My Adoption: A Search for My Birth Parents on November 13th

On this day, we'd like you know about an informative program about adoption and vital records this Saturday, November 13th at 2pm in the Athens-Clarke County Library auditorium.

Harry Binkow--an historian, investigator, and independent researcher--will talk about his search for his birth parents and share resources that might help other adoptees start on their search. Harry will be happy to answer questions, so bring any you may have and feel free to take notes.

This program is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by the by the Athens-Clarke County Library Heritage Room. Please email us at heritageroom@arlsmail.org or call us at (706) 613-3650 for more information.

9 November 1948: U. S. Post Office Issues Moina Michael Stamp in Athens

On this day in 1948, at 8 o'clock in the morning, the Moina Michael poppy stamp went on sale in Athens, Georgia. Collectors lined up at the windows of the post office hours before they opened, and a parade featuring legion organizations, both University and high school R.O.T.C. and marching bands, and "a number of tanks" led to a ceremony at the Fine Arts Building on the University of Georgia campus. The presentation included speeches by many government officials, and a message sent by President Harry S Truman.

Miss Michael was lauded as "a great American woman, able educator, and valiant crusader who has contributed to veterans of this country and other countries. Her name will always be gratefully remembered by the people of this nation."

The 3-cent stamp, now seven times as valuable, was issued two days before Armistice Day (now known as Veterans Day or Remembrance Day) because it was on November 9th, 1918, that Miss Michael came up with the idea to use the poppy as a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers.

In 1918, Miss Michael had taken a leave of absence from her educational work in Athens to volunteer with the YWCA Overseas War Workers training headquarters at Columbia University in New York. On November 9th, the YMCA was hosting the 25th Conference of Overseas Secretaries in New York. During a moment of downtime during the conference, she read the poem now known as In Flanders Field by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae in a copy of Ladies Home Journal. She was inspired by the poem to write a response, titled We Shall Keep the Faith.

Later that day, a group of men from the conference brought Miss Michael a check for $10.00, in appreciation of the effort she'd made, at her own expense, to "make a home-like Hostess House of their headquarters." She replied that she would use the money to buy red poppies, "I shall always wear red poppies--poppies of Flanders Fields!" Miss Michael showed the men the McCrae poem, as well as the one she had just written. The men took both poems with them back into their meeting while Miss Michael went in search of cloth poppies, finally finding 25 of them at Wanamaker's department store. She returned to the hall to find men gathered around her desk, asking for poppies to wear in their lapels. It was then Moina Michael had the idea of using cloth poppy sales to raise money for the widows and orphans left behind by fallen soldiers.

A year later, while teaching a class of disabled veterans at the University of Georgia, Miss Michael came to realize that many soldiers who returned from the war needed assistance as well. She campaigned to have the poppy not just a memorial flower, but one of remembrance for all veterans who served their countries. The flower was adopted by veterans groups from around the world in the early 1920s, and before long, Moina Michael was internationally known as "The Poppy Lady." By the time of her death in 1944, nearly $200 million had been raised for disabled vets by the sale of poppies in the United States alone.

Poppies are still made by disabled veterans and sold for Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, and Australia. You can also make your own to wear this Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11th.

Learn More:

• The Miracle Flower: The Story of the Flanders Fields Memorial Poppy by Moina Belle Michael in the Heritage and general collections.
• In Flanders Fields by Norman Jorgensen in the children's collection.
• Athens Banner-Herald, Oct. 1948 - Jan. 1949 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Prominent Women of Georgia, edited by James B. Nevin in the Heritage collection.
• Dictionary of Georgia Biography, Volume 2, edited by Kenneth Coleman and Charles Stephen Gurr in the Heritage collection.
• The Complete Illustrated Guide to Stamp Collecting by James A. Mackay in the general collection.
• Great Poets of WWI: Poetry from the Great War, edited by Jon Stallworthy in the general collection.
• A Pictorial History of the World War I Years by Edward Jablonski in the general collection.
• The Great War by Correlli Barnett in the general collection.
• The Mammoth Book of War Diaries and Letters: Life on the Battlefield in the Words of the Ordinary Soldier, 1775-1991 by Jon E. Lewis in the general collection.
• Moina Michael biography on The Great War, 1914-1918 website.
• In Flanders Fields Museum website.

