UGA Special Collections Libraries to Host Spring Exhibits Reception

The Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries at the University of Georgia will host its bi-annual reception celebrating new exhibitions April 14 at 5:30 p.m. The event will include live music from local band Hog-Eyed Man; a custom print station operated by Double Dutch Press; light refreshments and gallery tours. The reception is free and open to the public.

RSVP to lnessel@uga.edu or call 706.542.3879. For more information about the Special Collections Libraries call 706.542.7123 or visit www.libs.uga.edu/scl 

Exhibitions highlighted include:

“The Greatest Bulldog of Them All: Dan McGill,” examines the legacy of the longtime UGA tennis coach, sports information director and creator of the Bulldog clubs. Included in the display are materials donated to the Hargrett Rare and Manuscript Library by Magill’s family, and materials loaned to the Hargrett Library by the ITA Tennis Hall of Fame Museum. Tennis rackets, rarely seen photographs, and ephemera from a life dedicated to the service of the University of Georgia make up the exhibit.

“Seeing Georgia: Changing Visions of Tourism in the Modern South,” explores the state’s transformation from a way station along the route to Florida into a tourist destination all its own. The exhibit highlights six popular sites in Georgia and considers questions of access, preservation, and economics. A replica roadside stand, 1920s gas pump, as well as historic photographs, postcards, and other ephemera set the scene and invite visitors to explore the tourist experience over the course of the 20th century.

“Selections from the Georgia Disability History Archive,” highlights the establishment of the Georgia Disability History Archive at the Richard Russell Library for Political Research and Studies. A powerful collection of artifacts, documents, and ephemera tell the story of disability advocacy in Georgia. Topics addressed include initiatives for education and awareness to end employment discrimination; housing and transportation accessibility; and challenges facing disabled veterans attempting to receive adequate support and healthcare.

“John Abbot, Early Georgia’s Naturalist Artist,” showcases the works of an Englishman who arrived in Georgia in 1776, hoping to jump-start a career as a natural history illustrator. Abbot intended to return to London after he had made enough drawings to establish his career. Instead he remained in rural Georgia, where he continued to collect and draw insects and birds into his 80s, producing more than 7,000 watercolor drawings. The display includes watercolor illustrations from the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript collections, along with drawings on loan from other institutions. The exhibit celebrates the 20th anniversary of the James W. Woodruff, Sr. Center for the Natural History of Georgia.

"Celebrating 75 years of excellence: The George Foster Peabody Awards" looks at the origins and evolution of this most prestigious Georgia institution through founding documents and highlights from the Peabody Awards Collection.

"Olympic Legacy" celebrates the 1996 Olympics, spotlighting events in Athens as well as Atlanta. The exhibit combines materials from the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscripts Library, the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, and the Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection to explore the lasting impact of this international celebration on Georgia today.