Images of America Sale

To learn about a community's storied past, the city cemetery is the place to visit.

As Atlanta's oldest permanent landmark, Oakland Cemetery holds the past, present, and future history of the Gateway to the South. Established in 1850 as a small municipal cemetery on the southeastern edge of town, Historic Oakland has evolved into 88 acres of art, history, architecture, gardens, and peaceful green space in the heart of downtown Atlanta. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 as a significant example of an historic Victorian-era cemetery, Oakland is the final resting place of more than 70,000 deceased. People of both statewide and national importance have been buried throughout the cemetery's grounds in the past 150 years, including author Margaret Mitchell, golfing legend Bobby Jones, Confederate generals and soldiers, Georgia governors, Atlanta mayors, and ordinary people known only to their families. Historic Oakland Cemetery explores the history of both the cemetery and the people who were laid to rest there. From the famous to the infamous, the legendary to the ordinary, every person buried in the cemetery has a story to tell. For all of its emphasis on the past, Oakland remains an active cemetery, a public park, and an educational resource in which to study lush landscapes and Georgia history.

Long before it came to prominence as the model city of the New South, Atlanta was a hotbed of entertainment, business, and civic life for African Americans.

At the same time that Harlem was undergoing its acclaimed renaissance, Atlanta could boast of excellent colleges, a thriving social environment, and an entertainment scene that could rival those of much larger cities, eventually earning the title “the new Motown. ” From Auburn Avenue, the hub of the city’s African American activity, a spirit of vibrant change and excitement radiated out to reach people across America, and draw them into the Hollywood of the South.

Discover Tybee Island's historic hotel that witnessed hurricanes, wars, a riot, murder, Prohibition, and the Great Depression.   

Tybee Island was a mostly undeveloped tropical island situated 12 miles east of Savannah in the 1880s when businessman Daniel Purse bought most of the island with the intention of transforming it into a seaside resort destination. There were no roads to Tybee at the time. To overcome the obstacle of a two-hour boat ride from Savannah, Purse built a railroad connecting Tybee to Savannah. Thousands of new tourists began flocking to Tybee's beautiful beaches, though most could not stay due to inadequate lodging accommodations. In 1889, Savannah National Bank president and future mayor of Savannah Herman Myers and investors constructed Hotel Tybee, which was one of the finest hotels in the country. For over seven decades, Hotel Tybee hosted vacations, conventions, social events, and gambling. The establishment was ravaged by fire in 1909 but was resurrected more magnificent than before.

A fascinating pictorial history of Bulloch County, documenting the everyday achievements of the residents this historic Georgia county.

Bulloch is more than a county. It is a way of life. Bulloch County is a pictorial history of the aspirations and achievements of the residents of one of Georgia's most historic counties. Using rare photographs obtained from individuals and archival collections, the authors, Delma E. Del Presley, director of the Georgia Southern Museum, and Smith C. Banks, local historian and eighth-generation Bulloch Countian, present a uniquely interesting look at Bulloch County's rich heritage.

Both the neighborhood of Grant Park and the 131-acre park take their shared name from railroad executive Lemuel P. Grant.

The park was a gift to the City of Atlanta from Grant and was designed by John Charles Olmsted, the stepson of Frederick Law Olmsted. It became an urban haven where people came to ""take the waters"" from its natural springs, canoe on Lake Abana, and stroll the winding pathways in the pastoral park. A neighborhood sprang up around this oasis and was filled with homes that were designed in the spirit of Victorian painted ladies, Craftsman bungalows, Queen Anne, and New South cottages. In 1979, the structures within the neighborhood and park were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Within these pages, discover little-known facts about the county's past residents, including Bukumbo, the young girl who was brought from Africa to Decatur to serve as a nurse, who quickly became a beloved member of the family and died only a short while later.

Learn about the great impact that the Clark and Oliver families had on Decatur, and view famous sections and landmarks of the county, including Lithonia, Ellenwood, Stone Mountain, Doraville, Tucker, Chamblee, Clarkston, Lynwood Park, Scottdale, and South DeKalb. Whether one is well acquainted with the county's rich heritage or a newcomer just becoming familiar with the people and places that make up the county's history, African-American Life in DeKalb County: 1823–1970 offers something for everyone.

Read of Calhoun's many influences on transportation, in wartime, and in the commerce of the South.

Calhoun, the seat of Gordon County, is situated in the rolling Ridge and Valley geologic region of northwest Georgia. The long valley formed a natural migration pattern that influenced the area's settlement and is a strong economic factor today. Transportation arteries, from rivers to railroads to highways, remain a critical part of the city's development. The Cherokee Indians began the infamous Trail of Tears march near Calhoun. Later, Gen. William T. Sherman almost destroyed the village as he led his troops to the Battle of Atlanta. The region's cotton farmers supplied the early tufted-textile industry that evolved into enormous carpet and floor-covering businesses.

Georgia and the Power of the Vote traces the history of Georgia’s enfranchisement and its influence on American politics from 1865 to 2023.

