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April 2017 - Second Quarter
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World War I and America
The Augusta Museum of History is pleased to offer a series of in-depth presentations on this area's efforts during World War I. The project aims to bring members of the veteran community together with the general public in libraries and museums around the country to explore the transformative impact of the First World War.
World War I and America marks the 100th anniversary of American entry into World War I. It is a two-year initiative that explores the continuing relevance of the war by reading, discussing, and sharing insights into the writings of Americans who experienced it firsthand.
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WWI IMPACT ON THE RIVER REGION
Saturday, May 27, 2017 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Topics will highlight Camp Hancock, Barnes Field, and individuals from the River Region involved in WWI. This session will be conducted by Steve Rauch, who is a retired Army Ordinance officer and currently serves as the U.S. Army Signal Corp historian at Fort Gordon.
WWI HISTORY DETECTIVE: PRIMARY SOURCE PROGRAM AND TOUR
Saturday, June 24, 2017 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Amy Schaffman, the Museum's Education Manager, will introduce both children and adults to the Museum's vast collection relating to World War I. This will include using reproductions and providing tours of the Museum's permanent exhibition galleries focusing on Augusta's military ties. Tours will be led by Lt. Col Tom Sutherland (US Army Ret.), who served in Special Forces, 82nd Airborne, Big Red One, Signal Brigade and served two tours in Vietnam.
The program is part of the World War I and America, a two-year national initiative of The Library of America presented in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the National World War I Museum and Memorial, and other organizations, with generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Monday at the Museum
is a monthly program aimed at preschool age children. They must be accompanied by an adult.
Time: 10 am
Cost: $4 per child;
$2 for a member's child
April 10, 2017
Master's Week: Sweet Tea and Pimento Cheese
Children will learn about the history of the Master's tournament, create and eat pimento cheese and use golf balls to create an abstract picture.
May 29, 2017
Music Party: Celebrating James Brown
Children will learn about James Brown and then create their own musical instruments.
June 19, 2017
Father's Day Fun: Petersburg Boat
Children will visit the Petersburg Boat exhibit, then create a model boat!
Registration is requested by calling 706-722-8454 or email Amy Schaffman at aschaffman@augustamuseum.org.
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Tuscan Resort Raffle
Tickets $100
Drawing Date: October 18,2017
Only 100 tickets will be sold!
Enter to win 7 nights of accommodations for 4 people in Manciano, Italy, located just 1 1/2 hours north of Rome in beautiful Tuscany. The casas offered by Tuscan Resort are situated in the southwestern region of Tuscany known as the Maremma. The Maremma is located in the magnificent Tyrrhenian Sea Region, known for it's villages, the romantic Fiora River, silvery mountains, and natural thermals spas. Each casa features a full living room, kitchen, dining room, two bathrooms, and two bedrooms with views of the rolling countryside.
Tickets are on sale in the Augusta Museum of History's Administrative Offices, Monday through Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm.
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Saturday, May 6, 2017
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
The Augusta Museum of History and the Augusta Archaeological Society present Archaeology Day at the 1797 Ezekiel Harris House. Spend the day on the Ezekiel Harris House grounds for free tours, talks and demonstrations. Join a team of archaeologists from The Augusta Archaeological Society as they identify and classify prehistoric and historic artifacts and collections, as well as demonstrate flint knapping and primitive weapons use.
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From the Executive Director
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What Makes a Museum a Unique Place?
Museums are filled with material culture that is intended to encourage dialogue and curiosity, but also trigger one's
particular memories. Museums have the power to make us stop and wonder, to challenge our views, and to ask questions. Museums use "stuff" or objects and ephemera to tell stories... stories about people, places, or events throughout time.
In America, Charles Willson Peale, who was both a painter and a collector, opened one of America's first museums in 1786. He filled it with his own portraits of George Washington, and later with bones he unearthed of a North American woolly mammoth. In the 1840s Phineas T. Barnum added some showmanship to the enterprise. In the pre-photography era, when a painting of the Grand Canyon could draw block-long lines, P.T. Barnum took the static curiosities in the collections he'd acquired and added "live" curiosities, like industrious fleas. In 1846 the U.S. Congress established the Smithsonian Institution for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge." It could be said, at this point in the development of museums, there was a tension between institutions seen as organizations for preservation and the dissemination of facts or as venues of entertainment.
The Augusta Museum of History, like many of today's
institutions, pursues a balance. What is the balance? ....exhibits are designed to provide a wide-range of educational experiences, collections are more accessible through digital technology, and we provide a diversity of special events to encourage visitation.
Museums are big business, attracting billions of tourist dollars, and educating and amusing over 850 million people annually. Museums have become critical pieces in our educational infrastructure and economic development in this country and region.
I often ask myself, where do we go from here? The answer continues to be, the possibilities are only limited by one's creativity and imagination!
Nancy J. Glaser, Executive Director
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This year, 2017, marks the 100th
anniversary of the United States' entry into the first global war - World War I. Thanks to the work of AMH Volunteer Lauren Boasso, the AMH has published an interactive map about Augusta's Camp Hancock. By exploring the map, you can view a mixture of photographs, postcards and objects that relate to the camp. Check out our webpage (http://www.augustamuseum.org/CampHancock-WWI) for the online exhibit.
