SR1101: SR1101 100th anniversary of the Atlanta History Center; recognize and commemorate

26 LC 112 4164 Senate Resolution 1101 By: Senators Halpern of the 39th and Orrock of the 36th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Atlanta History Center; and1 for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, the Atlanta History Center was founded in 1926 as the Atlanta Historical3 Society by civic leaders, including Walter McElreath, with the mission of preserving4 historical sources related to Atlanta, studying the city's past , and promoting public5 understanding of the region's history; and6 WHEREAS, over the course of the past century, the organization has grown from a small7 historical society that initially met in members' homes and collected historical materials into8 one of the leading cultural and historical institutions in the Southeastern United States; and9 WHEREAS, today, the Atlanta History Center operates a 33-acre campus in the Buckhead10 district of Atlanta that includes the Atlanta History Museum, h istoric houses, research11 archives, educational facilities, and gardens that collectively preserve and interpret the rich12 and diverse history of Atlanta, the State of Georgia, and the American South; and13 WHEREAS, the Atlanta History Center preserves and interprets si gnificant historic14 structures, including the Swan House, a 1928 mansion designed by architect Philip Trammell15 S. R. 1101 - 1 - 26 LC 112 4164 Shutze; the Smith Family Farm, which provides insight into rura l life and the history of16 agriculture and slavery in nineteenth-century Georgia; and the Wood Family Cabin, a historic17 frontier-era log structure that represents early settlement in the region; and18 WHEREAS, the institution also operates the Margaret Mitchell Ho use and Museum in19 Midtown Atlanta, the apartment building where author Margaret M itchell wrote the novel20 Gone with the Wind, one of the most widely read works of American literature; and21 WHEREAS, through the Kenan Research Center, the Atlanta History Center maintains22 extensive archival collections that preserve manuscripts, photographs, books, oral histories,23 and other historical materials documenting the people, businesses, culture, and development24 of Atlanta and the surrounding region; and25 WHEREAS, the Atlanta History Center holds millions of historical artifacts and documents,26 including one of the most significant collections of Civil War artifacts in the United States,27 making it a vital resource for scholars, educators, students, a nd researchers studying the28 history of Georgia and the American South; and29 WHEREAS, the Atlanta History Center plays an important role in preserving and30 interpreting the history of the Civil Rights Movement, a defining period in both Georgia and31 American history, through exhibitions, research collections, and educational programming32 that examine the struggle for racial equality, justice, and democratic participation; and33 WHEREAS, by presenting exhibitions and historical scholarship related to the Civil Rights34 Movement and the broader social transformations of the twentiet h century, the Atlanta35 History Center helps ensure that the stories of those who fough t for civil rights and social36 justice are preserved and shared with future generations; and37 S. R. 1101 - 2 - 26 LC 112 4164 WHEREAS, the center's educational programs, lectures, exhibitio ns, and community38 initiatives provide opportunities for students, educators, and visitors to engage with complex39 historical topics, fostering a deeper understanding of the diverse experiences and perspectives40 that have shaped Atlanta's growth from a nineteenth-century rai lroad hub into a modern41 global city; and42 WHEREAS, the Atlanta History Center serves as a major cultural and educational43 destination for the State of Georgia, welcoming visitors from across the nation and around44 the world while contributing to the preservation of Georgia's historical legacy and cultural45 heritage; and46 WHEREAS, the year 2026 marks the centennial anniversary of the Atlanta History Center's47 founding, representing 100 years of dedication to historical pr eservation, scholarship,48 education, and storytelling that connects people to the past and inspires future generations;49 and50 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper to honor the Atlan ta History Center for its51 century-long commitment to preserving history, promoting civic understanding, and52 honoring the individual s and movements that have shaped the Sta te of Georgia and the53 nation.54 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body55 recognize and commend the Atlanta History Center upon the grand occasion of its 100th56 anniversary and extend sincere best wishes for continued success.57 S. R. 1101 - 3 - 26 LC 112 4164 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed58 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Atlanta History59 Center.60 S. R. 1101 - 4 -