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Resurgens Atlanta documents

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.MSS659

Scope and Contents

This collection documents Resurgens Atlanta’s operations, committee membership, and executive board activities. Material includes by-laws, meetings notes and minutes, attendance records, and correspondence from members and prospective members that contain applications, resumes, and invitations to social events. In addition, there are financial records such as bank statements and invoices that detail administrative costs, no-show fees, and bills. Of particular note are booklets and correspondence about proposed costs, panel members, and breakout session topics from Resurgens conferences. Also of note are audio cassettes and transcripts of interviews from the Resurgens Atlanta History Project, an oral history project with former club leaders.

Dates

  • 1970-1986, undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright.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

Biographical / Historical

Resurgens Atlanta was founded in November 1968 as a multi-racial civic organization that brought together Atlanta business leaders. It promoted awareness of racial diversity and issues related to urban sprawl through conferences and social events. The club had 100 members, half of whom were Black, and half of whom were white. Members met monthly at lunch meetings that were open to current and prospective members; meetings included a guest speaker or an informal debate. The club also held social networking events. Resurgens Atlanta awarded the Race Relations Award to Atlantans who demonstrated commitment to strengthening race relations in the city. Awardees include architect Cecil Alexander (1918-2013), Supreme Court Justice Charles Weltner (1927-1992), and Dr. Charles King Jr. (1925-1991).

On March 3, 1972, Resurgens Atlanta President David Houser (1936-2020) led a conference titled “Which Way Atlanta?” on “white flight” to the suburbs and its social, economic, and political implications. Then Director of Central Atlanta Progress Sam A. Williams (1943- ) presented on demographic, social, and economical trends. Following his presentation, there was a panel discussion with Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. (1911-2003), author and activist Coretta Scott King (1927-2006), and President of the Atlanta School Board and civil rights activist, Dr. Benjamin Mays (1894-1984). On May 26, 1981, President Beverly B. Bates (1938- ) led a conference titled “Racial Polarization in Atlanta," which focused on the belief that community problems revolved around race, and whether the idea was widening the racial divide. Carl Holman (1918-1988) and Jack Hearn Watson Jr. (1938- ) were keynote speakers.

Extent

1.251 linear ft. (three document cases and nine audio cassettes)

Language

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically by titles supplied by staff.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Audio recordings were made on cassettes and can be made accessible only through conversion to digital surrogates. Patrons who request access to the audio content in this collection are responsible for digital conversion costs.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, 1987

Bias in Description

As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information. We choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, and bias is reflected in our descriptions, which may not accurately convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materials. Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment. In working with this collection, we often re-use language used by the former owners of the material. This language provides context but often includes bias and prejudices reflective of the time in which it was created. The Kenan Research Center’s work is ongoing to implement reparative language where Library of Congress subject terms are inaccurate and obsolete.

Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or descriptions, please let us know by emailing reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.

Processing Information

This collection was re-processed in 2023.

Title
Resurgens Atlanta documents
Subtitle
ahc.MSS659
Author
Erica Freed
Date
February 2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

Contact:
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Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040