Augusta Public Library Local History and Genealogy

Veteran’s Curation Program

On Display

Augusta, Georgia (9/14/13) – The Augusta Museum of History has partnered with the city’s Veterans Curation Program to produce an inspiring new display that officially opens to the public on September 28th, 2013. The new exhibit, produced entirely by the military veterans who are a part of this special program, explores their lives and work through the objects they brought back from military conflicts overseas, as well as the prehistoric artifacts they have learned to preserve. Military paraphernalia, archaeological items, and personal stories provide an intimate portrait of veterans transitioning into civilian lives.

Brandie Taylor, a veteran combat medic, appreciated the program’s focus on new job skills: A lot of people don’t get to experience anything that deals with archaeology, she said. Working here has given me an opportunity to spread the word about the VCP and help other veterans.

The Veterans Curation Program provides employment and job training for veterans of the American military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Veterans receive competitive pay while learning new, marketable job skills as they are trained to rehabilitate and preserve archaeological collections administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Augusta is home to one of the three Veterans Curation Program laboratories, in addition to those in Alexandria and St. Louis.

Brandon Holloman enjoyed expanding his knowledge of history: You never know why things are the way they are in the present until you learn about their past.

Please congratulate the latest class of veterans to complete their term of employment at the Augusta Veterans Curation Program. We will celebrate their graduation and transition to the civilian workplace together with a special ceremony planned for the afternoon of September 27 at the Augusta Museum of History.

Historic Augusta’s Walk with the Spirits is a tour of one of Augusta’s historic cemeteries.  Mark your calendar for Saturday and Sunday, October 11-12, 2013 for the next Walk with the Spirits.  During 45 minute tours of Summerville Cemetery, costumed guides lead the way while discussing the history of the cemetery, the iconography of the headstones, and interesting facts about the “spirit” that they are portraying.  Along the route additional notable citizens from Augusta’s past will share their stories.  For tickets and additional information, contact Historic Augusta at 706-724-0436.

On November 23rd, 2013 Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site will present “The Lives of Enslaved Women” from 10 am to 5 pm. This one-day symposium is an intimate and unvarnished look at the lives of women enslaved on Southern plantations. Three main themes (Documenting Enslaved Women, Interpreting Enslaved Women and Remembering Enslaved Women) will be explored by various presenters throughout the day but discussion by audience members will be highly encouraged. The last session of the day will be an open-ended session where participants will be encouraged to share stories of their enslaved ancestress or their research on enslaved women.

The highlight of the event will be performances by renowned slave interpreters Kitty Wilson-Evans and BJ Caldwell at midday, followed by a discussion of the importance of accurately interpreting the lives of enslaved women. Additional special guests include author and genealogist Elvin Thompson (“The Blood Running Through My Veins”) and Redcliffe descendants.

There is a $35 admission fee which includes lunch & snacks, a special booklet created for the workshop, resources for researching and documenting the lives of enslaved women, and a free tour of Redcliffe Plantation SHS. Spots for this symposium are limited. Participants must register in advance. You can register for the event by calling 803-827-1473 or emailing redcliffe@scprt.com. Program details will be mailed or emailed at the beginning of November to registered participants.

For more information please contact Elizabeth Laney, Redcliffe Plantation Park Interpreter at 803-827-1473 or email elaney@scprt.com.

On Tuesday, September 10th, the last Who Do You Think You Are? will feature Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory. I hope you can catch it.

Preserving Your Treasures

A program that shares tips for caring for your treasures and gives the general public a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes world of museums

Beginning Saturday, September 7 and continuing on Saturday, September 16, Amanda Klaus, Registrar at the Augusta Museum of History, will escort visitors in the collection preparation area at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., giving the public the opportunity to see the Museum’s Processing Laboratory. The Museum’s Registrar will demonstrate how the Museum collects, catalogs, preserves, studies, cares for, and displays artifacts and archival collections.

The Augusta Museum of History is responsible for of a broad and diverse range of artifacts, representing many aspects of the rich history of the CSRA. The goal of this hour-long presentation is to show visitors how historically important objects reach the Museum and how they are evaluated, cleaned, and stored. All of the relevant considerations, such as infestation, temperature and relative humidity levels, light levels, and composition of storage materials will be explained. The visitor will understand how these processes are central to the Museum’s broader mission of the preservation and interpretation of history.
Space is limited to ten participants per session and participation is on a first come, first serve basis. Groups are encouraged to contact the Museum at (706) 722-8454 regarding availability.

Preserving History is open to the general public and FREE with the cost of regular admission. Museum hours are 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission is $4 for Adults, $3 for Seniors, $2 for Children, and Free for Children under Age 5 and Museum Members. For more information, please contact the Museum at (706) 722-8454 or visit www.augustamuseum.org.

It’s that time again! We will hold a Beginner’s Genealogy Workshop on September 14th at 10:00 am. This workshop is for people who don’t know how to get started with their genealogy. Call 706-826-1511 for a reservation.

Business, Southern-Style
September’s Brown Bag History Series Lecture

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA (8/20/13) – As part of its continuing Brown Bag History Series, the Augusta Museum of History presents, Business, Southern-Style a talk given by Dr. Marc Miller, on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. His talk will include the economic history of the United States which began with trade, merchants, and agriculture. He will address what made doing business southern style over the years so unique.

Dr. Miller is the Dean of the Hull College of Business, Georgia Regents University, Summerville Campus. The Hull College has a network of over 7,000 alumni located across the United States. Over the last six years, the Hull College has initiated key programs in response to the educational needs of the Augusta and the state of Georgia as a whole. These initiatives include the Knox School of Accountancy, the MIS Undergraduate Degree, the Blanchard Center for Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility and a revamp of the Hull College study abroad programs.

He is currently the chair of the Savannah River Site Community Reuse Organization and on the board of directors for Junior Achievement and the Greater Augusta Chamber of Commerce. His research interests include e-Commerce, Technology Transfer, and Higher Education Administration.

Dr. Miller, a Texas native, was raised in Augusta and graduated from the business school when it was known as Augusta College. He received his doctorate from Auburn University. His career in academia includes the State University of West Georgia where he was chairperson of the Department of Management and Business Systems.

The Brown Bag History Series is an educational lecture series provided monthly by the Augusta Museum of History, and is an ideal lunch-time break for downtown professionals, retirees, and students. The lectures are free to Museum members and $3 for non-members. Participants should bring a lunch and the Museum will only be providing beverages. Lunch can begin as early as 11:30 a.m.; the lecture runs from 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.

The Augusta Museum of History will be holding their annual Augusta Dollar Dog Days this August. What does this mean? Whenever you visit the museum during the month of August, you will only have to pay $1 admission!

http://www.augustamuseum.org/

Augusta Genealogical Society [AGS] is pleased to announce the details for its 34^th annual AGS Homecoming Event to be held on Saturday, 10 August 2013, in cooperation the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library at 823 Telfair Street, Augusta, GA.

The featured speaker, Barbara Vines Little, CG, FNGS, FVGS, is a professional genealogist whose primary interest is Virginia Research. Please join us in learning how to track those illusive Virginia ancestors and learn tricks which might assist in breaking through brick walls in other states.

Registration ends August 1st! Please call the Augusta Genealogical Society to pre-register: 706-722-4073.

The season kick-off is Tuesday night, July 23rd, at 8 pm on TLC. Kelly Clarkson’s past will be unlocked.