May Journal Newsletter
Free Admission for Mothers on Mother’s Day!
The History Center is offering all mothers free admission on Sunday, May 8th from 1-5 PM. Explore 10,000 years of our region’s rich history through our exhibits, artifacts, the White Path Cabin, and the N.C. White Studio Collection!
Did you know? Mothers Day became an official US holiday in 1914 under President Woodrow Wilson. The holiday was advocated for since 1905 by Anna Jarvis who campaigned for the holiday after her mother passed away. Anna Jarvis said a day honoring mothers should be made official because a mother is, “the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world.”
May Mini-Docs
We have lots of great virtual programs coming up for both Members and the public! To gain access to our weekly Members Mini-Docs, you can become a local Member or Digital Member at www.negahc.org/member.
Upcoming Virtual Programs
Members Mini-Doc: The Yazoo Land Fraud
Friday, May 6th at 2 PM ET
Forum - Not Quite Smooth as Silk: Georgia’s First Industry
Not Quite Smooth as Silk: Georgia’s First Industry
Tuesday, May 10th at 7 PM at the History Center
When the Georgia Colony was founded in 1732, one goal was that it could supply luxury goods, namely wines and silks, that were expensive or difficult to import to Britain from other European or Asian countries. As we all know, it took nearly 3 centuries for the Georgia wine industry to take off, but one export that never really got going was silk. Learn the how, and why, of Georgia's ill-fated attempts at silk production with Dr. Bryan Sorohan, Professor of Education from Brenau University.
$5 or Free for Members.
322 Academy Street NE Gainesville, GA 30501
Thank You Hall County Quilt Guild!
We had a wonderful Saturday event at the History Center on April 30th with the Hall County Quilt Guild. Visitors learned about the history of quilting, enjoyed a quilting demonstration, and viewed beautiful historic quilts on display dating back to the 1850s!
Then Again Podcast
In our latest episode of Then Again:
Dr. Craig Pascoe joins Glen to discuss the historic origins of barbecue, the varieties and methods that have evolved, and a new directory of mom & pop BBQ joints you should check out! Dr. Pascoe is a Professor of History at Georgia College in Milledgeville and has also assisted in creating the Georgia BBQ trails website: ww.georgiabbqtrails.com
Listen now at www.thenagainpodcast.com!
Summer Camp Registration Is Open!
This summer we’re hosting two virtual history camps and a one-day Georgia history camp!
During our Discover Georgia History day camp on June 17th, students will learn about the history of Georgia from its beginning as a colony to now through hands-on activities and historic character portrayals.
We’re offering two virtual summer camps this year: The Civil War and The American Revolution. Students will explore these eras of history through Zoom lessons, hands-on activities, recipes, and historic character portrayals.
Details at www.negahc.org/summer.
From the Newspaper Archives
The Arlington was a grand hotel located on Main Street in downtown Gainesville, Georgia from 1882 to the 1920s. It was renamed the Dixie-Hunt Hotel in the 1920s, and in 1936 it suffered significant damage from the ‘36 tornado. The Dixie-Hunt Hotel was rebuilt, and today the location is home to the Dixie Hunt Building.
The Arlington was the first hotel on the Gainesville square making it a lively place for visitors as well as residents. In newspapers from the early 1900s, reports were made of young people enjoying dances, politicians meeting in the parlors, brides and grooms getting married, a barber shop being opened in the hotel, celebrations with a live orchestra, and visits from traveling doctors among other interesting events.
The next time you pass the Dixie Hunt Building, be sure to remember the Arlington!
Arlington Hotel in 1925. Source: Digital Library of Georgia
Annual Taste of History
We are pleased to announce our 2022 Annual Taste of History Fundraiser!
This year we'll be honoring four Pillars of the Community, two individuals and two businesses: John Burd, E.E. Butler, Carroll Daniel Construction, and The Norton Agency. Each of these have contributed greatly to Gainesville and Hall County by their vision, their service, and their commitment to improving the quality of life throughout our region.
More details will follow in the coming months, as well as articles spotlighting each of our honorees, but in the meantime mark your calendars!
Sponsorships are available, email glen@negahc.org for more information.
Special Thanks
April Journal Newsletter
Welcome, Guada!
We are thrilled to welcome a new addition to the History Center team! Guada Rodriguez Sanchez is our new Media Producer who assists in all operations of the Cottrell Digital Studio.