Don't forget to check out the Hometown Heroes textile exhibit on the second floor. This display of uniforms will end in June 2017. The Hometown Heroes exhibit is made possible by the generosity of the Wells Fargo Foundation.
Coming in May will be a temporary exhibit on the second floor called "Southern Hospitality" which is curated by Collections Assistant Cari Warren. The exhibit will explore the history of several historic Augusta hotels. Be sure to also step onto our train's passenger car to view new exhibit panels that tell the train's story from its multiple exhibit sites to its restoration. The new panels are thanks to our Collections Assistant Will Dangerfield.
Lauren Virgo, Registrar
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Open All Masters Week
April 3-9
Holiday Closures
Easter Sunday, April 16
Memorial Day, May 29
Voices of the Past
The Petersburg Boat Captain
April 15, May 20, & June 17
The Other Tubmans
April 22, May 13, & June 10
Brown Bag
History Series
"What Makes North Augusta So Special"
-Milledge Murray
April 12, 2017
"
The Evolution of Augusta
"
May 10, 2017
"Beech Island-Agriculture and Industry"
June 14, 2017
Other Events
Mangelly Accordion Concert
Mother's Day, May 14, 2017
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Museum Escape Program
By Appointment Only
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Check Out Our New Website!
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Our new website launched in January 2017. It has been totally redesigned and updated.
Visit
ww.augustamuseum.org
to see all the changes. We are constantly working to make improvements, please let us know if you have any comments or suggestions.
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As always, we appreciate your generous contributions and our wonderful Museum members. To see our current list of Donors,
To view our Members,
We thank you!
Mr. and Mrs. Lyle M. Glascock
Dr. and Mrs. Michael Haynes
Dr. Jim Hudson and
Mrs. Pat Knox-Hudson
Mr. and Mrs. James M. Hull
Mr. and Mrs. George Meinhold
Mr. and Mrs. W. Charles Moye
Mr. and Mrs. H. Monty Osteen, Jr.
Patron Members:
Mr. and Mrs. W. Franklin Abbott III
The Honorable and Mrs. H. Scott Allen
Augusta Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Mr. and Mrs. Lowell E. Barnhart
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph I. Converse
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Nesbit
Dr. Lloyd B. Schnuck, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Barry Storey
Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Whitworth
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So Much More to Discover!
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Can you find me?
This Archive's theme is "A Unique Place, A Unique Space." The Augusta Museum of History is full of unique items including this one. This tiger hid alcoholic beverages for the donor and her husband at "brown bag" events in Clemson, South Carolina, where the local university's mascot is a tiger.
Donated by Rozelle E. Dinwiddie
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County Corner:
Edgefield County, SC
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During the late 19
th
century and early 20th
century, the Bettis Academy community in Edgefield County held a carnival on the school grounds every 4
th
of July. This series of photographs from the late 1930s shows that the carnival offered games, food, dancing, military drills, and photography booths. The attendees could also view movies like this one about the famous professional boxer Joe Louis.
Donated as part of the Louis C. Harris Estate
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New Acquisitions
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This portrait of James U. Jackson, the founder of North Augusta, was recently donated to the Museum by a branch of his descendants. P.P. Carter of Richmond, Virginia, painted it in 1888. In addition to the portrait, the family also donated a pair of chairs from Rosemary Hall, a trophy, and a portrait of George Twiggs Jackson.
Given in memory of Hazel Jackson Boyles by James W. Boyles, Jr., Carolyn B. Tatum, and Tricia B. Salter.
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The Augusta Museum of History is pleased to welcome Mr. Brady O'Neill as the new Administrative Assistant. Brady started in this position in mid January and before that he was an Active Duty member of the United States Coast Guard, serving for 6 years. During his time in the Coast Guard, he was stationed on the Coast Guard Cutter Bonito in Pensacola, FL, at Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma, CA, and Coast Guard Base Seattle, WA. He continues to be an active member of the Coast Guard Reserves at Base Charleston, SC. He and his wife consider Augusta their hometown and moved back to the area to open a pet supply store named
Garden City Pet. When he isn't working at the Museum he is working at this store
with his wife.
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Now open: Online Museum Shop
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Choose from a variety of different products including t-shirts, books and gift packages. Please check back in regularly, as we are adding new items all the time!
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The Museum recently received a donation of film negatives from the 1930s. While examining the film it was discovered the word "Nitrate" had been stamped on the border. Nitrate cellulose film was commonly used from the 1910s to the 1950s. This type of film becomes unstable and self-destructs when it is stored in high heat areas such as your home attic or garage. To avoid your film negatives self-igniting, it is best to store your negatives in the coolest room in your home. The museum stores these kinds of negatives
in a frost-free freezer. Also, make sure to wear nitrile gloves while handling the negatives in a well ventilated area because the negatives are highly acidic and off-gas toxic fumes. For more information on how to identify and store nitrate film negatives, check out the Northeast Document Conservation Center's website - www.nedcc.org.