7 November 1878: "Subsequent returns prove that we were mistaken..."

On this day in 1878, the Southern Banner newspaper ran a triumphant headline and story on page 2, columns 1 and 2, declaring "DEMOCRACY TRIUMPHANT" in Georgia's 9th Congressional district. The Banner extolled the victory of their preferred candidate, Democrat Colonel Joel A. Billups, a Madison attorney, over Independent candidate Emory Speer, a 29-year-old Athens attorney. However, it turned out that Mr. Speer was the winner of the election, taking the seat by 1,500 votes.

In the weeks prior to election day, the Southern Banner had written insinuating editorials about the trustworthiness of Mr. Speer, questioning whether or not he paid his debts. His status as "Independent" was also doubted, and he was considered to be in cahoots with the Republicans. In their erroneous victory editorial on November 7th, they declared that the 9th district was "Still Solid" and described how Col. Billups had been investigated thoroughly by "a man of honor, truth, and fairness" who had found Col. Billups to be the same. Therefore, all should celebrate an election result that made Col. Billups the district's representative.

The Southern Banner was a weekly paper, so their correction was not printed until the following week, with a run on November 12th. There they described how their error was easy to make, "and was doubtless shared by Mr. Speer's friends." They also noted that they "recognize Mr. Speer as the Congressman elect for the 46th Congress from the 9th Congressional District." The rest of the editorial explained why the paper's publisher believed that Mr. Speer's victory "will prove disasterous to the vital interests of the Democratic party."

Emory Speer served as the Independent Representative from Georgia's 9th until he was defeated in 1882, after accusations that he was responsible for the consideration of Madison Davis to the position of Athens postmaster. At that time, he was appointed by President Chester Arthur to be the District Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Later, Mr. Speer became a judge in the Southern District of Georgia.

Learn More:

• Southern Banner, Nov. 6, 1877 - Mar. 14, 1882 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• A Standard History of Georgia and Georgians by Lucian Lamar Knight in the Heritage collection.
• The Republican Party in Georgia, from Reconstruction to 1900 by Olive Hall Shadgett in the Heritage collection.
• Georgia Journalism, 1763-1950 by Louis Turner Griffith in the Heritage and general collections.
• Untapped Sources: America's Newspaper Archives and Histories by Jon Vanden Heuvel in the Heritage collection.
• Infamous Scribblers: The Founding Fathers and the Rowdy Beginnings of American Journalism by Eric Burns in the general collection.
• Truman Defeats Dewey by Gary Donaldson in the general collection.
• Dewey Defeats Truman: A Novel by Thomas Mallon in the fiction collection.
• Everybody Makes Mistakes by Christine Kole MacLean in the children's collection.
  

Cafe au Libris is Friday, November 12th

On this day, we want to tell you about the guest authors who will be in attendance at this year's Cafe au Libris here at the Athens-Clarke County Library.

The evening starts at 7pm, and brings you two hours of local authors, desserts and coffee, local musicians, and books. There will be a silent auction of collectable books, and the entire program is sponsored by our fantastic Friends of the Athens-Clarke County Library.

• Allan Armitage, the author of 13 books about perennials, annuals, cut flowers, and his latest, Vines and Climbers. He runs the Trial Gardens at UGA, which are open to the public and the first of their kind in the United States. The results of the research in the Trial Gardens has created the Athens Select brand of plants, which have been chosen by Professor Armitage for their ability to withstand the heat and humidity of Southern gardens.
• Donny Bailey Seagraves,  an author of fiction and nonfiction. After years of writing for newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune, Ms. Seagraves had her first novel published in 2009, Gone from These Woods. Aimed at a middle school-aged audience, but offering questions about forgiveness for all ages, it tells the story of an accident that changes the life of the 11-year-old protagonist, Daniel. 
• Jeffrey Stepakoff is a former television and movie writer who has returned to his Southern home to write fiction. He teaches dramatic writing at Kennesaw State University, and published his first novel, Fireworks over Toccoa, in March, 2010. A love story set in Toccoa, Georgia in the aftermath of World War II, Mr. Stepakoff's first novel has received rave reviews from other authors such as Joanne Harris and Dorothea Benton Frank.
• Grady Thrasher is the author of the popular and delightful Tim & Sally series of children's books. A retired attorney, in his second career as a children's author, Mr. Thrasher has taken Tim & Sally into the garden to sow vegetables, on a beach adventure, and given them a year in poems.
• Susan Rebecca White has published two novels, South Bound in early 2009, and A Soft Place to Land in April of this year and called "smart, funny, moving, and wise" by author Kathryn Stockett. Ms. White lives in Atlanta, and teaches creative writing at Emory University.

 Cafe au Libris is always a great night, and we hope to see you here next Friday!

