Georgia State Society Records

Georgia State Society Records

Descriptive Summary

Title: Georgia State Society Records
Creator: Georgia State Society
Inclusive Dates: 1916-2008
Language(s): English
Extent: 9 Linear Feet 9 records containers
Collection Number: RBRL/551
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: The Georgia State Society is a social nonprofit organization that aimed to promote friendly relations among Georgians through service and prominent annual events such as the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the Georgia Products Dinner.The Georgia State Society Records contain administrative files, correspondence, event ephemera, photographs, scrapbooks, and artifacts documenting the activities of the Georgia State Society from its establishment in 1885 to the present day.

Collection Description

Historical Note

The Georgia State Society is a nonprofit social organization whose membership includes Georgians and friends of Georgians living and working in Washington, D.C. First established in 1885 the Georgia State Society is the oldest state society in continuous operation in Washington, D.C. and is one of many organizations that comprise the National Conference of State Societies. The aim of the organization is to promote friendly relations among Georgians as well as provide service to Georgians in need in the Washington D.C. area. The Society's major events include the Cherry Blossom Festival and coronation as well as the Georgia Products Dinner, both occurring annually.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival has its origins in the planting of two cherry blossom trees on the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C. on March 27, 1912. First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda Iwa, wife of the Japanese Ambassador Chinda Sutemi, each planted a cherry blossom tree on the northern bank of the Potomac River as a token of friendship between the people of Japan and the United States. The first National Cherry Blossom Festival was held in 1927, coordinated by the Greater Washington Cherry Blossom Festival Committee, Inc. Each U.S. state and territory, represented by their respective state society, selects a Cherry Blossom Princess to participate in festival activities. At the Grand Ball at the end of the week's festivities, a Queen is chosen at random by spinning a wheel. The resulting Queen receives many honors, including a trip to Japan.

The Georgia Products Dinner is an annual event that serves Georgia-grown and Georgia-manufactured products to hundreds of guests with the aim of emphasizing the possibilities of Georgia's resources. The event began in the early 20th century and inspired multiple local product dinners throughout the state of Georgia.

Scope and Content

The Georgia State Society Records contain administrative files, correspondence, event ephemera, photographs, scrapbooks, and artifacts documenting the activities of the Georgia State Society. The bulk of the collection pertains to the National Cherry Blossom Festival, containing programs, pamphlets, biographies of the Cherry Blossom Princesses and Queens, photographs, and artifacts.

The bulk of the correspondence documents the Society's history under the leadership of Mrs. Leone Buchholz (Mrs. H. F. Buchholz), including her feud with Congressman Robert Stephens. A smaller collection of correspondence originates from Patience Russell Peterson's tenure as president of the Society. Cherry Blossom Festival photos cover a period from roughly the 1960s through the 1990s.

Organization and Arrangement

This collection is arranged in three series:

Series I: Files and Correspondence Series II: Photographs and Scrapbooks Series III: Artifacts


Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Georgia State Society Records. Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Copyright Information

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.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms


Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

Series I: Files and Correspondence

boxfolder
0101[Tourism Documents], undated
0102[Photographs, Cherry Blossom Festival], undated
0103[Correspondence, Mrs. James W. Thurston], 1931-1935
0104[Correspondence, Mrs. James W. Thurston], 1935-1949
0105Congressional Dinner, February 6, 1968
0106[Photographs and Contact Sheets], undated
0107[Correspondence and Officer Lists[, 1916-1929
0108Mrs. Buchholz [National Conference of State Societies Notes], 1973
0109National Conference of State Societies, 60th Anniversary, 2008
0110[Historical Materials and Scanned Copies], 1998
0111Record Book, 1930-1935
0112[Correspondence (1 of 3)], 1929-1953
0113[Correspondence (2 of 3)], 1929-1953
0114[Correspondence (3 of 3)], 1929-1953
0115[Notes], 1929-1930
0116[Invitation], 1926-1974
0117[Membership], 1928-1966
0118[Finances], 1934-1940
0119Georgia State Society Events, 2010-2011
0120[Correspondence], 1926-1941
0121[Scholarship], 1991
0122[Newspaper Clippings and Event Ephemera], 1930-1947
0123Georgia Products Dinner, 1968
0124GA. State Society, 1971-1973
0125National Conference of State Societies, 1972
0126Georgia State Society, 1971
0127[Scrapbook Materials], 1937-1940
0128[Membership and Donations], 1935-1975
0129[Finances], 1964-1965
0130Georgia State Society Records, 1966-1967
0131[Correspondence (1 of 2)], 1940-1968
0132[Correspondence (2 of 2)], 1930-1968
0101Ledger, 1968-1983
boxfolder
0201Stone Precinct Committee Workers (Elliott Hagan, President), 1969
0202Georgia Products Dinner Responses (Carl Hancock, President), 1967
0203Georgia State Society (Elliott Hagan, President), 1969
0204[Correspondence], 1935-1964
0205[Correspondence], 1926-1973
0206[Society Documents], 1948-1971
0207[Society Documents], 1962-1991
0208[Event Arrangements and Expenses], 1939-1968
0209[Event Arrangements and Expenses], 1948-1973
0210[Tributes to Mayor Dennis (M.D.) Mobley], 1972
0211[Leone Buchholz Correspondence with Robert G. Stephens], 1965
0212[Cherry Blossom Festival], 1962-1972
0213[Cherry Blossom Festival], 1949-1977
0214Photographs, 1951-1969
0215[Cherry Blossom Festival Photos], circa 1945
0216[Correspondence, Invitations, Photo Negatives, and Organizational History], 1948-1973
0217[Cherry Blossom Festival Photos], [1959]-1972
0218[Alexander Stephens Statue Unveiling], undated
0219[Cherry Blossom Festival], 1959-1972
0220[Annual Dinner Dance and Crowning Ceremony], 1968
0221Annual Business Meeting and Georgia Products Dinner, 1967
0222"Our Georgia" by James B. Burch, 1962
0223[Cherry Blossom Festival Parade Photos], undated
0224[Cherry Blossom Festival], 1975
0225[Cherry Blossom Festival], 1972-1976
0226Georgia Products Dinner (Leone Buchholz, President), February 2, 1962
0227Ramspeck Dinner, 1961
0228Cherry Blossom Festival, 1962
0229Cherry Blossom Festival, 1960-1961
0230Georgia Products Dinner, Cherry Blossom Festival, Congressional Letters, 1960-1962
boxfolder
0301Georgia State Society Information on Float, 1970
0302Crowning Ceremony, April 1, 1972
0303Congressional Reception, March 16, 1972
0304Fund Raising for Float, 1972
0305Schedule of Events Cherry Blossom Festival, April 1-9, 1972
0306General Correspondence, 1972
0307Membership Lists, 1971-1972
0308Princess Biography, 1972
0309Press Coverage, 1972
0310Georgia Products Dinner, 1972-1973
0311Georgia State Society, Financial Statements, 1974
0312Georgia State Society, Picnic, 1974
0313Conference of State Societies, 1974
0314Georgia State Society, Executive Meetings, 1974
0315Georgia State Society, Miscellaneous, 1974
0316Georgia State Society, Cherry Blossom Festival, 1974
0317Georgia State Society, Congressional Reception, 1974
0318Georgia State Society, Georgia Products Dinner, 1974
0319Bylaws Georgia State Society, 1970-1971
0320Georgia Products Dinner, November 19, 1971
0321Georgia State Society Float (Financing), 1971
0322Georgia State Society Information on Float, 1971
0323Georgia State Society, National Conference of State Societies, 1971
0324Georgia State Society, Notices of Meetings, 1971
0325Georgia State Society, Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1971
0326[Cherry Blossom Festival and Dinner], 1931-1997
0327[Event invitations and Membership Invitations], 1985-2003
03281987 Cherry Blossom Festival, 1980-1987
0329Georgia State Society 1996-1997 Board Members, 1984-1997
0330[Cherry Blossom Programs Notes on Princesses], 1987-1996
0331[Membership (1 of 2)], 1927-1967
0332[Membership (2 of 2)], 1927-1967
0333[Events], 1948-1977
0334[Invitations], 1935-1972
0335Official Cherry Blossom Princess Pictures, 1969
0336[The Red and Black Newspaper], April 15, 1969
0337[Documents From the Financial Secretary], 1925-1969
0338All-States Rally, 1943
0339Minutes - National Conference of State Societies, 1943-1967
0340Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Dinner Dance Reservations, 1973
0341Georgia State Society, Treasurers Reports Etc., 1966-1968
0342Membership and Financial Reports, 1967-1969
0343Cherry Blossom Festival, 1973
0344Georgia State Society Square Dance`, July 27, 1973
0345Georgia State Society Master List, 1972-1973
0346Congressional Reception, January 19, 1973
0347Georgia Products Dinner, November 30, 1973
0348Georgia State Society, General Correspondence, 1973
0349Georgia State Society - Thank You Letters for Float Contributions, 1973
0350[Finances], 1976-1995
0351[Notes], 1944-1996
0352[Membership], 1965-1998
0353[Cherry Blossom Princesses], 1963-1998
0354[Georgia State Society Scholarship], 1990
0355History of the Georgia State Society of Washington, D.C., 1967
0356Fort Hunt Park Picnic, 1988
0357Products Dinner, 1963-1988
0358[Events], 1938-1998
0359[Membership Lists], 1928-1929
0360[Event Ephemera], 1930-1970
0361[Notes], undated
0362The Truxtun-Decatur Naval Museum, April 1965
0363[Photographs], 1963
 

Series II: Photographs and Scrapbooks

boxitem
0401Scrapbook, 1931-1938
boxitem
0501Scrapbook, 1981-1986
boxfolder
0601Georgia Society, Tea at the Chadwicks, Jill and Jay (Thurston), undated
0602Cherry Blossom Princess and Court, undated
0603[Cherry Blossom Princess, with Sam Nunn], circa 1980s
0604[Event at United States Botanic Gardens], February 7, 1989
0605[Event at United States Botanic Gardens], February 7, 1989
0606[Cherry Blossom Festival], undated
0607Cherry Blossom Festival, Crowning Ceremony, April 7, 1969
0608Float, undated
0609Grace Kempton Fish Fry, undated
0610[Georgia State Society Princesses], May 1968
0611Crowning Georgia Cherry Blossom Princess, undated
0612Georgia Democratic Float, undated
0613[Negatives], undated
boxfolder
0701[Cherry Blossom Princess Programs], 1960-1998
0701Cherry Blossom Princess Photo Album, 1998
0702Cherry Blossom Princess Photo Album, 1998
0703Cherry Blossom Princess Photo Album, 1986
0704Cherry Blossom Princess Photo Album, undated
0705Cherry Blossom Princess Photo Album, undated
boxitem
0801Newspaper Clippings, 1923-1974
 

Series III: Artifacts

boxitem
09011879 Flag of Georgia, undated
0902Gold Tassels, undated
0903Red Delta Air Lines Bag, undated
0904Japanese Paper Fan, undated
0905Japanese Paper Fan, undated

Special Collections Libraries
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-1641