The latest news for you.

Happy New Year!

As 2021 begins, we know that happenings at the museum will still look different. However, we remain committed to offering programs, exhibits, and opportunities to engage in history. A few months ago, we surveyed museum members and visitors to get a better understanding of who our constituents are. More details of our survey are below, but this new knowledge is guiding our efforts to strengthen our existing efforts and develop new ways of interacting with the community.

I hope you will join us for our upcoming lectures, which, in our continued commitment to health and safety, will be virtual offerings only. Pre-registration is required in order to receive login information. See below for dates and descriptions of these timely and informative learning opportunities.

Also, I am excited to let you know about a new photo exhibit opening in January. Beginning on January 15, our yearlong display of historic photos along the main hall will feature Bartow Countians and their pet dogs. Even if you are more of a cat person, we hope you’ll enjoy these 12 images from our archives that show families and individuals with their furry companions. By the way, that's me in the photograph with my family's dog, Calvin, a 5 year old rat terrier mix, sporting a stylish bow tie!

The year 2020 is over, but if last year taught us anything, it’s that history is made every day. I invite you to join us as we make, preserve, and learn from history in the new year.

I look forward to seeing you virtually or in-person throughout 2021!

Sincerely,

P.S.

New Members - Don't forget to check out what's new in the Member Portal on our website. To access it, continue to use the password, bhmhistory2020.

Thank you to those who participated in our “Get To Know You Better” survey back in the Fall. As a way to get a better feel for who our members, supporters, and visitors are, we asked a series of demographic and interest questions which will now guide our efforts to better serve our audiences.

Your responses have given us new program and exhibit ideas, as well as indicated appreciation for the existing ways we have reached out. As a staff, we have discussed the results of the survey and will continue to dig into the information for direction.

Based on the survey results, some of the initiatives we will begin implementing include providing quarterly updates on the museum, making some updates to exhibits, increasing the level of engagement with our temporary exhibits through our website, highlighting more images and artifacts from the museum collection in our print and digital outreach, and more. We will work to schedule more speakers on topics suggested in the survey responses such as local people and architecture, Civil Rights, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars, to name a few. We will also work to restock and locate more locally made and unique gifts, souvenirs, and other merchandise in the museum store.

Finally, as we all look forward to the day that we can safely hold in-person gatherings again, we are developing ways to show our appreciation to our members during lectures and events.

Thank you again for your time and willingness to share your thoughts. Your feedback is welcome and appreciated!

Survey Follow-up

In response to our recent survey, we would like to ask a follow up question. It will take just a second to answer it. Your feedback is very important to us. Thanks!

What would increase your participation in our programs (non-pandemic). Choose one.

Subject matters that interest me

Select

Programs involving an activity such as walking, dining, crafting, etc.

Select

Programs held at historical locations around the area

Select

Programs that offer more of a social atmosphere

Select

Member Spotlight

We would like you to meet Clara Bagwell, one of our most loyal and long standing members of nearly 20 years, and a sixth generation Bartow County resident.

Clara doesn’t know how her family first came to Bartow, but they have been involved in the farming community at one time or another, growing cotton and corn, to currently raising beef at Shady Grove Farm. When asked about her family, she lights up with memories of watching children grow up on the farm. She and her late husband, Harris, raised three children, Dean, Clarissa and Wanda.

Today, Dean and his sons, Tyler and Bentley, run the family farm, along with four great-grandchildren who love to come and help with chores. As Spring approaches, Clara affirms that “(t)he entire family, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren all help with planting a vegetable garden. It's time to start cutting hay for next winter and all the calves born over the past winter have to be vaccinated.” Life on the farm is a busy one and a lifestyle that many locals have come to know over the years.

Clara's favorite things about being a BHM member is “seeing all the old pictures from the community, especially school photos, sports and bands. Reading the local history, knowing that it is being passed on to future generations.”

Thank you, Clara, for your steadfast support!

Employee Spotlight

Say hello to Lauren Storey, the newest addition to our staff. Lauren will be actively involved in developing and providing educational programming at the museum.

A recent graduate of Georgia Southern University, she comes to us with a Bachelor of Science in public relations and a minor in history. Prior to graduating she was a marketing assistant at the university and a public relations intern with Lesley Francis PR.

Here's the fun part! Lauren was a clogger for 16 years. She danced with a group called the Southern Class Cloggers, and spent many weekends dancing at events locally and throughout Northwest Georgia. Lauren performed at places like the Apple Festival in Ellijay, and her group was even invited to dance at Disney World several times.

Upcoming Events...

Due to Covid-19 concerns, there will be no in person events through February 28, 2021. All programs will be offered via Zoom. Watch for more details on reserving your spot.

January

Friday

Bartow in Pictures Photo Exhibit

The yearlong display of historic photos along the main hall will feature Bartow Countians and their pet dogs.

Send us Your Photo!

Opening Soon!

In honor of our new exhibit open opening on January 15th, we would love for you to send us a photo of you with your pet. We will share as many of them as possible on social media and in future newsletters. Please email the photo to the address below and be sure to include the names of any individuals in the photo and of course your pet's name and breed. Please note we are not able to utilize photos with children included.

Keith Smith is shown here with his dog, Grogu.

