Professors Endorse Historical Markers to Honor Minorities
December 15, 2010
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Professors Endorse Historical Markers to Honor Minorities
VALDOSTA -- History professors at Valdosta State University have
been integral to the establishment of several Civil War historical
markers throughout Georgia. These markers -- from labor strikes in
Augusta to food riot in Columbus -- were dedicated during a 2010
storytelling campaign as part of Georgia’s Civil War
Sesquicentennial.
Dr. David Williams, author of “Bitterly Divided: The South’s Inner
Civil War,” and fellow history professor, Dr. Chris Meyers,
published articles about events that unfolded during and in
response to the war. Their research helped the Georgia Historical
Society (GHS) and Department of Economic Development identify the
following markers to honor previously unrepresented elements of the
war:
Rincon -- March to the Sea: Ebenezer Creek
Augusta -- Accidents and Strikes at Powder Works factory
Columbus -- Women’s Food Riots
Milledgeville -- Secession Convention
Dalton -- African-American Soldiers in Combat
Quitman -- Slave Conspiracy
Jasper -- Unionists in Georgia
Atlanta -- The Battles for Atlanta
Savannah -- Sherman's Special Field Orders No. 15
Williams spoke at a November dedication ceremony in Quitman about
the importance of providing the public with a full spectrum of the
war’s players and impact. The Quitman marker speaks of the
execution of a local white man and three slaves after their
conviction to conspire to overtake the town’s government on behalf
of U.S. Army forces based in Florida.
“A couple of years ago, I was in Savannah for a radio interview
with Stan Deaton of the Georgia Historical Society. After the
interview, he mentioned that some of the events I mentioned would
make great markers,” Williams said. “During the dedication, I just
gave a little background, expanded on possible motives (which are
still murky), and pointed people to ‘Plain Folks in a Rich Man’s
War’ for further reading. The book contains pretty much the sum of
what little we know about the conspiracy.”
A 2008 study of Georgia’s 919 historical markers revealed that 15
percent of them were missing or damaged. To reinvigorate interest
and pride in state history, the GHS developed the Civil War 150
Project’s Storytelling Campaign. The revealing of each new marker
included a ceremony that featured a speaker and music reflecting
the tone of the marker. The campaign began on May 25 near Rincon’s
Ebenezer Creek, where the society erected a marker to honor the
fugitive slaves who drowned while following the Union Army during
its March to the Sea.
The society’s web site, www.georgiahistory.com,
provides a list of all the markers and GPS coordinates so that
travelers can design personalized driving routes. By infusing
history, tourism and online tools, the GHS hopes the Civil War 150
Project will encourage Georgians to promote the region’s rich
past.
For more information about VSU’s part in the development of these
historical markers, e-mail Dr. David Williams at david.williams@valdosta.edu.
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