Library Newsletter Spring 2004

In This Issue:

• From the Director's Desk
• The History of Georgia Southwestern State University - Part III 
• What's New
• Amy's Book News Corner

It is with sadness that I begin my column this semester with the announcement of the death of C. Diane Bradley, Reference Librarian/Government Information Coordinator at the JEC Library.  Diane passed away, after a brief illness, on October 22, 2003.  Her many contributions to GSW and the field were celebrated at a memorial event held on February 6th in the Library's reference area.  We were honored that her father, Mr. Louis D. Bradley, was able to join us for the event and assisted the Director in dedicating a plaque honoring Diane's 4 years of service to GSW.

On page 3 of this issue, the reader will find a new feature, "Amy's Book News Corner."  Amy Wise, the Library's Collection Development Assistant, shares with us her lively review of 2 books in the Library's popular literature collection.  Over the years, the Library has developed a small collection of popular works in both hardcopy and audiotape formats for the benefit of our campus residents and commuter patrons.  We hope to continue to occasionally feature the "Book News Corner" as well as other articles, essays, and reviews by our talented staff.

I also wish to bring your attention to the newly redesigned Library website.  It features such enhancements as FAQ's, a drop-down menu, and, in general, is easier for the user to navigate.  Please "Check It Out" at www.gsw.edu/~library.  We welcome your input.

Again, I wish to thank the Library's many supporters for their generosity and assistance.

Vera J. Weisskopf Director of the Library vjw@canes.gsw.edu

Georgia Southwestern State University continued to grow during the 1930's.  In 1931, the University System of Georgia was established creating the Board of Regents which had governing power over the state supported institutions of higher learning in Georgia.  The Board of Regents continued the type of curriculum at GSW, limiting the work to two years and changing the name of the institution to Georgia Southwestern College.

Students were required to complete a Teaching Major and a Teaching Minor to earn a normal diploma.  During the Fall of 1934, the school day was extended to 4:00 p.m.  In 1933-1934, the quarter system replaced the term or semester and quality points replaced honor points.  Board, room and incidentals in 1937 cost $183.99 for the year.

New loan and scholarship funds were contributed by the Kiwanis Club, James Chevrolet Company, Lott Brothers, Glover Grocery Company, Herbert Hawkins and others.

A very beneficial guidance program was also established for students.

The physical appearance of the campus continued to evolve.  The P.W.A. allotted $69,300 to construct a dormitory for men.  The dorm was named to honor S.H. Morgan.  The north wing of the Administration Building was converted into a spacious library. Grace Sanford Hall was dedicated on December 15, 1936.  The commissioners of Sumter County and others made possible the construction f the annex and campus store.  This area was known as the Day Student Building.  The gymnasium-auditorium was completed in 1939 with a seating capacity of nearly 1,000.  A swimming pool and a recreation room was located in the basement of this new building.  Driveways encircling the college were completed.

Some noted accomplishments were:

• In 1926, there were fifteen student clubs on campus, the largest of which was the Library Club.

• The Debating Team achieved many victories during 1939.

• In 1933 the Alma Mater was written and sung for the first time and Blue and Gold were re-adopted as school colors.

• The first issue of the "Sou'wester", the student newspaper, appeared on June 4, 1934 and was edited by Raymond Duncan.

• The Journalism Club revived the yearbook in 1939 and it was named "The Gale."

Stay tuned for "The War Years 1940-1949" coming in our Fall 2004 issue.  The information for this article was taken from Macy Bishop Gray's book, Through the Years: A Brief Informal Record of Georgia Southwestern College 1908-1957.  Miss Macy was GSW''s librarian from 1931 to 1966 and her book in located in the Rare Books Room of the library.

Harley Davidson Celebrated 100th Birthday!!

In 1902, William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson, both in their early twenties, created the first motorcycle in a shed in Wisconsin.  The machine was more or less a motor mounted on a bicycle frame.  It was noisy enough to spook anything.

Harley and Davidson wrote Harley Davidson Motor Company on the door of that shed and so began America's love affair with a motorcycle.

An amazing fact is that Harley's big boost came about during World War II when the company supplied 90,000 bikes to the battlefields in Europe and Asia.

Some half million folks from all walks of life roared into Milwaukee, Wisconsin in August 2003 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Harley Davidson.

An agreeable comment by bike riders is that "there's nothing like the feel and sound a Harley Davidson roaring across the country under a great big sky."

Attention bike lovers!!! The Library has a book for you:

The Ultimate Harley Davidson by Hugo Wilson

Sumter County was the Film Location for a Renowned Movie!! "To Dance with the White Dog"

To Dance With The White Dog is a novel written by Mr. Terry Kay, who by the way is a graduate of West Georgia College and LaGrange College.  In 1993, the movie version of To Dance With The White Dog was filmed on location right here in Sumter County!!!  To Dance With The White Dog is a love story which aired as a Hallmark Hall of Fame Feature Presentation.  It was the highest rating movie of the 1993 season with 33 million viewers.

The opening scene of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary celebration was filmed at Hebron Baptist Church located on Highway 49.  The houses and the pecan orchard in the moved are located in the Americus area.  The scene featuring the school was filmed at Plains High school which is now part of the National Park Service's Jimmy Carter National Historic Site.  The school has since been chartered by former Governor Zell Miller as the Official State School of Georgia.

Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy played the parts of Sam and Cora Peek who were the main characters in the movie.  They, along with Esther Rolle, stayed at the Grand Old Windsor Hotel right here in Americus.  Brass name plates are on the walls just outside of the rooms they occupied.  Another famous person who stayed at the Windsor Hotel was Franklin Roosevelt back in 1928 when he was governor of New York.

The "white dog" whose real name is Crystal, along with Max, the star dog in the movie "Homeward Bound", stayed at the Ramada Inn in Americus (of course their trainers came along with the trip!)  Children as well as adults gathered around and petted these two very friendly dogs - they seemed to enjoy the affection after a long day in front of the cameras.

To Dance With The White Dog is only one of Terry Kay's many novels on the Best Seller list, buy Mr. Kay refers to it as his signature book.  Other novels by Mr. Kay are: Dark Thirty, Kidnapping of Aaron Green, Runaway and Year The Lights Came On.  These can all be checked out right here at the James Earl Carter Library!!!