Email photo

January

Thursday

Pox and Pig Iron - Virtual Lecture

In the spring of 1849, smallpox had broken out at the Etowah Iron Works and along with a concurrent outbreak in Atlanta caused a panic which swept across Upper Georgia. Trade and travel throughout the Georgia Piedmont and Upcountry came to a screeching halt. Town commissioners and count magistrates lead the charge to protect the health of their citizens through the implementation of various quarantine and smallpox prevention measures. The presentation by researcher Matthew Grambling will examine the ways in which antebellum Georgia confronted, coped, and overcame the threat of infectious disease in their communities as well as the role of local governments in advancing the cause of public health among their citizenry in combating the smallpox panic. It will also provide a glimpse into the practice of southern medicine in antebellum Bartow County and Upper Georgia. This lecture will not be offered in person at

the museum.

Members are free.

Tickets

February

Thursday

Civil Rights in the 19th Century

Join us as Dr. Clarissa Myrick-Harris, Morehouse College professor, discusses the 1880 Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta.

March

Thursday

Preserving Cherokee History

Listen in as Leslie Thomas, Georgia Trail of Tears Association member, talks about preserving Cherokee history in Georgia.

Take a hike at Spring Bank

If you want to get out of the house but avoid the crowds, consider a walk on the beautiful Spring Bank property in Kingston. This property was once home to Charles Wallace Howard and his family and is rich with local history. More...

But, before you access the property, be sure to obtain a parking pass from the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department.

More...

After your visit, stop by the Bartow History Museum gift shop and pick up the book In and Out of the Lines, written by Howard's daughter and based on her experiences during the Civil War.

Roll into Tuscaloosa

This quarter’s spotlight on one of our fellow Southeastern Reciprocal Membership Program members is on the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The museum’s exhibits chronicle the history and tradition of the Crimson Tide, beginning with the first team in 1892 through the present day. Visitors to the museum will see audio and video clips, photographs, artifacts, and other memorabilia highlighting players, coaches, games, teams, and more, including a Waterford crystal replica of Coach “Bear” Bryant’s houndstooth hat.

The museum is open Thursday through Sunday and free to Bartow History Museum Members.

A SECRETARY: Furniture for Reading, Writing, and Record Keeping

This Empire style mahogany veneer bookcase and desk belonged to Rebecca

Latimer Felton, who, in 1922, became the first female U.S. senator at age 87. Mrs. Felton lived in the antebellum home of her husband’s family in Cartersville where this secretary stood in the main room of the house.

Here is a description of this type of furniture from a book titled Neat Pieces.

“In nineteenth-century Georgia homes, a family’s entire collection of books could be stored in a bookcase mounted on a desk or table, which was listed in inventories as a secretary or a secretary-bookcase. The storage for books, as well as for letters, documents, ledgers, pen, ink, and paper was contained in a single piece of furniture that also provided a convenient reading and writing surface. The bookcases were open or had paneled or glazed doors. Many contained pigeonholes for documents and account books. The desk section usually contained drawers, pigeonholes, or wells for additional storage. Probably no furniture form can give us a better reading of the owner’s mind than the furniture used for reading, writing, and record keeping.”

You can see the secretary on display in the Bartow History Museum.

Photo: The secretary/desk in Rebecca Felton's home. The woman in the photo is unidentified.

We have redesigned the Virtual Experiences page in the member portal on our website.

Sign into the member portal and select the Virtual Experiences tab. Once there, check out the video options that give you access to local history 24/7. Even if the museum is closed or you live out of town, you can watch individuals tell the stories of local people and places.

Can't remember the password to access the portal? No worries! Email Shanna Latimer, Membership Manager, and she will assist you. Her email is shannal@bartowhistorymuseum.org.

Email Shanna

Member Portal

Cameos

Recently, the museum received this cameo pendant into the collection. Cameo jewelry has been produced, worn, and popular for centuries. These relief carvings, in effect, miniature sculptures, were often carved on sea shells, although agate, onyx, and other materials were used, and they predominantly featured a woman’s profile. Women began collecting cameos as souvenirs of their travels to ancient Roman sites or ruins, like Pompeii, and were additionally popularized by Queen Victoria in the 19th century. Although many cameos were made as brooches or pins, others were made to be rings, earrings, pendants, and bracelets.

Made from jet, or fossilized wood, this particular black cameo pendant would have been considered mourning jewelry in Queen Victoria’s day. It belonged to Corra Harris, who is seen wearing the cameo in this 1924 photograph.

Learning to Roll with it.

During the COVID -19 pandemic, the Bartow History Museum has been finding new ways to continue our mission of preserving Bartow County history and educating the community. Our education team in particular has been working hard to continue to produce meaningful historical experiences for students.

Because many schools are unable to visit the museum right now, our education team has been creating virtual field trips that students can participate in from their classrooms. These virtual field trips incorporate curriculum based information and visuals into pre-recorded videos and live video sessions between museum educators and classrooms on a variety of history and social studies topics. In the live video chat sessions students will see actual artifacts and documents and are free to ask questions, much like they would be able to do if they were visiting the museum in person.

Despite the decrease in field trip visitors, the education staff of the Bartow History Museum continues to find themselves busy. We continue to research, educate, and preserve history for the community. We’re just doing it all from a respectable and safe distance.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and we have a little something for the Valentine in your life. The gift shop is open Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Trey Gaines, Director

Tina Shadden, Registrar

Sandy Moore, Archives Assistant

Joshua Graham, Manager of Programs

Sarah Strickland, Program Support

Lauren Storey, Program Support

Lisa Romans, Marketing Manager

Pat Taff, Guest Services Manager

Shanna Latimer, Guest and Membership Services

Brenda Harris, Guest Services

Our Mission is to preserve Bartow County History, educate a diverse community of students and visitors about its unique heritage, and to celebrate its sense of place through exhibits, programs, and outreach activities in an engaging and pleasant manner.