Guada is a graduate of the University of North Georgia and is a young professional with a passion for multimedia. Some of her hobbies include running, photography, and exploring Georgia one weekend at a time. She has worked professionally with Public Broadcasting Atlanta and as the Public Relations Associate for the Department Head of Communication, Media, and Journalism at UNG. She is incredibly grateful to be part of a team that is both passionate about history and the sharing of knowledge. She’s excited that she gets to learn something new every day and that her creative thoughts are always welcome.
Guada Rodriguez Sanchez joins the History Center team as a Media Producer
April Mini-Docs
We have lots of great “mini-documentaries” coming up for both Members and the public! Check out the lineup of mini-docs for April here.
To gain access to our Members Mini-Docs, you can become a local Member or Digital Member at www.negahc.org/member.
Forums Are Back!
Liberty or Death: Georgia and the Texas Revolution
Tuesday, April 11th at 7 PM at the History Center
Fresh from the plains of Texas, Executive Director Glen Kyle will explore the role Georgia and her citizens played in the founding of Texas... and that role was extremely significant! Soldiers, heroes, martyrs, and even the Texas flag came from our great state to help a new republic rise. Presented by the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center.
$5 or Free for Members.
322 Academy Street NE Gainesville, GA 30501
Free Family Day: The Civil War
Join us for our free Family Day event on Sunday, April 10th from 1-4 PM about the American Civil War with living history interpretation, weapons demonstrations, hands-on activities, and more!
This program will cover diverse experiences of the war such as nurses, soldiers, camp followers, life on the homefront both in the North and South, and the African-American experience.
The History Center’s regular exhibits will also be available to enjoy for free during this event including its latest exhibit The Fadeless Photographer which features beautiful portraits of Gainesville citizens spanning 1900-1940 taken by professional photographer N.C. White.
This event is free thanks to the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center.
Then Again Podcast
In our latest episode of Then Again: Dr. Marianne Holdzkom joins host Marie Bartlett (née Walker) to review the historical accuracy and interpretation of well-known films, musicals, TV shows, and miniseries that feature the American Revolution. Dr. Holdzkom is an Associate Professor of History at Kennesaw State University who specializes in Colonial and Revolutionary U.S. History as well as the History of U.S. Religion and Culture.
Be sure to keep a lookout for Dr. Holdzkom's upcoming book Monuments Will Never Be Erected to Me: John Adams in History and Memory.
Summer Camp Registration Is Open!
This summer we’re hosting two virtual history camps and a one-day Georgia history camp!
During our Discover Georgia History day camp on June 17th, students will learn about the history of Georgia from its beginning as a colony to now through hands-on activities and historic character portrayals.
We’re offering two virtual summer camps this year: The Civil War and The American Revolution. Students will explore these eras of history through Zoom lessons, hands-on activities, recipes, and historic character portrayals.
Details at www.negahc.org/summer.
From the Archives
This month’s From the Archives is a poster and program from The Great Wallenda event at Tallulah Gorge on July 18th, 1970. Karl Wallenda was a German-American high wire artist who began performing with his family at the age of six and dedicated his life to daredevil acts.
During his “skywalk” across Tallulah Gorge in 1970, an estimated 30,000 people attended to watch the 65-year-old Wallenda successfully cross the 1/4 mile distance across the gorge.
Wallenda would go on to break the world record for skywalk distance with a 1,800 foot crossing at Kings Island. His record was broken in 2008 by his great-grandson, Nik Wallenda, who crossed 2,000 feet at Kings Island.
Karl Wallenda died in 1978 at the age of 73 while attempting to cross the distance between two ten-story buildings in Puerto Rico. High winds and an apparently improperly secured wire were blamed for his loss of balance and deadly fall.
Karl Wallenda amazed many across the world during his thrilling lifetime, and his daring feat across Tallulah Gorge is a memory that many hold to this day.
Wallenda was known for saying, “Being on the tightrope is living; everything else is waiting.”
Karl Wallenda crossing Tallulah Gorge on July 18th, 1970
New Portraits in the N.C. White Exhibit
The Fadeless Photographer exhibit will debut new portraits beginning this month that will focus on military service members. These beautiful photographs will be seen for the first time in decades. You may even recognize a family member!
The Fadeless Photographer exhibit features the stunning portrait photography by N.C. White who was a local photographer in Gainesville, Georgia during the 1900s-1940s. The Northeast Georgia History Center has thousands of glass negatives from N.C. White’s original studio. Throughout the year, new photographs will be debuted in this exhibit.
Visit the exhibit anytime during our regular hours Wednesday - Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM and Sunday 1-5 PM.
