Athens, Ga. – “William Few: Forgotten Patriot,” an exhibit featuring original manuscripts and correspondence between William Few and Abraham Baldwin and documents relating to the conditions in the state of Georgia during that historical period is now on display through Sept. 27 at the Turner Gallery in the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library in honor of Constitution Day on Sept. 17.
Few and Baldwin were the two signers of the U.S. Constitution from the state of Georgia who were also close friends and had important ties to the University of Georgia. Two years ago, the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library acquired over two hundred and fifty letters of Few and his wife, Catherine, and their daughter Frances. These letters reveal much about Few’s activities in the state of Georgia until he moved permanently to New York about 1800. Few served as a Trustee of the University of Georgia from 1785 until 1800. Baldwin, first president of the University of Georgia, is mentioned frequently in Catherine Few’s letters. Baldwin’s papers are located in The University of Georgia Archives within the Hargrett Library.
Highlights of the exhibit include the1787 pamphlet edition of the Constitution with an inscription by Benjamin Franklin and an original patent granted to Few in 1809 signed by President Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
Documents relating to the siege of Savannah, the scandal of the Yazoo land fraud, religion in Georgia camp meetings and the establishment of the University of Georgia, also known as Franklin College, also are on display.
This exhibit is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday, from 1 – 5 p.m. The Hargrett Library is closed for all home football game days.
For more information on the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, see http://www.libs.uga.edu/hargrett/speccoll.html.
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