Georgia Archives
From ArchivesWiki
The Georgia Archives is the official repository of archival records for the State of Georgia. Together with the Georgia Capitol Museum it forms the Georgia Division of Archives and History, part of the Office of the Secretary of State of Georgia. The primary purpose of the Georgia Archives is to identify which state agency records are worth preserving for hundreds of years, transfer those records to the archives, protect them, and make them available to people who need them. In addition, the archives helps state agencies and local governments manage active records and stores the inactive records of state government in the State Records Center.
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[edit] Orientation
Address - Georgia Archives, 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, Georgia, 30260-1101
Website - http://www.GeorgiaArchives.org
Telephone - (678) 364-3700
Fax - (678) 364-3860
Email - Various. Visit web page for more information.
Schedule & hours - Open Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Closed for state and most federal holidays (complete list available on web site) as well as on the Saturday immediately preceding a Monday holiday or immediately following a Friday holiday.
Directions to the archives - Approximately 1 mile NE of Interstate 75 on State Route 54/Jonesboro Road (Exit 233). For directions, maps, public transportation, and road construction information, visit http://www.GeorgiaArchives.org.
[edit] Holdings
Original Records - The Georgia Archives primarily houses official state government records and a significant collection of local government records. Most of these are unpublished, original source materials maintained in their original format or on microfilm, all stored in a climate-controlled environment. Archival holdings also include non-governmental documents of cultural and historical value. Included in these manuscript collections are family letters and papers, business records and account books and materials such as minutes and reports of social, professional, and other organizations. Georgia Archives is actively entering descriptions of these records into Online Descriptive Inventories. The Georgia Archives produces a Descriptive Inventory (formerly known as "PDIs") for each government record series in its collection. Each Descriptive Inventory includes information about the agency that created the series, the date span of the records, what information is found in the records, a list of folder titles in the series (in most cases), and related information.
Microfilm/Microfiche Georgia Archives' microfilm library contains nearly 30,000 reels available for public use. This includes Georgia governmental records, selected U.S. records, Georgia county records, tax digests, private papers, church records, cemetery records, newspapers, genealogical records, Bible records, books and periodicals, selected out-of-state and foreign records, and a few municipal records. Some of the material that is most frequently referenced includes the Federal census schedules; Georgia Confederate Service and Pension Records; Colonial and Headright and Bounty land grants; Land Lottery and Georgia county records.
Maps Georgia's official land and cartographic records are a significant part of the Georgia Archives' holdings. By law, county boundary changes and municipal annexations, are filed with the Secretary of State's Office in the Archives. In addition, holdings include the State's original Surveyor General collection, which includes over 10,000 county and state maps. Also available for research are microfilm copies of 1.5 million land grants and plats from 1755 to 1909.
Books and Periodicals Georgia Archives' collection of secondary sources supplements the holdings of original records. All published materials are cataloged in our on-line catalog. They include (but are not limited to) Georgia county histories and record abstracts, compiled bibliographies, various indexes, genealogy guidebooks, guides to the collection of other institutions, and patriotic lineage society publications such as the Georgia State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution Collection. Additionally, there are sources on the Atlantic coastal states and the southeastern United States that include general state histories, county histories, abstracts of county records, and newspaper indexes and abstracts. There are also compiled histories of Georgia families, often including information on branches in other states, as well as current loose issues and bound volumes of periodicals relating to history and genealogy. However, Georgia Archives does not participate in Interlibrary Loan. You can search for a particular book or periodical in our online catalog, GIL (Galileo Interconnected Libraries).
Historic Photographs The Georgia Archives houses photograph collections from many state agencies (including many governors, the legislature, and tourism) and private individuals. The largest collection (Vanishing Georgia), and selections from other collections, are available through the Virtual Vault on the archives’ web page (http://content.sos.state.ga.us/index.php).
[edit] Research procedures
Access - Onsite registration with photo identification.
Permitted and prohibited items - For a current list of permitted and prohibited items please visit http://sos.georgia.gov/archives/how_may_we_help_you/research_help/default.htm and refer to the section about On Site Research.
Document ordering and delivery - Original documents may be requested on site for delivery, usually within 15 minutes.
Photocopying, photography, microfilming - Self-service copying of books; all original documents copied by staff, often (but not guaranteed) the same day. For a current fee schedule, visit http://www.GeorgiaArchives.org and select the "How We Can Help You" section.
Advice - Many of our most popular holdings are available online through the Virtual Vault (http://content.sos.state.ga.us/index.php). We recommend you look there first.
[edit] Practicalities
On site patron lounge with vending machines; fast food within easy distance. Patron lockers provided and use required for items prohibited from the Reference Room). Easy access by taxi from the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport; limited public transportation. Wireless Internet access available in the Reference Room. See web page for further details.
[edit] See also
Online Resources: The Virtual Vault - http://content.sos.state.ga.us/index.php