2 November 1909: You Won't Feel the Electricity

On this day in 1909, the Athens Banner ran a new series of ads by the Athens Electric Railway Company touting their products for the home--this week, the electric heating pad.

The Athens Electric Railway Company was the Athens trolley company. In October, 1896, they moved their generator to their new hydroelectric station at Mitchell Bridge Road. Not only did this improve the reliability of their trolleys, but the company could now offer electricity to local businesses and residences. In1910 they became the Athens Railway & Electric Company, emphasizing they powered not only the city's public transit system, but also the Athenian streets, homes and businesses, as well as offering a variety of electricity-powered household appliances and features for sale to individual consumers.

Ads depicting the elegance of entertaining with a chafing dish (plugged into the electric light socket hanging above your modern dining table) called it "without peer as a promoter of good fellowship and appetite." Their tagline in 1910 included the snappy, "Electricity Is All Right!" in connection with ads aimed at local shop owners, promising that a warm, electrically-lit show window would "coax bashful dollars from tightwad pockets."

The first portable electric vacuum cleaner was patented in 1908 by James Spangler, who sold his design to his cousin's husband, William Hoover. In this 1913 ad, also from the first week of November in the Athens Banner, Athens Railway & Electric Company urged housewives to "Do It Electrically!" and offered a free 10-day trial of the new time-saving machine.

Learn More:

• History of Athens and Clarke County, Georgia by H. J. Rowe in the Heritage and general collections.
• A Postcard History of Athens, Georgia by Gary L. Doster in the Heritage and general collections.
• Athens: A Pictorial History by James K. Reap in the Heritage, Reference, and general collections.
• 1909 Athens City Directory in the Heritage collection.
• 1912-13 Athens City Directory in the Heritage collection.
• Athens Banner on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Buses, Trolleys, and Trams by Charles Stuart Dunbar in the general collection.
• Vacuum Cleaners by Elaine Marie Alphin the children's collection.
• How Electronic Things Work and What to Do When They Don't by Robert L. Goodman in the general collection.
• Consumer Reports Buying Guide available through GALILEO. (call for current password)
  

31 October 1911: "Hallowe'en at the Kindergarten"

On this day in 1911, the Lucy Cobb Institute kindergarten entertained the first grade class with "a delightful Hallowe'en party." The Athens Banner reported that "the event is looked forward to with intense pleasure by the little tots."

A total of 70 students attended with their teachers. The "bright little children" of the kindergarten made all the decorations and favors themselves, with assistance from their teacher, Miss Jessie McGregor. According to the report in the Society News column the next day,

The school room was most attractive and artistic with Jack-o'-lanterns and lanterns of bright colored paper. The favors were black cats and witches filled with candy, made by these little tots who displayed wonderful talent in their artistic work.
Their happy voices echoed through the halls as they took part in Hallowe'en games, such as bobbing for apples, "Here we go round the pumpkin man," and various others quite as enjoyable.
The ices and cakes carried out the Hallowe'en decorations and the party was a great success.

Learn More:

• Athens Banner, Jul. 1911 - Nov. 1911 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Higher Education for Women in the South: A History of Lucy Cobb Institute, 1858-1944 by Phinizy Spalding in the Heritage collection.
• Halloween Through Twenty Centuries by Ralph Linton in the general collection.
• The Haunted History of Halloween by Harry Smith in the DVD collection.
• Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of Halloween Symbols by Edna Barth in the children's collection.
• The Halloween Encyclopedia by Lisa Morton in the Reference collection. 
• The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury in the Young Adult collection.
• Jack-o-lanterns by Lola M. Schaefer in the children's collection.
• Pumpkin Carving by Ed Palmer in the general collection.
• Pumpkin Painting by Jordan McKinney in the children's collection.
• Ghoulish Goodies by Sharon Bowers in the general collection.
• It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schultz in the DVD collection.

Fantastic Free Newsletters From the Heritage Room!

On this day, we'd like to remind you to sign up for the Heritage Room newsletters that are delivered directly to your email Inbox.

Our Genealogy and History Events newsletter covers everything from Archives Month displays outside the Heritage Room to Lunch and Learn Series at the Georgia Archives and Augusta Historical Society to basic genealogy classes to booksales and ghost tours. You don't want to miss it, or you'll miss out on the great programs and events for the researcher and the entire family!

Our Genealogy News and Tips newsletter makes sure you are kept up-to-date with the world of genealogy and history, covering topics ranging from the new hours for the Georgia Archives and how to organize your research to DNA testing programs and archeological finds at historic sites. There's something for everyone in the News and Tips newsletter!

