Georgia Archives in the Spotlight!

Thanks to the support of friends, colleagues, and users, the Georgia Archives is once again open five days a week to researchers. Since joining the Board of Regents in July 2013, the number of staff has increased to 25. Postponed projects are being completed, including major improvements to the building's systems to increase efficiency and reduce operating costs.

As the state archives of Georgia, our primary focus is on documenting the activities of government. Since the early 1970s, the Georgia Archives has operated a records management program to advise state and local government offices and to promote good recordkeeping practices. In addition to holding the permanent records of the state government, the Archives operates the State Records Center where agencies store their temporary records

As the state archives of one of the original thirteen colonies, the Georgia Archives holds a rich collection of colonial and state records covering nearly three centuries. Holdings include local government records, maps, photographs, and private collections that complement the official records. Of the 85,000 cubic feet of records in the Georgia Archives, approximately 70,000 are official state records, 6,000 are local government records, and 9,000 are non-governmental materials that supplement the official records.

Archives staff are taking advantage of the University System connections to work more closely with faculty and students to encourage more use of original records. Public programs are expanding as well. Special history programs have included topics such as the War of 1812 and Transportation. Day-long genealogy programs held twice a year are very popular. For several years, the Archives has hosted a well-attended Black History Month program, and this year's program was co-sponsored with the Afro-American Genealogy and History Society and the Auburn Avenue Research Library. Lunch and Learn programs on a variety of topics are held the second Friday of every month at noon. The Archives has an exhibit room with climate controlled cases that allows display of original records. Staff develop exhibits to showcase records related to program topics or to highlight Archives collections of interest.

A special library is part of the main reading room at the Georgia Archives. The library consists of books and periodicals that complement the original records in the Archives and help provide context for the original materials. The collection contains over 23,000 volumes of local, state, and family histories, published law books and codes, transcriptions and compilations of local records. The library materials must be used onsite and are not available for interlibrary loan.

To learn more about the Georgia Archives visit http://www.georgiaarchives.org/