Cobb County NAACP donates historical legacy to Kennesaw State archives

PRLog (Press Release) – Feb 08, 2008 – Cobb County’s explosive growth and change during the last five decades can now be viewed through a perspective not extensively explored — that of African−Americans during the mid−20th century‚ thanks to a gift by a leading civil−rights organization to Kennesaw State University.

The Cobb County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is donating a collection of documents‚ photos and other memorabilia to the KSU Department of Archives and Records.

Officials will celebrate the donation during ceremonies at 2 p.m. Feb. 21 in University Room A of the Carmichael Student Center. After the ceremonies‚ the department will give tours of the newly renovated KSU Archives and host a reception.

“These particular holdings will have an extensive impact for the history of Cobb County growth and development‚ and will show the perspective of this growth from those who were fighting for the rights of African−Americans in the county‚” said Tamara Livingston‚ KSU Archives director.

“A lot of the history of African−Americans in Cobb County hasn’t been told‚” said Deane Bonner‚ president of the Cobb County NAACP. “This is a step in making this history known‚ and helps to continue the legacy of those who worked hard for equal rights.”

The records donated by the Cobb County NAACP‚ including holdings from past presidents of the organization‚ will give researchers and the public a window into some of Cobb’s most formative — and turbulent — years: the 1960s and ‘70s‚ Livingston explained.

“This period of time is fascinating‚ especially during efforts to desegregate schools‚” she said. “Cobb County changed drastically from what was once a rural‚ mostly white county to a much more diverse community.”

The Cobb County NAACP served as a strong voice for civil‚ educational and political rights during this period‚ and has helped to develop a strong advocacy program in the Cobb County juvenile justice and criminal justice systems. The Cobb County NAACP is still active today in education‚ politics‚ voter registration‚ and youth programs.

KSU also hosted the first college chapter of the NAACP in Cobb County‚ established in 1986 when the institution was known as Kennesaw State College.

“With the historic links between ourselves and Kennesaw State‚ this donation is the right thing to do‚” Bonner said.

KSU’s archives department was established in 2004. Its holdings include significant historical collections of Cobb County and KSU history‚ including photograph collections of the Bell Bomber Plant in Marietta‚ manuscript collections of significant Cobb County citizens‚ oral history collections and university records.

More information about the KSU Archives is available online at http://www.kennesaw.edu/archives. Additional information about the Cobb County NAACP also is available online at http://www.cobbnaacp.org.

Members of the public wishing to attend the Feb. 21 ceremonies are asked to make a reservation with Vera Gargano in the KSU Department of Archives and Records Management at 770−423−6289 or vgargano@kennesaw.edu.

Media coverage is welcome‚ and news media representatives are asked to call University Relations at 770−423−6203 for more information and parking reservations.