February 2023 Journal Newsletter
2022 History Center Review
As we look forward to a great year in 2023, we are excited to share an overview of our programs, events, exhibits, and more in our 2022 Review of the Northeast Georgia History Center. Thank you to everyone who helped us make 2022 a year of growth, improvements, new projects, new events, and continued success!
You may view our 2022 Review at this link.
We want to hear from you!
We love sharing your comments about our programs, exhibits, and more in our annual reviews. If you would like to share a comment with us, please do so using the form on this page.
Libba Beaucham Becomes Assistant Director
Our Director of the Cottrell Digital Studio, Libba Beaucham, has accepted the position of Assistant Director of the Northeast Georgia History Center! Libba will still maintain her role in the Cottrell Digital Studio while assisting our Executive Director in all aspects of museum operations. Libba has been at the History Center for over five years now and, like all of our multi-talented staff, has worn many “hats” in her time here from producing digital content to portraying historic figures. We wish Libba the best in this new leadership hat!
Museum Services Manager
Leah Jarrett
We would like to officially introduce Leah Jarrett, who has accepted the position of Museum Services Manager!
Leah Jarrett graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Georgia in 2022 with a History major and English minor. During her college education, she interned twice at the Northeast Georgia History Center. Completing both the archival and research internship programs, Leah helped develop the 2021 N.C. White “Fadeless Photographer” exhibit. Additionally, she participated in the Georgia Arts and Culture Archive at the University of North Georgia as a student research assistant.
While a student, Leah was selected as one of two nominees for the Presidential Fellow for the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, and received the Simone De Beauvoir Award for Excellence in Feminist Theory and Practice for her paper, “An Analysis of the Role of Women in Njal’s Saga,” and accepted the Jonas Kauffeldt Outstanding History Student award. She also presented two original papers at the 27th Annual Research Conference for the University of North Georgia in 2021 and 2022 and served as the Secretary of the History Club and Vice President of Phi Alpha Theta, Zeta Phi chapter.
We Welcome Marsha Hopkins to the Board of Directors
We are thrilled to announce that Marsha Hopkins has joined our Board of Directors! Marsha has over 14 years of experience in consulting, research, writing, and public speaking. Her career includes her role as Co-Owner of Hopkins Associates, CEO of the Gainesville College Foundation, and Program Director of the Hall County Boys & Girls Club. Marsha served on the Georgia Mountains Cultural and Historical Trust, which later evolved into the Northeast Georgia History Center. She has also served in the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, City of Gainesville Planning Commission, Hall County Historical Society, and United Way of Hall County, to name just a few!
Marsha has received the Joe Cooney Award for Innovation/Excellence in Employment & Training, the Heart of Gold Award by the Gainesville Times & Volunteer Resource Center, and the Gainesville Woman of Distinction Award by the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia.
“I am excited for this opportunity to be a part of the Board again, and to support the preservation of the history of Northeast Georgia! I look forward to working with others to support the many interesting activities and educational programs offered through the Northeast Georgia History Center.”
We look forward to Marsha’s work with the Board and how she will support our mission!
Last Month at the History Center
Here are the highlights from our events and programs in January!
During Homeschool Day: Common Threads, visitors learned about historic sewing, weaving, shoemaking, and more during with living history interpreters and volunteers!
Our Valley Forge Family Day was revolutionary! Visitors learned about the experiences of soldiers at Valley Forge and even met General George Washington (portrayed by Dan McMichael) and his wife Martha Washington (portrayed by Amy Beaucham). Family Days are now every other month and are free to the public thanks to the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center.
Students met Lewis & Clark, a Civil War Soldier and Nurse, Rosie the Riveter, and more during live Webcasts from our “time machine.” Details about our free Webcasts for Georgia teachers are available at www.negahc.org/digital.
Our kids Homeschool History Club learned about the Women’s Suffrage Movement with a lesson by our Education Director and a time travel visit with Suffragist Lucy Stone! Details on this program are available at www.negahc.org/homeschool.
Last month’s Members-Only program was a “Time Travel Adventure” in which viewers met explorers Lewis & Clark and learned about their grand journey to the Pacific Ocean. All Members have access to this program and more! Digital Memberships are free for all Georgia teachers and homeschool groups. Details about Memberships are available at www.negahc.org/member.
Our Members-Only history quiz in January was all about Westward Expansion in the United States. Congratulations to Member “Yosemite Sam” for achieving the highest score!
Super Museum Sunday
Free Admission!
Sunday, February 5th from 1-5 PM
The Northeast Georgia History Center is will participate in the Georgia History Festival’s Super Museum Sunday on February 5, 2023. Super Museum Sunday is part of the annual Georgia History Festival, the signature K-12 educational program of the Georgia Historical Society, reaching hundreds of thousands of students statewide.
