All the news

Old newspapers are fun to read just to see how much has not changed in the way humans treat each other. Scandal sells, always has.

The Digital Library of Georgia has digitized some Historic Newspapers of Georgia. The Macon Telegraph from 1826-1908 is available online:

Myron Bartlett established the Macon Telegraph in 1826 as a weekly newspaper three years after the incorporation of the city. For the price of three dollars for a year's subscription, readers were treated to reports on the political and economic affairs of the state, reprinted poetry, and local advertisements for hotels, steamboats, and otter skins. ....read more.....

The Archives has an easy to use search feature, the images are pretty clear, and the magnifier makes it possible to read each word!

I collect family information for fun. Some of my kin are from the middle of Georgia. I looked up a family name - Brittain. First story on the list is a fascinating account of a lady (no relation) who had come to Atlanta and made a name for herself in charity circles - she had evidence of the Chief Detective in Atlanta making improper proposals to a young girl (17 Feb 1892, pg 8). The Chief accused Mrs. Brittain of blackmail. Yes, 1892- not 2009.

Be reassured or appalled by reading the historic newspapers in the Digital Library of Georgia- select Media and scroll down the list to see what was happening in Georgia!

-kls

Our State Fair is...

The tune started running through my head as I read the press release:

The Georgia State Fair, Macon, 1886-1960 online collection consists of 151 black-and-white photographs, and four advertising fliers, from the Georgia State Fair records held by the Middle Georgia Archives at the Macon-Bibb County Public Libraries. These photographs document the evolution of the state fair in Macon from 1886 until 1960. A group portrait of the executive committee of the Georgia State Agricultural Society is the earliest piece in the collection. The majority of the photographs depict county agricultural exhibits whose function was to promote a variety of farm produce and homemade items. These displays include cotton, seeds, vegetables, preserved food, clothes, quilts, furniture, and more. Exhibits from the early 1940s are of interest due to the appearance of slogans supporting the World War II home front effort. One notable picture during this era shows a demonstration of a community canning project. Displays for agricultural associations and state government agencies, such as the Highway Department and the Fish and Game Commission, can also be seen in this collection. Other photographs capture fair culture beyond the exhibitions: 4-H clubs, farm machinery, livestock judging, amusement rides, the midway, side shows, food booths, and parades. Macon mayor B. F. Merritt appears in several photographs along with other notable Macon citizens. Former Georgia governor Marvin Griffin is also pictured.

The Georgia State Fair, Macon, 1886-1960 is a project of the Digital Library of Georgia in association with the Middle Georgia Archives as part of Georgia HomePLACE. The project is supported with federal LSTA funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

You may get the password to use GALILEO from your Georgia public librarian - though I think the Georgia State Fair is readily available through the Digital Library of Georgia.

-kls