History

Join Author Rodney T. Cohen as he reveals the history & beginnings of the Black Colleges of Atlanta and the distinguished alumni they shaped.

By 1865, although Atlanta and the Confederacy still lay wounded in the wake of the Union victory, black higher education began its thrust for recognition. Some of the first of the American colleges formed specifically for the education of black students were founded in Atlanta, Georgia. These schools continue, over a century later, to educate, train and inspire. Through an engaging collection of images and informative captions, their story begins to unfold. Atlanta University was the pioneer college for blacks in the state of Georgia. Founded in 1865, it was followed by Morehouse College in 1867, Clark University in 1869, and Spelman and Morris Brown Colleges in 1881. By 1929, Atlanta University discontinued undergraduate work and affiliated with Morehouse and Spelman in a plan known as the ""Atlanta University System."" A formal agreement of cooperation including all of the Atlanta colleges occurred in 1957, solidifying the common goal and principles each school was founded upon-to make literate the black youth of America. Today, the shared resources of each institution provide a unique and challenging experience for young African Americans seeking higher education. The schools boast a long and distinguished list of alumni and scholars, including W.E.B. DuBois, James Weldon Johnson, Martin Luther King, Henry O. Tanner, and C. Eric Lincoln.

A fascinating history of Floyd County, Georgia, from its beginnings in Spanish exploration to its modern day success.

Floyd County, Georgia, located in the picturesque northwest Georgia mountains, has a long and fascinating written history that stretches back to 1540 and the Spanish explorers of that era. The Mississippian, Creek, and Cherokee Nations preceded the arrival of Europeans to the area. Soon after, industry and commercial agriculture began to flourish, and in 1845, riverboats began carrying products down the Coosa River from Floyd County to Mobile, Alabama.

South of Savannah, along the picturesque and historic coastline of Georgia, lies a group of barrier islands known as the Golden Isles.

This collection of coastal sea islands has attracted people—Native Americans, European settlers and vacationing sun-seekers—throughout history, for the islands' bountiful resources and appealing climate.  Perhaps the brightest jewel of these islands is St. Simons Island. The History Press is proud to re-issue St. Simons Island: A Summary of its History, by local resident and historian R. Edwin Green. Mr. Green has compiled an informative volume, which highlights the unique and developing history of one of Georgia's most popular sea islands.   Spanning over three hundred years of island history, Mr. Green brings to life the day-to-day toils of the Native Americans and their interaction with Spanish missionaries, the hardships faced by James Oglethorpe during the early colonial period, the rise and fall of the antebellum plantation society and the twentieth century with the start of St. Simons as a vacation and resort destination.  With a keen eye for the details, which imparts the reader with a true understanding of the island's people and history, Mr. Green offers both the visitor and resident the historical foundation to enjoy all that St. Simons has to offer.

Atlanta is the only American city to have been destroyed by fire as an act of war, and it has its share of salacious stories. Wealthy felons hosted elaborate parties inside the federal penitentiary.

Billionaire bootleggers and murderous rich boys practiced corruption that reached all the way to the White House. Fast and fearless drivers, complete with glamorous reputations and criminal careers, gave rise to auto racing. Join author Laurel-Ann Dooley as she navigates the underworld of Atlanta's past filled with kidnapping, bribery, wives hiring hit men and all sorts of criminal debauchery.

Jon Nelson guides readers through an unparalleled history of coaches, towns and dynasties that led Georgia to become one of America's most competitive football states.

Georgia is known as one of the most competitive proving grounds in America for high school football. The league that began as a few city teams in the late nineteenth century blossomed to the four hundred-plus schools that put teams on the field today. These teams have given college football and the professional ranks their share of champions. As schools across the state continue to chase—and break—records, a century of winning is only the beginning of Georgia's dynamic high school football legacy.

The rich history of Tallulah Falls School mirrors the story of northeast Georgia, from a rural, remote past to a bright, boundless future.

The school, established in 1909 in response to the unmet educational needs of area children, has evolved through the decades, now meeting the needs of students both near and from countries around the world. Today, the school serves more than 500 students in grades 5 through 12, representing 20 countries. With a robust college-preparatory curriculum delivered with an equal focus on character development, students leave Tallulah Falls School well prepared for future success. The imprint of those who attended the school in the past is still visible today, with vintage structures alongside modern classroom buildings and new athletic facilities. Weathered rock walls wind through campus, reminders of those formative years. They mark the way for those who will pass through these historic gates, adding their contributions to the storied history of Tallulah Falls School. This book builds on the history established in these early records of the school, adding the exponential significance of the past 15 years to the archives.

