877-1934. Ulrich Bonnell Phillips papers, 1901-1937; 1974-1976 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Habersham, William Neyle, 1817-1899. William Neyle Habersham papers, 1832-1899. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Georgia Historical Society postcards collection Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Frazier, John A. Frazier family collection, 1791-1973. Georgia Southern University
referencedIn Strate, Jacob R., ca. 1827-1881. Jacob R. Strate letter, 1879 October 9. Georgia Historical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith AECK Associates. corporateBody
associatedWith Agnew, Cornelius Rea, 1830-1888. person
associatedWith American Philosophical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith American Philosophical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith American Philosophical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Andrew Low House (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Armstrong Atlantic State University. corporateBody
associatedWith Arnold, R. D. person
associatedWith Artley Company (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Baker, Joseph S. person
associatedWith Balch, Thomas, 1821-1877. person
associatedWith Baldwin, George Johnson, 1856-1927 person
associatedWith Bartow, Theodore B., 1806-1869. person
associatedWith Bassett, Victor Hugo, 1871-1938. person
associatedWith Bellingrodt, M.O. person
associatedWith Bethesda Home for Boys (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Blount, H. P. person
associatedWith Board, L.H. person
associatedWith Bonaventure Cemetery (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Bond, Stephen. person
associatedWith Bond, Stephen Pennington. person
associatedWith Brooks, Robert Preston, 1881- person
associatedWith Carr, T. W. (Thomas William), b. 1830. person
associatedWith Chatham Academy. corporateBody
associatedWith Clarke & Clarke. corporateBody
associatedWith Cohen, Solomon, 1802-1875. person
associatedWith Colonial Park (Cemetery : Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Congregation Mickve Israel (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Coulter, E. Merton 1890-1981. person
associatedWith Dallas, George Mifflin, 1792-1864. person
associatedWith De Renne, George Wymberley Jones, 1827-1880 person
associatedWith Edwards, Obediah person
associatedWith Elliott, Stephen, 1806-1866. person
associatedWith First Baptist Church (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Flournoy, J. Jacobus, (John Jacobus), 1809-1879. person
associatedWith Floyd, Marmaduke Hamilton, 1888-1949 person
associatedWith Funk, Arthur Joseph, 1898-1975. person
associatedWith Georgia. Chatham Artillery of Savannah. corporateBody
associatedWith Georgia Medical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Georgia. State Board of Health. corporateBody
associatedWith Gunn & Meyerhoff (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Habersham, William Neyle, 1817-1899. person
associatedWith Hansen, Oscar Montgomery, 1907-1971. person
associatedWith Harden, Edward, 1784-1849. person
correspondedWith Harden, William person
associatedWith Harden, William, 1844-1936. person
associatedWith Harvey, Margaret B. person
associatedWith Harwood, F. person
associatedWith Helfrich, Grantham & Helfrich (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith Hussey, Gay & Bell. corporateBody
associatedWith Hutton, H. T., Mrs. person
associatedWith Independent Presbyterian Church (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Jackson, Henry Rootes, 1820-1898. person
associatedWith Jay, William, 1792-1837. person
associatedWith Jones, Charles C. (Charles Colcock), 1831-1893. person
associatedWith King, T. Butler (Thomas Butler), 1800-1864. person
associatedWith Kops, J. DeBruyn. person
associatedWith Laurel Grove Cemetery (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Lebey, John. person
associatedWith Lee, Clermont. person
associatedWith Levy & Clarke. corporateBody
associatedWith Levy, Henry. person
associatedWith Lewis, Bessie. person
associatedWith Lienau, Detlef . person
associatedWith Mackenzie, William. person
correspondedWith Mann, W. Grayson person
associatedWith McIntosh, Lachlan H. person
associatedWith McKelway, Alexander Jeffrey, 1866-1918. person
associatedWith Meyer, Leon Jay. person
associatedWith Milburn, Frank P. person
associatedWith Morgan, David B., ca. 1845-1926. person
associatedWith Morrison, Mary Lane. person
associatedWith Norris, John S., 1804-1876. person
associatedWith Olde Pink House (Restaurant) corporateBody
associatedWith Owens-Thomas House (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Parrish, Lydia, 1871-1953. person
associatedWith Parsons, Edwin person
associatedWith Phillipps, Thomas, Sir, 1792-1872, person
associatedWith Phillips, Ulrich Bonnell, 1877-1934. person
associatedWith Pirates' House (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Poew, General O.M. person
associatedWith Preston, W.G. person
associatedWith Pułaski, Kazimierz, 1747-1779. person
associatedWith Ritzert, Ben. person
associatedWith R.J. Nunn Trust Fund (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Savannah Volunteer Guards, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Schwaab & Muller. corporateBody
associatedWith Sheftall, Mordecai, 1735-1797. person
associatedWith Smith, M.F. person
associatedWith Spalding, Charles, 1808-1887. person
associatedWith Spalding, Phinizy. person
associatedWith St. John's Episcopal Church (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith St. Patrick's Church (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Strate, Jacob R., ca. 1827-1881. person
associatedWith Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850. person
correspondedWith Teffs, J. K. person
associatedWith Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas/Driscoll/Hutton, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas, James Gray, 1835-1884. person
associatedWith Titzell, Josiah, 1905-1943. person
associatedWith Tomkins, Ivan Rexford, 1893-1966. person
associatedWith Urban, Henry, fl. 1899. person
associatedWith Wallin, Henrik. person
associatedWith Warlick, Roger K. (Roger Kinney), 1930-1998. person
associatedWith Wayne, James Moore, 1790-1867. person
associatedWith William Scarbrough House (Savannah, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Wylly, Naomi Stanton, 1851-1940. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Savannah GA US
Subject
Agriculture
Animals
Architecture
Arts
Cotton
Medical ethics
Historic buildings
History
Ironwork
Medicine
Music
Patients
Persons
Physicians
Plantations
Real property
Rationing
Smithsonian Exchange
Smithsonian Publications
Transportation
World War, 1914-1918
Weather
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Yellow fever
Occupation
Activity
Administering historic preservation
Managing archives

Person

Establishment 1839

French,

Latin

Information

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