Friday, February 23rd

Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael L. Thurmond, the first black elected to statewide office in Georgia, was born in Clarke County in 1953.
Thurmond founded the black newspaper “Athens Voice” in 1975 and has since published two books. He became the first Harold F. Holtz Jr. Distinguished Practitioner/Lecturer at the University’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government in 1997.
In 1999, Thurmond dedicated his personal papers to the University’s Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies.

- Compiled by Emily Yocco

Thursday, February 22nd:

Athens’ Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery, 530 Fourth St., was established in 1882 as a burial site for prominent black Athenians.
For a price of 10 cents per week, the burial insurance program Gospel Pilgrim Lodge guaranteed its members a big funeral at the cemetery.
Well-known Athenians laid to rest there include founder of Morton Theater Monroe “Pink” Morton, newspaperman William Pledger, and Madison “Matt” Davis, a slave who became a Georgia legislator during the Reconstruction.

- Compiled by Emily Yocco

Tuesday, February 20th:

Francis Hall Johnson, born March 12, 1888, was a native Athenian who became one of America’s most renowned black musicians. Johnson played and taught violin, was a member of a Broadway orchestra and founded the Hall Johnson Choir.
His choir, one of the Harlem Renaissance’s most famous musical groups, experienced success in the U.S. and abroad for over three decades.
Johnson died in 1970 and was honored in May 1976 in Athens with a plaque in city hall.

- Compiled by Emily Yocco

Monday, February 19th:

Harriet Powers, a famous southern quilt maker, was born into slavery near Athens on October 29, 1837 and lived in Clarke County for half of her life.
Only two of Powers’ quilits, admired for their extensive documentation and use of appliqued designs as a storytelling technique, survive today.

Powers’ grave was uncovered in 2005 at Athens’ historic black cemetery, Gospel Pilgrim Cemetary.

- Compiled by Emily Yocco

Friday, February 16th:

After the Civil War, Athens was a center of education for freed slaves. The Athens Freedman’s Bureau funded three schools: the Knox School, founded in 1867, the Methodist School, in 1869, and Jeruel Academy, in 1881. The three schools offered primary and intermediate education, as
well as industrial and nursing training.

- Complied by Brooks Becker

Thursday, February 15th:

Athens restaurant Weaver D’s found national fame when R.E.M. named its 1992 album “Automatic for the People” after the restaurant’s slogan. Owner Dexter Weaver continues to serve traditional soul food at the restaurant.

- Compiled by Brooks Becker

Wednesday, February 14th:

Two prominent black doctors practiced in Athens during the early 20th century.

Dr. Ida Mae Johnson Hiram was the first black woman licensed to practice dentistry in the state of Georgia.

Dr. William H. Harris was the founder of the Georgia State Medical Association of Colored Physicians, Dentists and Druggists.

Both had offices in the Morton Building.

- Compiled by Brooks Becker

Tuesday, February 13th:

The corner of Washington and Hull Streets was known as the “hot corner” for the black
community in the early 20th century. The Morton Building, Samaritan Building and Union Hall housed black businesses including professional offices, poolrooms, barbershops and undertakers.

- Compiled by Brooks Becker

Monday, February 12th:

Athens was home to three black newspapers in the 19th century following the Civil War.
The Athens Blade, the Athens Clipper and the Progressive Era provided news to the black community.
At the time, few towns had even one black newspaper.

- Compiled by Brooks Becker

Friday, February 9th:

Lucius Henry Holsey, a 14-year-old slave, arrived in Athens in 1857 as the property of a college professor.
The academic atmosphere of Athens inspired Holsey to learn to read. He sold old scraps of clothes to raise money for books and began to educate himself. He became a preacher in 1868, and later founded Paine Institute in Augusta.
In 1903, the historically black college was renamed Paine College.

- Compiled by Krista Derbecker

Thursday, February 8th:

Three hundred forty University professors signed a petition calling for the reinstatement of Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes on Jan. 12, 1961. Federal Judge William Bootle ordered the University readmit the students. They returned to class with escorts shortly after. A building on North Campus is named in their honor.

Di Gamma Kappa will honor Hunter-Gault with its 2007 Distinguished Broadcaster Award at 6:30 p.m. today in the South Psychology-Journalism Auditorium.

- Compiled by Krista Derbecker

Wednesday, February 7th:

On Jan. 11, 1961, Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes were the first black students to attend classes at the University.

Although students reacted peacefully during the day, a riot broke out after a basketball game outside of Myers Hall where Hunter lived.

The angry mob carried a banner with racial slurs, started fires and threw bricks at the building.

University administrators temporarily withdrew Hunter and Holmes for their own safety.

- Compiled by Krista Derbecker

Tuesday, February 6th:

Born in Athens on Feb. 3, 1875, Samuel F. Harris became the first black educator in the then-Clarke County.

Harris helped create the foundation for the local public school system, and with Harris as principal in 1922, Athens High and Industrial School became the first accredited black public secondary school in the state.

Harris also grew the industrial and agricultural training programs in Athens.

- Compiled by Krista Derbecker

Monday, February 5th:

Monroe Bowers “Pink” Morton, born in 1856 to a slave woman and wealthy white man, became a prominent figure in developing Athens.

In addition to being the second black man to hold the position of the Athens postmaster, Morton constructed many buildings downtown, including the Morton Building and Theatre, a popular venue for entertainment performances, state meetings and graduations.

The Morton Theatre burned in 1944, but was renovated into a performing arts locale in the 1990s.

- Compiled by Krista Derbecker