E. Lane Gresham serves as the director of communications and media for Tallulah Falls School. Passionate about local history, Gresham brings her talent for storytelling to this project and the many roles she plays within the school community and beyond.

The Highs and Lows of Little Five Points documents the transformations of Atlanta's first Neighborhood Commercial District.

Atlanta's Little Five Points, the city's first Neighborhood Commercial District, stands out as one of the most distinctive shopping districts in the Southeast. There have been quite a few ups and downs in the area's history, but ultimately the dedicated, passionate individuals who made L5P what it is today handled them with perseverance and foresight, creating unique, independently owned stores that draw the most eclectic mix of people found anywhere in Atlanta. The cultural melting pot created by these stores is what makes Little Five Points such a popular destination for both locals and tourists. Join author Robert Hartle Jr. as he tells the story of the revitalization of Little Five Points, including firsthand accounts from longtime L5P business owners who were actually there and who helped to save the area from the many threats to its survival.

A True Crime Mystery Four Decades in the Making

On the cold night of January 27, 1976, twenty-two-year-old college student Kyle Clinkscales vanished after leaving his bartending shift at the Moose Club in LaGrange, Georgia. His disappearance baffled investigators and devastated his parents, John and Louise, who spent decades chasing rumors, suspects, and false leads in one of the South’s most haunting cold cases.

For years, Kyle’s story became a staple in true crime circles, a case that blended small-town secrets, whispers of foul play, and the agony of parents who refused to give up. Then, in 2021, a shocking discovery was made: Kyle’s car submerged in an Alabama creek, with his remains inside. Suddenly, the case once thought frozen in time was thrust back into the spotlight.

Was Kyle’s tragic end the result of a simple accident? Or was it a carefully staged cover-up, concealing a brutal murder that eluded justice for nearly half a century? With modern forensic analysis and renewed investigative efforts, this chilling mystery raises more questions than answers.

Dive deep inside the twists and turns of Kyle Clinkscales’s disappearance and discovery—exploring law enforcement missteps, local rumors, and the enduring fight of a family unwilling to surrender hope. More than just a Southern true crime story, Kyle’s case helped inspire legislative reform for families of the missing, proving that even decades-old mysteries can change lives.

Author James B Longshore details the forty-plus-year ordeal. 

Perfect for readers interested in the abundant and thought-provoking history of the southern United States, the story of Pine Mountain is one of hardship, adaptation, and reconciliation.

Kings Gap, Bethany, Hood, Chipley, and Callaway invoke the different chapters of the story. This area of Georgia was settled in the 1830s following lotteries that distributed land acquired from the Creek Indian Nation. The catalyst for Chipley, chartered in 1882, the precursor of Pine Mountain, was the railroad. It had profound effects: subsistence farming became agriculture, local trading became commerce, and distant neighbors turned into fellow townsfolk.

By the mid-20th century, there were efforts to promote Chipley as a site for industry and a pleasant place to visit. On May 21, 1952, Ida Cason Callaway Gardens opened its gates. Over the following years, it resulted in lasting changes and was the impetus for the alteration of the town’s name to Pine Mountain in 1958.

Chipley Historical Center was founded in 1984 to record the vanishing way of life. The center has collected and preserved photographs, documents, genealogical records, and artifacts that might otherwise have disappeared. Most of the images in this book are from the center’s archives.

Helen L. Brackett and other volunteer staff of the Chipley Historical Center compiled this record from material contributed by current and former residents.

Images of America: Statesboro documents the fascinating story behind southern Georgia's inland leader of commerce and culture. Rare photographs capture daily life from the late 1800s to the late 1900s, exploring education, recreation, transportation, commerce, religion, and local culture. This engaging volume features photographs drawn largely from local family albums and the Statesboro Regional Library.

Celebrate with Effingham County, in word and image, the spirit and achievements of these industrious pioneers, who forged a special relationship with the land on which they settled.

