Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
The Georgia State Fair Macon, 1886-1960
Ed Johnson
Toby Graham & Ed JohnsonOnline History and Culture Updates: The Civil Rights Digital Library, The Digital Library of Georgia, and Georgia HomePLACEGOLD/GALILEO Annual Users Group ConferenceJuly 31, 2009
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Project Home Page
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Early Fair History
• Ancient predecessors• Started by Agricultural Society in 1846
– Stone Mountain, 1846-1849– Atlanta, 1850
• Moved to Macon in 1851– Old fairgrounds became POW camp in Civil War
• Moved to Central City Park in 1871
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Fair Committee, 1886
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Fairgrounds on 1889 Sanborn Map
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Macon Telegraph
October 25, 1908
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Eugene Ely’s Plane, 1911
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Fair Midway 1916
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Racial Segregation and the Fair
• Georgia State Colored Fair responded to restrictions imposed by Jim Crow laws
• Colored Fair operated 1906 to at least 1916• Main supporter was Richard R. Wright, Sr.
• Military officer, educator, businessman (1855-1947)• Similar to regular Fair but with unique events
– Ex-Slaves Day Reunion, started in 1910• Research on Colored Fair currently underway
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Fair Exhibits, 1920s
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Chicken Grill, 1935
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Advertising Fliers, 1939-1943
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Canning Demonstration, 1943
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Aerial View of Fair, 1949
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Livestock at the Fair, 1950s
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Award Winning Poultry, 1953
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
FFA & 4H Club, 1950s
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Fair Parade, 1951
Bicycle Safety
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Amusement Rides, 1950s
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Kids at the Fair, 1950s
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Cisco Kid at the Fair, 1951
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Daredevils of the 1950s
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Fair Midway at Night, 1960
Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State
Visit all the HomePLACE projects at DLG
http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu
Thanks for your attention
Questions?
Georgia HomePLACE is made possible by Federal LSTA funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia