Athens, Ga. – Habitat for Humanity International will frame a house, to be used as affordable housing in Athens, on the lawn of the University of Georgia Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries April 1.
The symbolic house framing will be the highlight of a program to announce the opening of the Habitat for Humanity International records at UGA’s Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Habitat’s materials are the latest and largest addition to a growing body of related collections at Hargrett that revolve around the topics of housing, philanthropy, and social change. These materials document the formation, growth, and operation of one of the most recognized non-profit organizations as they have worked toward the mission of ending substandard housing around the globe.
The day’s activities include the ceremonial raising of an exterior wall of the house during a program beginning at 11:30 a.m. The theme for the day is “Preserving our Past, Building our Future.”
Photo, video and interview opportunities, as well as a tour of the collection, will be available to media.
Who: Habitat for Humanity and the University of Georgia
• Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International
• Jere W. Morehead, UGA president
• Toby Graham, university librarian and associate provost at UGA
• Spencer Frye, director, Athens Area Habitat for Humanity
What: Ceremonial house framing to commemorate Habitat for Habitat for Humanity donating documents to UGA’s Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
When: April 1, 8:30-11:45 a.m.
• 8:30 a.m.: construction begins
• 11:30 a.m.: Remarks from Habitat for Humanity International, UGA and Athens Area Habitat for Humanity
Where: Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Richard B. Russell Building, 300 S. Hull St., UGA
Parking will be available at the Hull Street Parking Deck. The entrance to the deck is located at Baxter Street.
To coincide with the event, the library will prepare an exhibition in the Russell Rotunda of highlights from the collection that call attention to the history and international significance of Habitat for Humanity, including the philosophy of partnership housing; newsletters from Koinonia Farm, a Christian intentional farming community that would become the catalyst for Habitat’s establishment; photographs and memorabilia from significant projects, such as the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, Women Build, and the Global Village Program; and gifts of gratitude received by homeowner partners, including sculptures, paintings, and textiles.
After the event, which will involve UGA students and the Athens Habitat chapter, the structure will be moved by Athens Habitat for Humanity to the Carpenter’s Circle neighborhood, where it will be completed by local volunteers and become home to Kim Arnold and her daughter Molly.
“Habitat for Humanity International’s decision to place its materials with us establishes the UGA Special Collections Libraries as a resource on the grassroots movement to address affordable housing,” said P. Toby Graham, university librarian and associate provost. “They join a growing body of related collections in the Hargrett Library that revolve around the topics of housing, philanthropy and social change. Others include the Millard and Linda Fuller papers, the Fuller Center for Housing records, and the Clarence L. Jordan papers.”
For more information on Habitat for Humanity International, see http://www.habitat.org/. For more information on the UGA Libraries, see http://www.libs.uga.edu.