Since Reconstruction, Georgia’s enfranchisement history has captured the nation’s attention. During multiple waves, massive voter registration, mobilization, and suppression efforts were influenced by the pull-pull forces of those wanting to sustain power and those untiringly committed to acquiring it; those hoping to maintain the status quo and those steadfastly determined to disrupt it; and those trying to exercise their right to vote and those trying to suppress it. This historical tug-of-war amongst Georgians has consistently had national implications. The outcome, nevertheless, has shaped national policy, influenced landmark court decisions, ignited social movements, and produced national leaders.

The men of Pierce County faced with both bravery and uncertainty the greatest challenge of their lives, while the women and children they left behind toiled to sustain the community, with the hope that their loved ones would return. After the war, Pierce County families joined together to re-build their community, which was nearly destroyed in its infancy. The late nineteenth century brought growth and change, as a determined citizenry built new homes, churches, and schools to nourish and educate its young. From the abundant green pines and beautiful white sands of Southeast Georgia arose enterprising businesses and a successful agricultural economy. Residents of the county kept their eyes toward the future while always honoring and remembering the sons and daughters they lost through the ages. The proud faces of generations past and the tangible results of their pioneering efforts to build a home fill the pages of this treasured volume.

Augusta, Georgia was home to the Augusta Arsenal for more than 125 years. In this compilation of images, familiar places meld together with historic characters to paint the picture of one of Augusta’s longest-standing federal outposts.

In 1791, US president George Washington visited Augusta and later proposed that the arsenal be built along the banks of the Savannah River. The arsenal was completed in 1819 and moved up the hill to Summerville in 1827. Part of the US Army Ordnance Department, the Augusta Arsenal service members and civilian employees were charged with making and repairing small firearms for the military. World War II–era images show the breadth of operations at the arsenal during its busiest time. Community members came together to support the expanded arsenal operations during the war when more than 2,000 employees worked at the Summerville site. Now home to Augusta University’s Summerville campus, many original buildings, sites, and historic objects are preserved for future generations. The historic quadrangle, commandant’s home, and stable are just a few of the many structures preserved by Augusta University. 

Stacey Thompson is director of the Guard House Museum and the Museum Studies Certificate program in the Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Augusta University. David Tucker, a seasoned writer and editor, is retired from the Medical College of Georgia.

Uncover the history of Historic College Park, Georgia through vintage images in this pictorial history.

What makes College Park so special? It is the people who live here. College Park has managed to maintain a small-town feel even as it is home of the Georgia International Convention Center and with the town's close proximity to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. Located 15 minutes southwest of Atlanta, College Park is a small town nestled within a large urban city. The people who live here make it what it has always been--an active and caring community. College Park has more than 800 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. It was home to prestigious Cox College and Georgia Military Academy, which became the largest preparatory school in the United States, Woodward Academy. As a tribute to higher institutions of learning, many streets are collegiately named.

Inman Park documents the rich and interesting history of this diverse suburb of Atlanta.

The story of Inman Park, Atlanta's first planned suburb, is one closely tied with transportation ingenuity, trade, and the progressive determination of its citizens. Situated two miles east of downtown Atlanta, Inman Park was farmland when the Civil War ravaged its rolling hills. In the 1890s, Inman Park bloomed into Atlanta's first residential park, the location of choice for Atlanta's social elite. The growth of Atlanta, however, struck a blow to the development of this utopian suburb. By the mid-20th century, the suburb fell into dilapidation, abandoned by the prominent families of Atlanta. It was not until the 1970s that the neighborhood, like Atlanta itself, was raised from its ashes to become the celebrated example of Victorian restoration that it is today and was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Home of the oldest prehistoric pottery found in North America, Columbia County was one of the first counties in Georgia and is still growing today.

From the tumultuous years of the Civil War to the 20th century, Columbia County’s history is recorded in these vintage images, many of the photographs never before seen by the public, as well as several ambrotypes of Confederate soldiers. The history of the county's education system, one of the state's best, is traced with snapshots of old field schools and village schoolhouses, and its industry is revealed, from locally-owned lumber yards to the famous Lake Thurmond Dam, which created the largest recreation facility in a five-county area. Culled from individuals, family collections, and county organizations, these pictures are treasured items offered for public perusal. An engaging retrospective, Columbia Countyoffers something for everyone, from the history buff to the nostalgia seeker to the leisurely reader.

Worth County also possesses a quiet history marked by the footprints of legendary travelers such as Hernando De Soto and Gen. Andrew Jackson, as well as Native American inhabitants.

Join Author Lisa Cooper as she recounts the history of Douglasville, Georgia in vintage images; some never before seen.

The formation of Douglasville coincided when New South ideals were reshaping villages into railroad towns across the South during Reconstruction. In 1875, business and political leaders worked from the ground up to provide Douglasville with each component of a New South town, including a railroad, cotton mill, hotel, bank, and a commercial district. Today, the central business district is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and presents a snapshot regarding how the town fathers actualized their vision of industry and enterprise. Douglasville's founders would be pleased if they visited the town they created 138 years ago. It has entered the 21st century as a vibrant city with a thriving historic district, as well as a destination for businesses ranging from Google to the American Red Cross.   

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.""

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.