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Central Atlanta Progress, Inc. Records

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.MSS591

Scope and Contents of the Records

This collection consists primarily of the records of Central Atlanta Progress, Inc. The collection includes a small amount of material (1929-1952) from predecessor organizations: Central Atlanta Improvement Association, Greater Atlanta for Annexation, Inc, and the Central Marietta Street Association. The collection also includes early correspondence regarding the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad and the construction of viaducts and bridges in downtown Atlanta in the 1920s and 1930s. The bulk of the collection in Series II through IV consists of the records of Central Atlanta Progress from the early 1960s to 1994. Included in this core of material are records documenting the administration of Dan E. Sweat, Jr. was president of CAP from 1973 to 1988. The records consist of administrative files, financial records, and project files, which include correspondence, publications, clippings, reports and architectural material regarding the activities and projects in which CAP was involved. The collection provides information on Atlanta municipal government, urban development, transportation, housing, and human services.

Dates

  • 1924-1994, undated

Creator

Restrictions on Access:

This collection is open for research.

Restrictions on Use:

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. All requests to publish, quote, or reproduce must be submitted through the Kenan Research Center.

Administrative/Biographical History

Central Atlanta Progress, Inc. (CAP) is a private nonprofit community development organization providing leadership, programs and services to preserve and strengthen the economic vitality of Downtown Atlanta. It is funded through the investment of businesses and institutions. Now governed by a board of directors of Downtown’s top business leaders, the organization was also governed by an executive board and an officers’ board. It is maintained by a paid staff that includes the president. One of the most influential men to hold the position of president was Dan E. Sweat, Jr., who was president from 1973 to 1988. Committees include a finance committee and a nominating committee. An annual meeting is held.

CAP was formed in 1967 from a merger of the Central Atlanta Improvement Association (chartered in 1941) and the Uptown Association (formed in 1960 to promote the Ponce de Leon Avenue and North Avenue corridor). CAP conducted its first comprehensive planning project, the Central Area Study (CAS) with a focus on transportation issues, in 1971. In 1985-1986 CAP participated in a second Central Area Study (CAS II) which focused on quality of life issues in the metro area. A third comprehensive planning project, the Central Atlanta Action Plan, was completed in 1999. CAP has formed or sponsored numerous spin-off organizations, the most prominent of which are: Capacity, Inc., a special purpose, non-profit corporation sponsored by and affiliated with CAP and designed to qualify as a public, tax-exempt, charitable organization; Central Atlanta Civic Development, Inc., a private non-profit corporation owned by CAP; and Park Central Communities, Inc., a private for-profit development corporation. Park Central Communities was a stock company with Central Atlanta Civic Development, Inc. owning 62.5% of the shares. Other spin-off organizations include Downtown Environmental Patrol (Atlanta Clean City Commission); Midtown Business Association (Midtown Alliance); Trees Atlanta; Underground Festival Development Company; Central Area Network for Jobs; Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID); COPA, Inc. (a real estate investment trust); and Downtown Transportation Management Association.

Extent

104.5 linear ft.

Language

English

Additional Description

Arrangement of the Papers

This collection is organized into four series: I. Records of predecessor organizations, arranged chronologically; II. Administrative files, arranged alphabetically by topic; III. Financial records, arranged alphabetically by topic; and IV. Project files, which are organized into ten subseries all arranged alphabetically by topic: 1) CAS/CAS II, 2) Economic development, 3) Education, 4) Housing, 5) Human Services, 6) Marketing, 7) Public Safety, 8) Transportation, 9) Urban Design, and 10) Related organizations and topics.

Acquisition Information:

Gift of Central Atlanta Progress, Inc., 1984 (1984.198), 1992 (1992.223)

Related Materials

Central Atlanta Progress, Inc. Photographs, VIS 139, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center.

Dan Sweat, Jr., Papers, P2002-06, Georgia Government Documentation Project. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University, Atlanta.

General Physical Description note

(250 document cases, 1 half document case and 1 oversize folder)

Processing Information:

Collection processed in 2009.

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Central Atlanta Progress, Inc. Records, 1924-1994, undatedahc.MSS 591
Author
Inventory prepared by Joan S. Clemens
Date
May 2009
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/
Contact:
130 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040