April 2023 Journal Newsletter
Northeast Georgia History Center Honored by Contribution from Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation
Our educational programs are made possible by the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center. In 2009 Doug and Kay Ivester dedicated the Education Center to Doug's mother, Mrs. Ada Mae Ivester. Since then, the Education Center has served thousands of students, teachers, families, and patrons through its educational programs, free Family Days, Forums, and community events. This has been a fitting tribute to the Ivester family as they have provided educational resources to their home, Hall County, for years.
Last week, we were honored to receive further support from the Ivester Foundation in the amount of $50,000 towards the initiatives of the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center. Pictured from right to left are Mrs. Ada Mae Ivester, Lynn Darby (President of the Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation), and Libba Beaucham (Interim Executive Director of the Northeast Georgia History Center.)
We are so proud of the success of the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center and look forward to its bright future!
Reception & Plaque Honoring Glen Kyle
The History Center honored our former Executive Director, Glen Kyle, in March by holding a reception with staff, board members, and friends from the community. This was a bittersweet event as we will dearly miss Glen who served the Northeast Georgia History Center as Executive Director for 15 years. To show our appreciation and to honor Glen’s contributions to the success of the History Center, we presented a plaque to be displayed at the History Center. The plaque reads:
“The Northeast Georgia History Center honors the contributions, visionary leadership, and passion for history education of Glen Kyle including: expanding and curating the museum's exhibits and historic structures, establishing the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center and the museum's digital studio, bringing living history interpretation to the forefront of our educational programs, and inspiring thousands of students, teachers, visitors, and patrons to personally connect to the past.”
Local Authors Featured in Museum Shop
We have a great selection of books in our museum shop featuring local authors this month! Visit us in person or shop online at this link.
Grace and Disgrace: Living with Faith and the Leader of the Dixie Mafia
by Phil Hudgins
Billy "Sunday" Birt's story is legend. He was a complicated man, someone who could be a ruthless killer one minute and a gentle lover of animals the next. What is told here is the story of mama, a story untold — until now.
Sharecropper's Son, A Journey of Teaching and Learning
by James E. Southerland
From his birth on South Alabama farmland through youth in Columbus, Georgia, and studies at the University of Georgia, the sharecropper's son James E. Southerland set out on a journey of teaching and learning that spanned six decades…the most vital lesson Southerland shares in his compelling memoir is that our own stories - and those of friends and relatives - feed into and interact with the dynamic history of all humankind.
Dreamcatcher Secrets: a Balfour Mystery
by KC Pearcey
The first novel in the Balfour Mystery series by KC Pearcey finds local psychologist Cora Stone unwillingly pulled into the investigation of a gruesome murder in her small town just as she brings a young foster child into her home. A lovely recluse who knows what she cannot possibly know, Cora has the answers to the questions everyone is asking. But none of the quirky citizens of Balfour are going to believe her. They all have secrets of their own.
I Took the Fork by Phil Hudgins
In his book "I Took the Fork," author Phil Hudgins recounts the life and work of Lessie Smithgall, the co-founder of The Gainesville Times and an active philanthropist.
Upcoming Events
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Presented by Dr. Bryan Sorohan
Tuesday, April 11th at 7:00 PM
In-Person EventIn the midst of the Great War, Great Britain found itself dealing with a most unwelcome, but long-dreaded, independence movement in Ireland. Dr. Bryan Sorohan of Brenau University will present the momentous events of Easter Week, 1916, from personal, political, social, and military perspectives.
Admission is $5, or FREE for Members of the History Center.
Brought to you by the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center
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Wednesday, April 26th from 10 AM - 1 PM
The Great Depression was a time of uncertainty, hardship, and desperation for many Americans. Yet, even in these challenging circumstances, Americans learned to "make it do, or do without." During the Northeast Georgia History Center's Homeschool Day on Wednesday, April 26th, we'll explore the lived experiences of everyday Americans during the Great Depression through living history programs and activity stations.
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This month’s Member’s Only program will be a behind-the-scenes look at items from our archives! Our Archives & Collections Manager Lesley Jones will share five items from the archives in a video series released at the end of April.
Intern Spotlight: Sarah Quinteros
Sara Quinteros graduated from New York University last year with a B.A. in History and Politics, focused on American history during the 1960s. She is an Archives & Collections Intern interested in knowing more about the history of Gainesville, where she grew up. Currently, she has been researching the ownership of photographs taken during World War II which include pictures of Adolf Hitler's yacht that were found in a scrapbook.
As an Archives & Collections Intern, Sarah has learned the proper procedures for storing and preserving artifacts. Sarah has been an enthusiastic and dedicated intern, and we look forward to what her research will reveal!
Arts Council Donates Midland Railroad Artifacts
Last month the Arts Council contacted Lesley Jones, our Archives & Collections Manager, about donating artifacts from the Gainesville Midland Railroad. Upon arrival to the parsonage, we were thrilled to find treasures inside! The collection they have donated to us includes ledgers, passenger manifests, payroll, tax records, maps, and photographs from the Gainesville Midland Railroad ranging from 1906 to 1951. Lesley is currently working on sorting them and learning about this wonderful piece of the Gainesville history. We want to thank Michelle Ferguson and the Arts Council for their kind and generous donation!
Oral History Project: The Mills of Gainesville
We are working on a great oral history project with our Digital Studio Interns and the help of researcher and former Gainesville Mill employee Ron Hooper. We are currently seeking folks who worked at or had family who worked at any of Gainesville’s mills (Gainesville Mill, Chicopee Mill, and New Holland Mill.) This project will document the experiences of mill workers and those who lived in the mill villages as well as explore the impact of the mills on Gainesville’s economy and growth since the early 1900s.
Our Digital Studio Interns are Henry Rosenberger and Tyler Kinsey, both film students at the University of North Georgia. Henry and Tyler have been working with Ron Hooper who has conducted great research on the mills of Gainesville.
We look forward to sharing updates with you! For now, if you have any recommendations about who we should interview, please email Libba at libba@negahc.org.
Gainesville Reads Student Debuts Art at Quinlan
We are very proud of our Gainesville Reads student, Mateo, who recently had his original artwork displayed at the Quinlan Arts Center! Mateo has shown a great interest in art and creative projects, and we can’t wait to see what his future holds!
Become a Volunteer Tutor
We currently accepting new volunteer tutors for our free children’s program, Gainesville Reads, for students in 1st-5th grade who need extra support in literacy skills. Tutors meet with the same student each week to help them build confidence in their reading skills through fun activities, reading books together, and worksheets that address specific challenges of the student. Training and curriculum is provided.
Details at www.negahc.org/gainesvillereads.
Then Again Podcast
Check out the latest episodes of our podcast Then Again below!
Marie Bartlett speaks with Dr. Matt Stanard, Professor of History at Berry College and author of several books and articles about Europe's relations with the wider world including the book, European Overseas Empire 1879-1999: A Short History. Join them as they scratch the surface of the beginnings of European Imperialism in Africa.
Listen now at www.thenagainpodcast.com.
Take our listener survey at this link: Then Again Listener Survey
Special Thanks
Our programs would not be possible without the support of the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center.
More information on the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center: AMIEC