On March 12, 1734, German Salzburger immigrants arrived in the southern portion of Georgia where, with handmade bricks, they constructed the Jerusalem Lutheran Church. Within its hallowed walls an active congregation still worships today, and the community that flourished around this sacred landmark is now known as Effingham County. The founding fathers of the early settlement also established a gristmill, a sawmill, a school, and an orphanage, bringing to life the optimistic sentiments they had carried across an ocean and into a new world. While religion was a focal point of the new community, commerce and industry could not be overlooked in a young America poised for an unprecedented role on the world's stage. The rivers that flowed through the county, the Savannah and the Ogeechee, made it possible for the local residents to transport their cotton and timber to the bustling markets in Augusta and Savannah; later, major railroad lines would pass through the county, connecting it to economic opportunity in the rest of the state and beyond. Today, Effingham County is made up of several small towns, with Springfield designated as the county seat. The people who live, work, and worship in these towns are ever respectful of the contributions of their hardworking ancestors, and maintaining the integrity of the community's unique character is a shared and enjoyed civic responsibility.

View images from the picturesque history of Augusta.

In the early 1900s, America was swept up in the postcard craze. All over the country, people seized on these charming snapshots of life as a means of keeping in touch with friends and family, as well as seeing strange and exciting parts of the world.

Through glimpses at yesteryear, author Patricia Barefoot perpetuates a "southern sense of place'? as it shines forth in Brunswick: The City by the Sea.

Located on the coast of southeast Georgia and the sinuous sweep of poet Sidney Lanier's famed ""Marshes of Glynn,"" Brunswick, Georgia boasts a history rich beyond measure. Dating from its layout in 1771 on the ""Oglethorpe Plan"" by surveyor George McIntosh, the new town emphasized an Anglo-Germanic heritage, and featured a grid repeat pattern of regularly spaced squares and town lots. In the 1830s, a flurry of entrepreneurial activity included the plan of ""New Town,"" which extended from the boundaries of Old Town. A few of Brunswick's most spectacular architectural treasures stand today within the boundaries of New Town near the Courthouse Mall. Built upon a peninsula, the seaside setting and Georgia's abundant natural resources have proven inspiring and lucrative assets for the port city and its people. Although buffeted by wars and epidemics, panics and depressions, a diverse population has endured and demonstrated extraordinary resilience. While in 1902 Brunswick stood first in lumber and second in naval stores production compared with other south Atlantic ports, today auto import and export, agri-commodities, and forest products provide focus for port activity. Soon the citizens of Brunswick-Glynn County will welcome a 185-foot vertical clearance, cable-stayed golden ""bridge to the future."" At the millennium's dawn, a renewed emphasis on restoring old buildings and homes, economic vitality, an award-winning Main Street program, and revitalization downtown promise a bright future.

In this volume discover the educational professionals and teaching strategies that shaped the lives of African Americans in DeKalb County, Georgia

A selfless and tireless educator, Narvie J. Harris has dedicated numerous years to the students and teachers of the DeKalb County School System. The impact she has made on this Georgia community is far-reaching--she has touched the lives of thousands through her words, her wit, and her example. In this unprecedented salute to her life and times, discover the incredible strides made in equal-opportunity education through a collection of images and memoirs, including the early Jeanes Supervisors who persevered in turbulent times to improve the quality of African-American education and the triumphant achievements of Mrs. Harris and others who dedicated countless hours to the betterment of the DeKalb County Schools.

This volume portrays, in word and image, the role of sports at Berry College throughout its 100-year history. Situating athletics within the social and cultural life of the college, the book includes both intramural and intercollegiate sport, and traces the evolution of the Viking tradition as it both parallels and reflects the development of sport in the United States. The story begins with the recreational and leisure activities of the early years of the school and traces the continuation of the sporting spirit from the days of the Silver and the Blue through the post-war Blue Jacket tradition, and ends with the Viking years of the last four decades. Of notable interest in the book is the development of the women's sports program, which has brought four national titles to the college; the importance of soccer to the college; the well-rounded intercollegiate program, which currently fields teams in seven sports; and an excellent intramural program.

Explore the rich history of Elberton, Georgia through more than 200 vintage photographs and anecdotes from the locals who experienced it.

Elberton, Georgia, chartered in 1803 and chosen as the seat of Elbert County, earned fame as the Granite Capital of the Worldwith an industry that dates back to the late 19th century. Along with the pioneering residents who first settled the area and those who brought the community to the forefront of the granite industry, this engaging pictorial collection highlights the civic, business, and cultural leaders who have shaped and defined the character of the town.

