As part of a thesis project to complete his music degree at ASU, Robert Hester explored the origins of five slave spirituals written in Augusta, Georgia, and included in the 1867 anthology, Slave Songs of the United States. Mr. Hester will discuss his research and findings, and local African-American choral group, Creative Impressions will perform from the repertoire
.
The Georgia Heritage Room will exhibit a collection of rare and antique books on loan from historian and writer, Elvin Thompson. Some of the books included are: an 1852 first edition two volume set of UNCLE TOM’S CABIN by Harriet Beecher Stowe, an 1855 first edition of MY BONDAGE AND MY FREEDOM by Frederick Douglass, an 1880 second edition of A FOOL’S ERRAND by Albion W. Tourgee, and many other works. The exhibit will run through the month of February in honor of Black History Month.
This is a call out to artists, craftspeople and collectors in the CSRA. The Georgia Heritage Room at the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library is seeking interesting and unique materials for public display. If you are a collector of vintage memorabilia and ephemera, or a craftsperson seeking an exhibition space for your wares, we will consider giving you the opportunity to show off your work. The exhibit does not necessarily have to be related to local history or genealogy, but first priority will be given to those that do. Exhibits typically run for 8 weeks. Please contact Tina Monaco at 706.826.1511 for details, or email at genealogy@arcpls.org.
The Georgia Heritage Room is honored to present author and genealogist, Elvin Thompson on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in the main auditorium of the Headquarters Library. Elvin Thompson is a historian who specializes in tracing African American ancestry. He has been conducting genealogical research since 1992, and assists both the novice and advanced genealogist with common problems that arise when researching African American family roots prior to the Civil War. He is also the author of THE BLOOD RUNNING THROUGH MY VEINS, the story of the Burns family from the slave plantations of Autauga County, Alabama.
Please join us in the Georgia Heritage Room on Thursday, January 8th at 2:00 pm for our visiting author book discussion with Robert Mullins. Mr. Mullins will be here to discuss his recently published history of Lake Olmstead, 12 Monkeys & A Green Jacket.
The Augusta-Richmond County Public Library is gearing up for Adult Winter Reading. Please support your local library.
No better time than the holidays to research your family history, and while your here see our magnificent book tree.
We would like to thank Mr. Richard H. Still for his generous gift to the Georgia Heritage Room of three pen & ink illustrations by William Edsel Snowden, Jr.
William Snowden, Jr. was born in Elberton, Georgia in 1904, and was by profession a designer, illustrator, graphic artist and writer. In 1975, he was commissioned by Georgia Railroad Bank and Trust to create a series of drawings depicting historically relevant buildings in Richmond County.
Join us on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 2:00 pm in Room A of the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library Auditorium as Erick Montgomery of Historic Augusta teaches a short workshop on how to research your current property or the old family homestead. Learn why land records are important to genealogists, what types of land records are available, and how to navigate maps, city directories, plats and land lotteries. This workshop is free and open to the public, but please call the Georgia Heritage Room to register– (706) 826-1511
In 2010, Augusta-Richmond County Public Library, Reese Library, and Paine College came together to find a way to save the audio content in some of their most important oral histories. Through a grant sponsored by the Georgia Humanities Council, many of the oral histories were digitized, and are now accessible via the internet. If you are interested in hearing the oral histories, please visit the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library website at www.arcpls.org and click on the Georgia Heritage Room tab, scroll down to the Saving The Voices From Augusta’s Past link.
