Patricia Irwin Cooper papers
Collection DescriptionHistorical NotePatricia Irwin Cooper (1927-2015) was a long time researcher in the study and preservation of historic architecture in the vicinity of Athens, Georgia. She was born in Oxford and earned a BA in French at Oberlin and an MA in Foreign Study from the University of Maryland. In 1951 she married Homer Cooper, coming to Athens in 1964 when he joined the University of Georgia Sociology Faculty. Deeply interested in vernacular architecture, she used her skill in photography to document structures in six counties in the Athens vicinity. Active in preservation, she was instrumental in the preservation of the Old Athens Cemetery and nominated several structures for the National Register. As a respected scholar her work appeared in the Georgia Historical Quarterly, the Athens Historian, The Tangible Past in Athens Georgia, and many other titles. She was noted for her expertise in log architecture, as reflected in this collection. Active in many societies, including the Athens Historical Society, the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, the Pioneer America Society, and Georgia Vernacular, she served on boards, edited publications, organized tours, presented papers and mentored new researchers. Just before her death, she received Augustus Longstreet Hull Award from the Athens Historical Society. Her photographs have been placed in the Owens Library of the University of Georgia College of Environmental Design. Scope and ContentThe collection consists of papers and photographs documenting Cooper's research of vernacular architecture. While most of her research focused on Athens and the Northeast Georgia region, a wide range of geographic areas are covered. Administrative InformationPreferred CitationPatrcia Irwin Cooper papers, ms 3954, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries. Finding Aid PublicationFinding aid prepared on: 2016. Related Materials and SubjectsSubject Terms |
Special Collections Libraries
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-1641