Images of America: Elbertonis filled with scenes of days gone by, revealing what life was like for early Elbertonians. Highlighted are such notable individuals as Samuel Elbert, an American Revolutionary Warhero and the town and county's namesake; Thomas M. Swift, merchant, mill owner, and builder of the Swift Blockon North McIntosh Street; Dr. Nathaniel G. Long, medical practitioner, politician, and business entrepreneur who established the first telephone system in the city; and Edmund Brewer Tate Jr., civic and business leader who encouraged construction of the present county courthouse. Local businesses, homes, institutions, and landmarks are included as well, such as the extant Queen Annehouse built by W.C. Smith on Heard Streetin the late 19th century, Reuben H. Hunt's Richardsonian Romanesquecourthouse of 1894-1895, and the Samuel Elbert Hotelof 1924-1925.

Coupled with informative captions, these vintage photographs tell the story that is uniquely Elberton.

One of Atlanta's most desirable neighborhoods, Virginia-Highland enjoys a rich history, a diverse urban fabric, and a distinct sense of identity.

In the last years of the 19th century, city folk escaped from downtown on trolley cars to appreciate the natural springs and cool breezes of higher elevations; by the 1920s, clusters of subdivisions had created affordable homes in which the city workers could live. The community suffered a period of decline in the mid-20th century due to the impact of desegregation and a planned highway that would have cut through the neighborhood. After the highway was halted by community activists, young professionals and families began to move back into the city, renovating houses and embracing in-town living. Many historic structures, coupled with eclectic business activity, a number of parks, and vibrant culture, have influenced the identity of Virginia-Highland.

Established in 1790, Elbert County was carved from adjacent Wilkes County and named in honor of American patriot and former governor Samuel Elbert.

Located in Northeast Georgia on the Savannah and Broad Rivers, the territory witnessed Revolutionary War fighting and the creation of Fort James, Dartmouth, and Petersburg, occurring all before 1790. Later Ruckersville, Heardmont, Bowman, and Dewy Rose were established. Elberton, chosen as county seat by former governor Stephen Heard's committee, was incorporated in 1803 and dominated county history thereafter. Nancy Hart and Stephen Heard, among others, aided the revolution; merchants William and Beverly Allen forged a business path; and preachers, including Dozier Thornton, established many county churches. In later years, Corra Harris, born at Farmhill, attended Elberton Female Academy before becoming a noted writer. In the 20th century, cotton production was overshadowed by the growth of granite quarrying and finishing, leading to Elberton becoming the ""Granite Capital of the World.""

Located where the Altamaha River empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Brunswick, Hofwyl-Broadfield was the last of the coastal plantations to grow rice.

With welcoming views of the broad and expansive marsh, oak trees draped with moss, and a huge sky overhead, Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation was home to five generations of one family. Its story involves a love of the land--fertile yet sometimes unyielding, binding to it the people who owned it and those who worked it. It was this legacy that Ophelia Dent bequeathed to the State of Georgia at her death in 1973. Her hope was that future generations would enjoy the beauty of this special place and understand how each family found a way to bestow it upon the next. The Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation State Historic Site, operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Parks, and Historic Sites Division, captures and tells the story of a special era.

Those character traits continue to be evident among those who call one of America's most scenic areas home. Part of the Chattahoochee National Forest covers approximately one-half of the land in Union County-much of it wilderness as it has been for centuries. From the mountain peaks to the lakes, along the roadways and wilderness trails, Union County features flowing streams, waterfalls, native animals, spectacular flora, and magnificent views of abundant forests. This volume will delight readers as they journey through the history of such areas as Choestoe, Arkaquah, Brasstown, Gum Log, Ivy Log, Dooley, Young Cane, Coosa, Owltown, Cooper's Creek, Gaddistown, Suches, and Blairsville. This pictorial chronicle brings to life the perseverance of those who have gone before, providing a record of their contributions and accomplishments.

Explore the wonders of the oldest city in Georgia!

From secret tunnels used by pirates to transport their treasure, to mausoleums and stained glass windows, the city of Savannah, Georgia, is filled with secrets and trivia for your family to discover! Whether you want to creep through cemeteries, scout out sea turtles, or kayak to Little Tybee Island, each page is packed full of adventures that will entertain explorers of all ages. Colorful photographs by author Chris Sergi and intriguing bits of history guarantee that you’ll finish each challenge with fond memories and troves of new information. So gather up your crew of voyagers and get on the road to Savannah—a world of history and fun awaits!