Anniversary of the 1936 Tornado
April 6th of the this year marks 86 years since Gainesville, Georgia was ravaged by the fifth deadliest tornado in U.S. history. In A City Laid Waste by W.M. Brice, you will discover personal stories through interviews, historic photographs of the wreckage and impact on citizens, and more.
This book is sold exclusively through the Northeast Georgia History Center. You may purchase your copy online at the link below or at our museum shop.
Purchase online: bit.ly/citylaidwaste
Special Thanks
March Journal Newsletter
March Family Day: Medicine Medieval to Modern
Our next free Family Day event will explore the history of medicine from medieval times to today on Sunday, March 13th from 1-4 PM. Visitors will learn about early medical practices and tools, traditional medicinal herbs, the role of wartime nurses, and what a visit to an 18th-century physician would have been like. The History Center’s regular exhibits, including the 18th-century White Path Cabin, will also be free to view!
Executive Director Glen Kyle adds, “with the remarkable capabilities of modern medicine, we sometimes think of healthcare in the past as comparatively very primitive; in some ways, of course, it was, but in other ways it could be surprisingly effective and sometimes bears amazing resemblances to what we have today. We’ll be exploring the differences AND the similarities at this exciting event.”
This free event is made possible by the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center.
March “Mini-Docs”
We have lots of great “mini-documentaries” coming up for both Members and the public! Check out the lineup of mini-docs for March here.
To gain access to our Members Mini-Docs, you can become a local Member or Digital Member at www.negahc.org/member.
Then Again Podcast’s 100th Episode!
In honor of our 100th podcast episode (wow!), Johnny Vardeman shares his experience and insight researching and writing about Gainesville, Georgia's history. Johnny Vardeman is a retired Editor of The Gainesville Times who currently writes a fascinating local history column for the newspaper. Join Glen and Johnny as they reflect on Gainesville's past and the events that have made Gainesville the city it is today.
Listen now at www.thenagainpodcast.com!
Time Traveling Through Webcasts
The Cottrell Digital Studio has reached hundreds of students already in 2022 through live Webcasts. During a live Webcast, students can meet historic characters and even ask them questions! During the month of February, we time traveled to meet Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, a WWII Soldier, a Civil War Soldier & Nurse, Juliette Gordon Low, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., and Benjamin Franklin.
Webcasts are free to all Georgia schools and homeschool groups. Out-of-state groups can schedule a Webcast for a donation of their choosing. Details at www.negahc.org/digital.
Telethon Rewards Update
If you donated to the NEGAHC 2nd Annual Telethon and responded to our rewards e-mail, your goodies should be arriving soon! Paula and Lesley have worked together to put together all rewards packages and have mailed them to each donor. If you have not received your goodies in the mail by the end of March, please e-mail Lesley, lesley@negahc.org.
Raffle winners have also been notified and prizes will be mailed out ASAP.
Thank you again to all of those who helped us reach our goal. We cannot wait for December when we can join you again for our 3rd Annual Telethon!
Summer Camp Registration Is Open!
This summer we’re hosting two virtual history camps and a one-day Georgia history camp!
During our Discover Georgia History day camp on June 17th, students will learn about the history of Georgia from its beginning as a colony to now through hands-on activities and historic character portrayals.
We’re offering two virtual summer camps this year: The Civil War and The American Revolution. Students will explore these eras of history through Zoom lessons, hands-on activities, recipes, and historic character portrayals.
Details at www.negahc.org/summer.
From the Archives
This month’s From the Archives is a program for the 1978 Gainesville High School Football Banquet. In the 1920s, an announcer at the Gainesville High School football game exclaimed that the team came out onto the field looking like a "herd of red elephants." GHS' mascot became the brightly-colored elephant you see today.
While we have many programs in our archives from Gainesville High School, this is one is in the best condition. During the 1970s, the team was 8-AAA East Sub-Region Champion, 8-AAA Region Champions, and Sectional Champions. Today, Gainesville High School is AAAAA and winner of the GHSA Championship in 2012.
On the menu at the banquet: Fried Chicken, Au Gratin Potatoes, Green Beans with Almonds, Relish Tray, Fruit Tray, Hot Rolls and Apple Pie.
N.C. White Exhibit
The N.C. White exhibit is now open to the public! We love hearing the stories of visitors who come in to see if they recognize a familiar face. We have over 80 photographs of people from Northeast Georgia that need to be identified within the exhibit. Stop by the History Center today and see if you can help us learn more about these men and women!
