 Smithgall family papers
Collection DescriptionHistorical NoteCharles A. Smithgall, Jr. (1910-2002) was a broadcaster, businessman and conservationist. He was a graduate of Georgia Tech in 1933, then began his work in radio as an announcer. He eventually became a radio station executive then ventured into newspapers, founding the Gainesville Daily Times and a publisher of several other local weekly newspapers. He also owned several radio stations throughout north Georgia and Alabama as well as cable television franchises throughout the southeast. As a conservationist, Smithgall donated a large tract of land he had acquired along Dukes Creek in White County to the state, which became the Smithgall Woods State Park. Celestia "Lessie" Bailey Smithgall (1911-2021) was a writer, editor and philanthropist. She graduated from the University of Georgia's Grady School of Journalism in 1933, and was connected with the creation of the Peabody Awards for Excellence in Journalism. She was the wife of Charles A. Smithgall and their children are Dr. Elizabeth "Bay" Smithgall Watts, Charles A. Smithgall Jr., John F. Smithgall, and James Thurmond Smithgall. The Smithgalls were supporters and advocates of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Georgia Citizens for the Arts, Atlanta Zoo, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden among many other community groups. Scope and ContentThis collection contains family photographs and correspondence, radio broadcasting scripts and fan mail, family files regarding charitable activities, real estate, and fruit farming. It also includes scrapbooks and school ephemera, plats, plans and topographic maps of various properties and buildings. Administrative InformationPreferred Citation[Item, box, folder], Smithgall family papers, ms4462, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries. Related Materials and SubjectsSubject TermsRelated Collections in Other Repositories | ||||||||||||||||||||