A Growing Interest In History in Northeast Georgia

Most of you know I'm a history nut, and some of you know I did a book simply called "Northeast Georgia: A History" that came out last November. I'm pleased to report the publisher has sold out, and they are in the first reprinting. Here in Gainesville some stores are sold out, but you can still find some at the Hall County Library. The Quinlan Visual Arts Center has some. I am told one of the chain bookstores has pulled some in from some other stores and they have a few. The books are still available locally.

I would like to think, of course, that book about the history of Northeast Georgia is selling well because it is a great book... but I honestly don't think that is what is going on. I think there is a growing interest in history in this region, and especially in local history. We see it in the growing number of people interested in genealogy, and we see it in the political arena.

But let me tell you what is most exciting to me: my experience with this book about the history of Northeast Georgia has been that a very large number of young adults are studying their history. College students. Young marrieds, who are not only reading the book themselves but also talking with their children about it. Newcomers to this area. I have been teaching a course on the history of Northeast Georgia at BULL! (the Brenau University Learning and Leisure Institute for those of you not familiar with BULLI) and the great majority of those students are relative newcomers. They are not only interested in the history of their new adopted home; they are learning about it.

If it is true there is a growing interest in our history, I honestly think we are the better off for it.

This is Gordon Sawyer, from a window on historic Green Street.