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American Presidents

You will find every single American president somewhere in the Digital Library of Georgia, whether it be in the newspaper archives, the Georgia Government Publications site, or the Vanishing Georgia Collection. Below we present just a few presidential items you might come across in your digital library adventures.

To the right is an image of a speech given by John Quincy Adams on May 25, 1836. The speech was given during his stint as a U.S. representative from Massachusetts after his one term as president. He is the only American president to return to Congress after serving in the highest office in the country. In the speech, he addresses a resolution to provide aid to citizens of Georgia and Alabama who were displaced by Native American “hostilities.” He states his intention to vote for the bill, but also scolds those who were responsible for inciting the violence through their cruel treatment of the Native Americans. The seven page speech is part of the Southeastern Native American Documents Collection. If you click on the image to the right, it will redirect you to the collection, where the full text of the speech is available in image and transcribed form.

To the left is an image of Calvin Coolidge’s obituary from the January 12th, 1933 issue of the Calhoun Times. As Warren Harding’s vice-president, Coolidge ascended to the presidency following Harding’s death and served in the office from 1923 to 1929. At the time of his death, Coolidge was the only living former president.  The obituary is part of the Gordon County, Georgia Obituaries collection. The obituaries in the collection were collected and pasted on index cards and have been digitized in conjunction with  the Calhoun-Gordon County Public Library. The collection is comprised of over 46,000 clippings and includes obituaries from local citizens and Georgians of national prominence, including Eugene Talmadge and Margaret Mitchell.

On the right is an image of Dwight D. Eisenhower playing golf at the Glen Arven Country Club in Thomasville, Georgia, during his presidency in early 1956. Ike was an avid golfer and frequented the most prestigious golf courses in the Georgia. There is even a cabin at the Augusta National Golf Club bearing his name. The cabin was built specifically for the president to accommodate his frequent visits. The image is from the Vanishing Georgia Collection.

The political cartoon to the left depicts candidates in the 1976 presidential election as beauty pageant contestants. The candidates from left to right are George Wallace, Jimmy Carter, Henry “Scoop” Jackson, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan. Carter eventually defeated Ford in the general election and Reagan would have his chance four years later. The cartoon is from the Baldy Editorial Cartoons Collection in the Richard B. Russell Library.

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Ancient Georgia Place Names

While the world watches what is going on the ancient country of Egypt, we have an Egypt of our own right here in Georgia – where things are considerably more calm. No violent protests, no threats against a president, just a lot of Southern hospitality. While Egypt, Georgia, does not have a Nile River, it does lie close to the Ogeechee River on Highway 17 in Effingham County.

Egypt, Georgia

Egypt is not the only ancient place name to make it across the Atlantic to Georgia. Not even the only Egyptian name – there is also a Cairo, Georgia, although we pronounce it Kay Row! And they are more interested in making syrup than in overthrowing a government. Cairo, Georgia, is the county seat of Grady County.

Cairo, Georgia

Ancient Greek names are also well represented here in Georgia, beginning with the seat of the University of Georgia – right here in Athens-Clarke County. Athens, Greece, was known as a center of learning, and we like to carry on that tradition here in Athens, Georgia – with a healthy dose of music, sports and other cultural features.

Athens, Georgia

While the citizens of modern Athens, Georgia, face off against denizens of Yellow Jackets, Tigers, and Gators on the playing fields, the ancient Athenians had determined foes of their own – from Sparta. This name has also come to Georgia – in a small hamlet in Hancock County. Fortunately these Spartans are more genteel Southerners, not a warrior society constantly threatening us here in Athens. But rest assured, should a Persian king ever decide to invade Georgia, we will put in a call to Hancock County’s finest to head them off at the pass. Let’s hope any such Persian king is not named Sherman!

Sparta, Georgia

The ancient Greeks built the city of Ephesus across the Aegean Sea in Asia Minor; for Ephesus, Georgia, we need to cross the state to the west – along the Alabama border in Heard County. While the ancient Ephesus was a considerable metropolis, later second only to Rome in the ancient Mediterranean world, our Ephesus is a small town with less than 500 people.

Ephesus, Georgia

Thebes was another major Greek city-state. While we do not have a Thebes in Georgia currently, we did at one time – between two railroad lines in Liberty County. Looks like the last train left the station around the turn of the 19th/20th centuries.

Thebes, Georgia

Corinth was yet another of the major Greek city-states, and again Corinth, Georgia, is no more. But it existed once, in Sumter County. Looks like this Corinth was gone with the wind soon after the Civil War.

Corinth, Georgia

Sardis is another name of Greek origin, and Sardis, Georgia, is still in existence today, at the junction of two roads in Burke County. The Sardis name is also used by many churches throughout the South.

Sardis, Georgia

Antioch was another Asia Minor city, founded by a general of Alexander the Great. The name became quite popular, as five different towns in Georgia have used it: one in Campbell County (now part of Fulton), one in Meriwether County, one in Oglethorpe County, one in Troup County, and one in Twiggs County.

Antioch, Georgia

Yet another Greek city established in Asia Minor (now Turkey) was Smyrna; it rose to prominence during the time of Alexander the Great. Our Smyrna doesn’t need any warrior figure to be prominent – it does fine on its own, sitting just south of Marietta in Cobb County.

Smyrna, Georgia

Troy was made famous in the Iliad – being the target of some angry, jealous Greeks. Like the ancient city, Troy, Georgia, no longer exists, but there is no truth to the rumors it disappeared after a visit by a giant wooden horse! Actually, two different towns have called themsleves Troy – one each in Cherokee County and Colquitt County.

Troy, Georgia

Biblical names have been popular in Georgia as well. Jerusalem was the center of ancient Judaism and Christianity. Two towns in Georgia have used the Jerusalem name, one in Pickens County and one in Camden County – which still exists today, near the Satilla River.

Jerusalem, Georgia

Bethlehem is of course the birthplace of Christianity, and we have one of these in Georgia too – along Highway 11 in Barrow County. People come from all around each December to have their Christmas cards postmarked from Bethlehem!

Bethlehem, Georgia

Damascus was another very important Biblical name, where Christianity began its spread from being an offshoot of Judaism into a worldwide movement. Two current towns share the Damascus name – one each in Early County and Gordon County – we feel confident you can visit either of these locales without fear of being struck blind!

Damascus, Georgia

Ebenezer is an Old Testament name that was also used by one of the earliest settlements in Georgia – where the Salzburger emigrants established themselves in 1734. The spot was not very fertile, so they soon moved on to New Ebenezer, but the name has also been used by at least five different towns, in Dooly County, Effingham County, McIntosh County, Monroe County, and Morgan County.

Ebenezer, Georgia

What could be more Biblical than Eden, where it all started? We don’t know how the gardens may look there, but there is an Eden, Georgia, in Effingham County, and there once was one in Bryan County.

Eden, Georgia

Naturally, one cannot discuss ancient place names without mentioning perhaps the greatest of them all – Rome. This name resides in Georgia too – in Floyd County. No need to worry, however, our Georgia Romans have no ambition to conquer the world!

Rome, Georgia

You can see many more interesting (or mundane) place names on the Georgia Place Names site, part of GeorgiaInfo. And see where they are (or once were) located by visiting the Historical Atlas of Georgia Counties.

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