Regional African American Legacy Collection of Northeast Georgia
Twentieth century photographs and other materials documenting the African American contributions in Habersham, Banks, Rabun, and White counties. A virtual version of the original Regional African American Museum exhibit is available.
More About This Collection
Date of Original
2011
Location
United States, Georgia, Banks County, 34.35413, -83.49737
United States, Georgia, Habersham County, 34.63102, -83.53112
United States, Georgia, Rabun County, 34.88168, -83.40214
United States, Georgia, White County, 34.64636, -83.74711
Type
StillImage, Text
Description
This collection of materials began as a response to create a "Black history exhibit" for the City of Cornelia to proudly display the huge contributions that have been made by the small population of African Americans in this region. The focus area was based upon the historical significance of the Regional Colored School and the communities of the counties that attended. Being that the school was [structure is there, but repurposed] located in Habersham most of this collection is from Cornelia; which also had the largest population of African Americans of all four counties. Stephens County was added to the "region" based upon it having been carved out of Habersham County and the significant African American history that comes primarily from Toccoa (18 miles from Cornelia). However, Toccoa had its own equalization school (K-12). Banks, Habersham, Rabun and White had primary schools for African American children. To avoid integration of the high schools in those counties, children were bused in the Cornelia Regional School once they were entering high school.
The only physical artifacts that accompany these panels of information are: originals of the photos and materials (articles) that were used to produce the panels, the original plaque from the CRCHS building, a copy of the school blueprints, a football souvenir booklet, copies of two yearbooks, three sports trophies, a few report cards, and a charm bracelet (that the owner occasionally let's us use to display).
More recently, this collection has taken on a new life as the Regional African American Legacy Collection of NE Ga. One part of this new stage, is the Brushstrokes of Change Mural Project, commemorating The Hill - Cornelia's Historically Black Community (established in the mid-1880s).
It celebrates the people whose perseverance, education, leadership, faith, and entrepreneurship have molded generations and impacted communities worldwide. The series of murals will stand onsite at Mr. Jim Smith Park, which is where the first Cornelia Regional Colored School (c. 1936) stood as well. The project is inspired by Dr. doris davenport's book, Soque Street Poems, managed and designed by Audrey Davenport, commissioned by the City of Cornelia, and funded by a 2026 Vibrant Communities Grant by the GA Council for the Arts.
“Up in these hills, we had the same culturally autonomous, free of outside influence - sustainable - ’cause generations lived under the system - community.”
- Dr. doris diosa davenport (1949 – 2024) Lesbian. Performance Poet. black scholar.
Language
eng
Contributing Institution
Regional African American Legacy Collection of Northeast Georgia
Rights
