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Descriptive Summary |
| Title: Rotary Club of Athens Records |
| Creator:
Athens Rotary Club (Athens, Ga.)
|
| Inclusive Dates: 1927-2019 |
| Bulk Dates: 1955-2013 |
| Language(s): English |
| Extent:
13 box(es)
(13 linear feet, 1 audiovisual item, and 5.34 gigabytes)
|
| Collection Number: RBRL406 |
| Repository:
Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
|
| Abstract: The Rotary Club of Athens, Georgia was officially chartered by Rotary International on March 12, 1920. The records in this collection consist of administrative records, membership records, publications, district and international records, photographs, audiovisual recordings, artifacts, and other records documenting the organization's administrative, membership, programming, and philanthropic activities in Athens-Clarke County and its relationship with Georgia's Rotary districts and the broader Rotary International community between 1927 and 2017. |
Administrative History
The first steps to organize a Rotary club in Athens, Georgia began in December 1915, but it was not until four years later that an organizing committee was formally appointed. The committee met on January 6, 1920, and on March 12, 1920 the club received its official charter from Rotary International. Douglas Flanigen served as the organization's first president. The club was chartered with 25 members and had grown to 37 members by June 2. During its first year of existence, the Rotary Club of Athens played a significant role in the University of Georgia's $1 million War Memorial Fund and in a $200,000 local bond issue for schools, street paving, sewage system and other civic improvements in the city.
The Athens Rotary Foundation was established to fund its community service project goals. The foundation is funded by donations and fundraising events including an annual barbecue, fruit sale, golf tournament, and gala celebration. Foundation funds are regularly distributed through scholarships to local students, a school-district-wide dictionary presentation to third graders, and through awards to public safety personnel.
According to guiding principles of Rotary International, "the Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster (1) the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service; (2) high ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society; (3) the application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life; and (4) the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service."
Sources:
Rotary Club of Athens, http://athensgarotary.com/ (accessed March 29, 2018).
"Guiding Principles," My Rotary, http://my.rotary.org/en/guiding-principles (accessed March 29, 2018).
Scope and Content
The Rotary Club of Athens Records consist of correspondence, meeting minutes, officer and board of directors records, financial records, convention programs, governance documents, and other administrative records; membership records including attendance and semiannual reports; local club, district, and international publications; directories, newsletters, and other district records; photographs; audiovisual recordings; artifacts; and other materials documenting the organization's administrative, membership, programming, and philanthropic activities in Athens-Clarke County and its relationship with Georgia's Rotary districts and the broader Rotary International community between 1927 and 2019.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection is arranged in eight series: Series I. Administrative Records, Series II. Membership Records, Series III. Publications, Series IV. District Records, Series V. Photographs, Series VI. Audiovisual Recordings, Series VII. Artifacts, and Series VIII. Websites.
This collection is open for research.
This collection contains digital files. To access these files, please request the folders you would like through the finding aid using your research account. An archivist will be in contact with you to explain how to access the files. Please note that not all file formats are currently supported by the library for research use.
This collection contains audiovisual materials. Reference copies of the audiovisual recordings are available upon request. Research requests will be filled as soon as possible and will be dependent upon the condition of the recordings.
Rotary Club of Athens Records, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.
Before material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permissions. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.
Finding Aid Publication
Finding Aid prepared by Karin Johnston Dalton and Brandon Pieczko, 2018.
Subject Terms
Athens Rotary Club scrapbook (1927-1951), Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia.
Rotary Club of Athens Records, Digital Library of Georgia, University System of Georgia
Additional published histories of the Rotary Club of Athens and issues of the club's newsletter, Rotary News, have been individually cataloged and are available in the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library's Georgia Room.