Click here (or either newsletter link above) to read the current newsletter and subscribe. It couldn't be easier, so sign up today!

"Hands That Can Do: A Centennial Celebration of Harriet Powers"

On this day, we'd like to remind you of events at the Athens-Clarke County Library associated with our week of events celebrating the life of Harriet Powers. This Friday is the 137th anniversary of her birth.

This afternoon from 4-5pm in YA downstairs, teens are welcome to come make their own felt quilt squares that will be displayed in the library. Free and open to first 15 teens, aged 11-18.

Tomorrow evening at 7pm in the library's auditorium, is a gospel concert featuring the groups Voices of Praise and Teresa Haynes & Spiritual Harmony. This concert is free and open to the public.

"Hands That Can Do" is a partnership between the Athens-Clarke County Library and Lyndon House Arts Center, with support from the Georgia Humanities Council.

25 October 1916: Ideal Wholesale Location for Rent

On this day in 1916, J.J. Fowler ran the following ad in the Athens Daily Herald, page 5, cols. 4-7:

Most advertisements and news stories from this time period relied on illustrations, but the location of the store along the tracks was a selling point worth seeing in a photograph.

Learn More:

• Athens Daily Herald, Jun. 1916 - Dec. 1916 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• America Enters the World: A People's History of the Progressive Era and World War I by Page Smith in the general collection.
• The Routes of Man: How Roads Are Changing the World and Way Live Today by Ted Conover in the general collection.
• Roads Through the Ages by Philip Steele in the children's collection.
• Getting There: The Epic Struggle Between Road and Rail in the American Century by Stephen B. Goddard in the general collection.
• The Iron Horse: How Railroads Changed America by Richard Wormser in the children's collection.
• Station to Station by Steven Parissien in the general collection.
• Seaboard Air Line Railway: Steam Boats, Locomotives, and History by Richard E. Prince in the Heritage collection.
• From a Railway Carriage by Robert Louis Stevenson in the children's collection.

23 October 1897: Georgia Celebrates First of 60 Victories Over Georgia Tech Football Team with Shutout

On this day in 1897, Georgia Tech brought their football team to the Athens campus and lost to the University of Georgia team by a decisive score of 28-0. Three different players scored touchdowns in front of 600 fans gathered at Herty Field on North Campus. Kickoff was at 4pm, and admission to the game was 50 cents for adults, 25 cents for children.

The Athens Daily Banner proclaimed the game to be "a battle royal," noting the Tech players were "heavy and skilled" and Georgia's team "is in good shape for the fray." Georgia was coming off an undefeated (4-0) 1896 season, and had opened the schedule beating Clemson 24-0 the week before Tech came to town. It seemed a promising start to the first season for Coach Charles McCarthy, who had taken the reins from legendary coach Glenn "Pop" Warner that fall.

Though the 1897 game started slowly, luck went Georgia's way on some early plays, and they went into halftime with a 10-0 lead. The second half, however, was a rout, with Georgia steadily running through the Tech line to score 18 points. At the time, a touchdown was worth only four points, and point-after kicks were worth two.

It was the second meeting between the two teams, the first coming in 1893 when a brawl amongst the fans spilled into a fight on the field, causing the Tech players to eventually flee to their specially chartered railcars and locking the doors behind them. In the weeks following, allegations of cheating and other misbehavior filled the Athens and Atlanta newspapers, and it was thought best that the teams refrain from contests until tempers had cooled. By 1897, faculty and administration at the schools thought it would be safe for the teams to meet again.

The overall record for the game is in Georgia's favor, 60-37-5, with their biggest win so far a 51-7 victory in Sanford Stadium in 2002.


Learn More:

• Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate by Bill Cromartie in the Heritage and general collections.
• Georgia vs. Georgia Tech: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893 by John Chandler Griffin in the Heritage and general collections.
• The Ghosts of Herty Field: Early Days on a Southern Gridiron by John F. Stegeman in the Heritage and general collections.
• Between the Hedges: 100 Years of Georgia Football by Loran Smith in the general collection.
• Game Day: Georgia Football: The Greatest Games, Players, Coaches, and Teams in the Glorious Tradition of Bulldog Football (with introduction by Larry Munson) in the general collection.
• Echoes of Georgia Football: The Greatest Stories Ever Told by Ken Samelson in the general collection.
• Athens Daily Banner, Nov. 1894 - Nov. 3, 1898 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Weekly Banner, Feb. 1897 - Jul. 1898 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• 2010 Georgia Bulldogs Football Media Guide on the Georgia Athletic Association website.