For tips on how to preserve your collections at home, check out our Collections Care Articles tab online at www.augustamuseum.org.
Lauren Virgo, Registrar
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Education Update
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Master's Week is almost upon us, and despite a recent cold spell, spring is in the air. This is an exciting time for educational programming at the Augusta Museum of History. New programs along with old favorites make up the museum's busy spring schedule.
WWI Gilder Lehrman National Endowment for the Humanities Free Program
There are two WWI themed programs coming up in the next few months. On May 27th, Steve Rauch, US Army
Signal Corps historian, will be giving a lecture on the impact of the First World War on the Augusta Community. He will be focusing on Camp Hancock. The final program in this series will take place on June 24
th
and will be geared toward children and families. I will be presenting an interactive WWI Primary Source History Detective Program, and, Veteran Liaison, Mr. Tom Sutherland, will be giving tours of the Museum's exhibits.
Museum Escape
As the latest installment of Museum Escape, Red Scare, ends on March 25, development has turned to the next Museum Escape program. It has been decided that the next Museum Escape will take place in A Community That Heals, medical exhibition and may reveal a mystery from the Medical College of Georgia. Although we cannot give away too much at this time, if you would like to be a participant in a test group for the next Museum Escape room, please contact Amy Schaffman at aschaffman@augustamuseum.org.
In addition to these new programs, the Augusta Museum's Education Department continues to provide our regular Monday at the Museum programming, tours, and primary source programs. Please see the Education Section of the website for more details. Both the Red Scare and Murder at the Mill Museum Escape Room programs are available by reservation only by contacting Amy Schaffman at aschaffman@augustamuseum.org.
As spring flowers emerge, please stop by the Augusta Museum of History for unique programming experiences.
Amy Schaffman,
Education Manager
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Museum Insights
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Wilkinson Photography Collection
Donated by Linda and Charles Askey
The Wilkinson Studio has approximately a 250,000 photo negatives documenting the River Region's past. To preserve and protect these negatives, the Museum has hired interns/collection assistants to digitize and care for them. The Robert Wilkinson Jr. collection was donated by family members Mrs. Linda Askey and Mr. Charles M. Askey, Jr. Wilkinson was a prominent photographer in the Augusta area from the 1940s-1980s. He worked a number of years for the Augusta Chronicle and captured thousands of pictures for the community organizations, school yearbooks and passport images as well as pictures of special events.
As I continue working through the collection, I have found more and more extraordinary stories captured by Wilkinson. His career can teach us so much about the history of the River Region. I am excited to discover what I find next!
Below, a few favorites are highlighted.
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Parking Lot, November 1964
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A parking lot attendant directs a mid-size 1950s Chevrolet with convertible top into the parking lot next to the 4th
Street gate to the Augusta Exchange Club County Fair. To the left, a boy watching the car pull in and two gentlemen sitting and waving for the camera.
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Miss Augusta Exchange Club 1964,
November 2, 1963 |
Ms. Joy Brady, being crowned by the Miss Augusta Exchange Club 1963, Ms. Stormy Grygo. Standing on the other side of the new queen was Miss Georgia Fair, Ms. Nell McBride, who would become a recording artist
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Jeep,
ca. late-1940s
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The little Jeep that helped carry the Allies to victory over the Axis powers, proved to be just as valuable at home. In this photo one of the little workhorses that American GIs came to depend on is being transported over water during the construction of the J. Strom Thurmond Dam.
Will Dangerfield, Intern
for the Robert Wilkinson Photography Studio Collection
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Fitz-Symms Collection: New Discoveries
Collection donated in Memory of Robert Symms by Kirk and Lora Baxley
Morgan Fitz and Robert Symms photography collection contains approximately 23,680 envelopes comprising of about 800,000 negatives of the history in the Augusta area from the 1940's to the 1980's. In order to preserve and process these negatives, they must all be scanned, rehoused, and digitalized. The Fitz-Symms collection was donated
in memory of Robert Symms
by Kirk and Lora Baxley in 2014 and has been a huge research contribution to regional history. Here are a few new discoveries of local businesses in Augusta during the 1940's and 1950's from the archive collection.
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Colonial Store
, 1950
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These stores were one of the nation's largest supermarket operators in the twentieth century, operating over 500 stores throughout eleven states. In an effort to secure their future in food retailing, the company expanded their business to licensed discount food and department stores. This interior photograph is one of the Colonial Stores located in Augusta.
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Curb Teller
, 1954
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This Curb Teller was next to Georgia Railroad and Banking Company located at Broad and Seventh Street. This photograph shows a police officer leaning against the machine that was the original ATM, "for the fastest banking service" without having to enter the bank
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Claussen's, 1946
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Claussen's was a successful company with multiple locations in Georgia and Sou
th Car
olina. This photograph shows the Claussen's Bakery delivery truck bringing bread products to the E.F. Stringer & Son Grocery Store, which was one of many locally owned grocery stores located in the Augusta area.
Cari Warren, Intern
for the Fitz-Symms Photography Collection
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