Arts & Humanities Society & Culture

Athens’ architectural history to be subject of talk, book

Athens, Ga. – A book talk on “The Tangible Past of Athens, Georgia,” a forthcoming title about local architectural history, will be held June 12 at 12:30 p.m. in Room 271 of the Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries on the University of Georgia campus.

Steven Brown of university archives along with editor Charlotte Marshall and authors Milton Leathers and Gary Doster will talk about the book, which narrates and illustrates the architectural history of Athens. The speakers will share a few stories about the research and offer a preview of some of the lesser-known illustrative materials to be featured in the book, which will be released in December.

The book is filled with information about Athens and its history, much of which has long fallen out of the public consciousness. The book also features essays and never before published images.

“The Tangible Past of Athens, Georgia,” began in a committee that met over two years and first focused on moved houses and then later on other aspects of Athens building history.

The book was researched using the resources of the Heritage Room of the Athens-Clarke County Library, the UGA Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library and private albums.

The authors also include Amy Andrews, Patricia Irvin Cooper, Lee Epting, Mary Anne Martin Hodgson, Hubert Horton McAlexander, Pete McCommons and Mary Bondurant Warren. Other committee members are Janet Clarke, Marie Hodgson Koenig, Henry Ramsey and Smith Wilson.

The program, open free to the public, will be broadcast live over the Internet. A link to the webcast will be available at http://BoomersInAthens.org the day of the program for those unable to attend in person. The program will also be archived on the website.

A tour of the special collections libraries will be available following the program. Parking is in the Hull Street parking deck.

This program is made possible by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services through a leadership grant awarded to the Athens Regional Library System and Lyndon House Arts Center called “The Boomers: Reflecting, Sharing, Learning.”