What an exciting new school year! As a graduate Research Assistant for the University of Georgia-Center for Public History, I began working on New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music exhibition before classes even started. On Friday, August 19, Dr. Ann McCleary, project scholar, Mollie Marlow, our other New Harmonies student and I hit the road for Macon and the state meeting of exhibit hosts. The meeting was sure to be action-packed as the New Harmonies hosts learned how amazing the exhibit will be for their hometown. I am new to the project but I knew that the two day meeting would offer up a lot of information and it did! The first day alone we learned about: the economic impact of the tour, historic African-American communities and so much more! After all of that, I was still so ready to learn more!
But first it was time for a mental break. I already felt like one of the crowd. “Miss Molly”, the trolley, picked us all up at the hotel and we headed towards The Big House Museum, former home of The Allman Brothers Band. I never truly listened to The Allman Brothers (even though my dad is a huge fan) but after our visit to their museum and I talked with the director, I now enjoy their music. The museum had everything from their guitars to their psychedelic wall art. What a fun visit! Then we proceeded to the Tic-Toc Room, the place where Little Richard got his start. During dinner, Mick Kinney of the string band “The Georgia Crackers” performed and talked about his music. It was a great end to a long day.
By the second day of the meeting, I was ready to learn more and boy did I! I was very excited to hear from people like Dr. Ethan Sharpe who spoke at the meeting about how to connect with the Latino Community and their music as well as Ahmad Mayes from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra who will partner with the Georgia Humanities Council on New Harmonies.
I am absolutely sure every person walked away with some helpful information on how to make this exhibit a success. On the drive back to Carrollton, I could not help but think how excited I was to working on this project. Now, going into my fourth week of Graduate School, I can say that I love my future profession and Georgia’s New Harmonies will always be on my mind.
-- Sarah Elliott Foreman, Carrollton, Georgia
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