Special Thanks
February Journal Newsletter
NEGAHC 2021 Review
We are excited to share the success of our programs, events, exhibits, and more in our 2021 Review of the Northeast Georgia History Center. Our community of supporters, Members, visitors, viewers, and teachers made 2021 a year of significant growth and joy!
February “Mini-Docs”
We have lots of great “mini-documentaries” coming up for both Members and the public! Check out the lineup of mini-docs for February here.
To gain access to our Members Mini-Docs, you can become a local Member or Digital Member at www.negahc.org/member.
We’re Hiring!
The History Center is hiring! We are seeking a part-time Media Producer to assist the Director of the Cottrell Digital Studio in all aspects of digital programming and social media. This is an exciting time to join our team as we grow our digital programs and online presence. Please share if you know someone who might be interested!
Details at www.negahc.org/jobs.
Free Family Day: The War of 1812
We had a fantastic time with visitors during our free Family Day exploring the War of 1812 through living history, hands-on activities, a pop-up exhibit, and more! Visitors learned about the soldier’s experience, the creation of the Star Spangled Banner, what life was like on the homefront during the war, how Dolly Madison saved George Washington’s portrait when the British burned the White House, and much more!
Our next Family Day will explore medicine from medieval times to the present day. Join us on Sunday, March 13th from 1-4 PM!
Telethon Rewards Final Update
Attention all NEGAHC 2nd Annual Telethon Donors! We are ready to mail out all your rewards and need your help. Due to a technical glitch, we do not have the information to send out the proper goodies. If you donated to the telethon and would like your rewards, please check your email and contact Lesley at lesley@negahc.org by February 28th. Thank you again for all of your support!
Homeschool Connection
Our Homeschool Connection World History students have been having a blast learning about the past every Tuesday afternoon. In January the students in our World History Homeschool Connection Course learned about the Renaissance, Protestant Reformation, Age of Exploration, Enlightenment, and Scientific Revolution. Ms. Marie and friends teach the lesson and then the class has a fun time playing a Kahoot! Quiz at the end of session. The students love playing Kahoot! because they have fun interacting with one another and it is a good way to review what they learned.
2021: A Year in Photos
Let us take a moment and look back at 2021 and all the fun we had at the History Center! Here is to another safe, happy, and educational year together.
Then Again Podcast
The Civil War had a profound impact on American society in every way, including the environment and the way Americans viewed nature. Join Marie Walker as she interviews Dr. Brian Drake, senior lecturer at the University of Georgia, who specializes in environmental history. Environmental History is a discipline that explores the interactions of humans with the natural world, the active role that nature plays in shaping human history, and vice versa. As we look at the environment of the civil war we come to understand it in new ways.
If you enjoyed this podcast you may be interested in The Blue, the Gray, and the Green: Toward an Environmental History of the Civil War, edited by Dr. Brian Drake and published by UGA Press.
N.C. White Exhibit
The N.C. White exhibit is now open to the public! We love hearing the stories of visitors who come in to see if they recognize a familiar face. We have over 80 photographs of people from Northeast Georgia that need to be identified within the exhibit. Stop by the History Center today and see if you can help us learn more about these men and women!
Special Thanks
January Journal Newsletter
NEGAHC 2nd Annual Telethon
Well, friends, here we are again at the end of another year... I would say "historic" year, but aren't all years historic? The last couple of years, however, have certainly brought forces into play that have affected us all. We've lost two board members to COVID this year, Jackie Cooley and Jack Frost, and they are dearly missed. Like everyone else we've had our struggles, but the History Center has come through stronger than ever. We finally had our held-over Taste of History honoring some amazing local women and celebrating the 19th Amendment. We've seen the return of school groups to the History Center for tours, Family Days live and in-person, and our virtual offerings have become more popular than ever. We celebrated the acquisition of the amazing photographic collection of N.C. White (and an exhibit to boot!). Our supporters and donors have made all the difference in 2021. Funding from the Ada Mae Ivester Education Endowment, the Cottrell Foundation, and the all-new Jack & Janice Frost Endowment have provided core funding to our mission.
But there are two assets that have made this year a remarkable success. The first is the staff that I have here with me: Libba, Marie, Lesley, Diana, Ruth, CJ, and Andrews. These people know how to make all the magic happen, and the History Center would not even be here if it wasn't for all they do. The second, however, is YOU, our members, our viewers, our supporters, our fans. Without you folks who enjoy learning about history, we'd have no reason to exist; but because you ARE here, and because you believe in what we do, 2021 has proved to be our best year ever... and, it seems, the best is yet to come!
Happy Holidays!
Glen Kyle, Executive Director
January “Mini-Docs”
Our virtual programs, formerly known as “livestreams,” will now be called “mini-docs” as we are essentially producing short documentaries for our audiences. Check out the full lineup of mini-docs for January below! To gain access to our Members Mini-Docs, you can become a local Member or Digital Member at www.negahc.org/member.
Welcome, Paula!
We are excited to announce our new Museum Operations Coordinator for the History Center, Paula Lindner! You might recognize Paula from her amazing work at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center. Paula is also a graduate of Brenau University! She is a great addition to the History Center team, and we are so lucky to have her with us. Lesley Jones, the previous Museum Operations Coordinator, moved to a full-time position as Archives and Collections Manager for the History Center and will continue working on the N.C. White Collection.
Christmas on Green Street Parade
The History Center was excited to march in the Christmas on Green Street Parade this year! Since 1968, the Hall County Historical Society has been putting on the Christmas on Green Street Parade to celebrate and bring attention to the history of Green Street and Gainesville. To celebrate the bicentennial of Gainesville we all dressed in different era's of Gainesville's history. Thank you to our wonderful staff and volunteers who walked with us!
December Family Day: A Christmas Carol
Our December Family Day, themed after Charles Dickens classic tale A Christmas Carol, was one of the most successful and well attended family days the Northeast Georgia History Center has produced! We had 208 people come through our doors for the event, and over 100 of those guests were at our mid day Christmas Songs, Carols, and Tales program where children volunteered from the audience to help us reenact that fateful night when Scrooge was visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. A variation of the dance mentioned in the Christmas Carol was also taught by Kat Nagar of Atlanta Historic Dance. Everyone so enjoyed getting to learn historic dance, make holiday cards, have their photos made with Santa, make their own dreidels, taste Victorian Christmas treats, and learn about the origins of the Christmas tree.
Gainesville Reads in 2021
We are so proud of all of our Gainesville Reads students and grateful for their wonderful tutors! We have had much to celebrate since beginning in August. Students have worked hard to "level up" their skills in Lexia, a fun and interactive literacy game. Tutors and students have read many stories from non-fiction books about space, sharks, and history to silly adventures with the beloved Piggy and Elephant books. Our students have also toured the History Center exhibits!
Here are just a few of the sweet comments we have received from parents this year:
"Bailee Rae has worked very hard this year and we have seen progress. I want to share a huge thank you to each of you! Your patience with these kids in this virtual setting is unbelievable and we are forever grateful for each of you and this program!"
"Angel has improved a lot since he started this program. Thank you so much for your work to help the children."
"We are so enjoying this program. Savannah has significantly improved with her word attack skills and confidence in reading. So we do appreciate the sponsorship of this program and the care and enthusiasm you guys put into it!"
"We are so incredibly grateful for this program and your support!"
We have spots available for volunteer tutors beginning in January 2022! Come join the fun and help a local child strengthen their reading skills. Details at www.negahc.org/gainesvillereads
Homeschool Connection in 2021
It is hard to believe that our fall semester of Homeschool Connection is over already! This year we have been learning about World History. We started with the stone age, and in our last lesson of the semester, we covered the crusades with a special time traveling lesson. Our class traveled back in time to medieval Jerusalem to meet with a knight from the order of hospitaller. Next semester we will begin by learning about the Renaissance and continue through history to the modern day.
In the slideshow, you’ll see moments from a variety of lessons featuring cultures from all over the world.
Then Again Podcast
In our latest episode: Reconstruction in Georgia lasted form the end of the civil war to 1871 when a democratic government was able to regain control and end the military occupation of the state. The main goals of reconstruction were unification and emancipation. How well did Georgia meet these goals? Find out as Marie talks to Dr. Ann Tucker of the University of North Georgia who specializes in the history of the nineteenth century in US South.
Listen Now at www.thenagainpodcast.com!
If you enjoy this podcast, you may be interested in Dr. Tuckers book Reconciliation after Civil Wars: Global Perspectives. This book includes a section on the American Civil War titled, “To 'Heal the Wounded Spirit': Former Confederates' International Perspective on Reconstruction and Reconciliation.”
New N.C. White Exhibit Theme
The N.C. White exhibit is now open to the public! We love hearing the stories of visitors who come in to see if they recognize a familiar face. We have over 80 photographs of people from Northeast Georgia that need to be identified within the exhibit. Stop by the History Center today and see if you can help us learn more about these men and women!
