Richard B. Russell Library UGA

Learn more about how Ted Turner's legacy lives on through the UGA Special Collections Libraries through this Atlanta News First interview with our exhibition coordinator Jan Hebbard. The link is in our linktree.

Congratulations to our graduating student workers! Each day leading up to graduation, we will be highlighting grads from across the UGA Libraries network. First up: our workers from Special Collections! Norah Philipp is a graduating Brown Media Archives Intern and Undergraduate Researcher for the Peabody Awards Collections LibGuide. She hopes to work in a university library before returning to school for her MLIS and considers her time with UGA Libraries her most formative undergraduate experience. Jacob Griner is a graduating intern in the Brown Media Archives and former Special Collections student assistant and docent. He will attend Syracuse University this fall to pursue an MA in the History of Art and is grateful for the mentorship and hands-on experience that shaped his time at UGA. Lauren J. Scaffidi is a graduating docent in the Montgomery Reading Room who also helped digitize documents for patrons in the Special Collections Library. She plans to pursue higher education and proudly shares, “I heart the Special Collections Library!” Shannon Flammer, Lily Sampson, and Carolyn Scenna are graduating Special Collections Library student assistants who retrieve requested materials from the vault using the picker. All three are accounting majors: Shannon will work at a public accounting firm in New York City, while Lily and Carolyn will pursue their Master of Accountancy degrees.

We are excited to announce the 11th cohort of the UGA Libraries Special Collections Fellows program. Working with archivists, these 12 faculty members will reimagine historical pieces into active-learning opportunities for students this Maymester. For more on the program, see the link in our bio.

Thank you to everyone who came out to our Olympics Family Day this weekend! We hope you enjoyed our docent Katie’s special talent of making balloon animals. The 1996 Olympics exhibit will be on display through the end of the year, so there’s plenty of time to stop by and look at Olympic torches, medals, and more!

At UGA Libraries, we support students on their academic journeys. Now you have the opportunity to give back! Dawg Day of Giving is this Thursday, March 26. Check out our linktree to donate.

Whatever year you were born in, you’re always welcome at the Special Collections Libraries for a blast from the past!

The Chatham-Savannah Citizen Advocacy Records are now open for research! In 1975, the Developmental Disabilities Act required states to create advocacy offices—but Georgia chose a unique path by investing in citizen advocacy. Founded as an independent nonprofit in 1983, Chatham‑Savannah Citizen Advocacy (CSCA) recruits and trains local citizens to advocate for people with disabilities. This collection includes board minutes, reports, photos, event materials, and case files. Also included are the papers of longtime leader Tom Kohler, which document the organization’s history, advocacy principles, and impact in the community.

Already missing the excitement of the Olympics? Feeling the post–closing ceremony blues? 🥇 Check out “Beyond the ‘96 Games: Atlanta’s Olympic Legacy” at the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, part of the UGA Special Collections Libraries. Dive into the history and lasting impact of Atlanta hosting the 1996 Summer Olympics, no gold medal required to enjoy it.

Be sure to join us NEXT THURSDAY at 5pm for an Exhibits Happy Hour to celebrate the new on-view exhibits in both the Hargrett and Russell galleries! Featuring "Fashioning the Classic Bride: The Life and Career of Anne Barge" and "Beyond the '96 Games: Atlanta's Olympic Legacy", attendees can enjoy some light refreshments (not inside the galleries!), hear from Barge exhibit curator Noel Corbin, and enjoy tour stops by SCL student docents! Free parking in the Hull Street Deck after 5pm. We hope to see you there!

UPDATE: All Libraries locations will remain closed on Monday, January 26 due to winter weather. Stay safe and warm!

Thirty years after the Olympic Games launched Atlanta into the international spotlight, a new exhibit at the Special Collections Libraries looks back on the formative moment in Georgia history and the marathon of preparations leading up to the opening ceremony that would secure the city’s future. The exhibit, entitled “Beyond the ’96 Games: Atlanta’s Olympic Legacy,” features an original torch from the opening relay and other authentic memorabilia. The athletic accomplishments of the ’96 Olympics serve as a backdrop to the story of the city, which was considered an underdog for the successful host city bid of the 100th anniversary of the Games. Through articles, photographs, pamphlets and memorabilia, the exhibit narrates how Atlanta officials prepared for the world spotlight while positioning the city for international prominence in business and tourism for decades to come. Next month, join us for an event celebrating the opening of the exhibit. The free reception begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, and it also celebrates the opening of a new exhibit entitled “Fashioning the Modern Bride” in the Hargrett Library Gallery. In March, bring your family to a fun event highlighting the exhibit. Children and parents can enjoy story time, crafts and other Olympic-inspired activities during the free event scheduled for 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, March 28. See you there!

Our Outreach Archivist, Kaylynn Washnock-Stooksbury, is hard at work installing the Russell Library's newest exhibit "Beyond the '96 Games: Atlanta's Olympic Legacy"! The exhibit will be open to the public in mid-January, with a celebration opening on February 12th! We hope to see you there.