The Northeast Georgia History Center will join nearly 100 historic sites, house museums, art museums, and other points of interest throughout Georgia that will open their doors to the public, FREE of charge.
During your visit, you'll explore 10,000 years of Northeast Georgia history through artifacts, interactive stations, and the historic White Path Cabin.
LoFi History!
A free virtual “Ask a Historian” program for all ages!
Tuesday, February 7th at 4:30 PM ET
Join us for a fun and interactive program with historians Glen Kyle and Marie Bartlett with your host Libba Beaucham. Viewers can chat their history questions for Glen and Marie to answer live! Great for all ages.
View on our YouTube channel or Facebook page on Tuesday, February 7th at 4:30 PM ET. Can’t make it to the live program? Email Libba your questions at libba@negahc.org and you can watch later!
Valentine’s Day Tea
Saturday, February 11th at 11 AM & 2 PM
Join us at the Northeast Georgia History Center for a very special Valentine's Day Tea on Saturday, February 11th! Our 11 AM tea is now sold out, but we have added at a 2 PM tea.
Enjoy piping hot tea and a variety of sweet and savory treats, learn the basics of tea etiquette, and explore the history of Valentine's Day with a presentation by our Education Director Marie Bartlett.
This event is appropriate for ages 8 and up. Tickets are $35 and include admission to the History Center's exhibits and historic structures as well as an exhibit scavenger hunt for kids.
Limited tickets are available online at: Valentine’s Tea Tickets
Forum: Europe & the Confederacy
Presented by Dr. Ann Tucker
Tuesday, February 14th at 7:00 PM
When we think of the Civil War, we almost always turn our attention to the events on the North American continent… but the Confederacy’s attempt at independence was seen abroad as only one of numerous efforts to create a new nation.
Dr. Ann Tucker, professor of history at the University of North Georgia, will discuss this perspective based on her book Newest Born of Nations: European Nationalist Movements and the Making of the Confederacy.
Brought to you by the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center
Admission is $5 at the door, or FREE for members of the History Center!
Homeschool Day: Daily Life in Medieval Europe
Thursday, February 23rd from 10 AM - 1 PM
Homeschool families (and anyone else who would like to join!) are invited to our Homeschool Day: Daily Life in Medieval Europe on Thursday, February 23rd from 10 AM - 1 PM.
Learn about the lives of everyday people of the Medieval era and more with costumed living history interpreters, hands-on activities, and demonstration stations with historically accurate reproduction items.
This program is free for Members or included with the price of admission for non-Members. Become a Member today at www.negahc.org/member.
We appreciate you pre-registering for this event at:
Pre-Registration
Members Mini-Doc: Us Are the Folks
The Life & Works of Artist Benny Andrews
Release: Friday, February 24th
Born in 1930 in the rural north Georgia town of Plainview, Benny Andrews was one of ten children to sharecroppers Viola and George Andrews. His father was a self-taught artist and his mother was determined to provide her children with a good education. The combination of influences in his early life as a poor black boy in the rural South is shown with a unique and unflinching touch through his artwork. Through the mixed mediums of collage, oil painting, sculpture, and textile arts, Andrews delivers powerful, poignant, and reflective works of art that inspire to this day.
In this month’s Members Mini-Doc: Us Are the Folks, we will explore the life and works of Benny Andrews through archival interviews from his time as an artist. The Mini-Doc will be available to all Members on Friday, February 24th.
Become a Member to enjoy exclusive access to programs like this and more at www.negahc.org/member.
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.
Accepting New Tutors for Gainesville Reads
We currently accepting new volunteer tutors for our free children’s program, Gainesville Reads, for students in 1st-5th grade who struggle with reading. 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!
Mr. Inman & the Swan House with Gene Harmon
The Swan House is one of Atlanta's most famous historic homes and is located on the grounds of the Atlanta History Center. It has many claims to fame including being featured in The Hunger Games movie franchise as Presidents Snow's Mansion. The Swan House was designed in 1928 by Philip T. Shutze for Mr. and Mrs. Inman, who gained their wealth through the cotton industry. In this episode, Marie interviews Gene Harmon who has done extensive research working as a historical interpreter at the Swan House portraying Mr. Inman himself. Learn more about the people who built this magnificent house and their lasting impact on the city of Atlanta.
Claiming Union Widowhood with Dr. Brandi Brimmer
This episode is from our 2022 season of Members Only programs that we are releasing to the public. Consider becoming a Member or Digital Member to enjoy our 2023 season of Members Only programs. In this interview, Marie is joined by Dr. Brandi Brimmer to discuss Dr. Brimmer's fascinating book Claiming Union Widowhood. This book explores the challenges and experiences of African-American widows who navigated the US pension system after the Civil War.
Listen now at www.thenagainpodcast.com.
Take our listener survey at this link: Then Again Listener Survey
