Joseph and Isaac Winship were born in Massachusetts. in 1800 and 1802, respectively. They both moved to Georgia around 1825, settling first near Macon and later moving to Atlanta. In antebellum Atlanta, they owned and operated Winship Machine Works. During the war, Isaac moved to Griffin, while Joseph stayed in Atlanta. The machine works was destroyed during General William Sherman’s attack and occupation of Atlanta. The bulk of this collection comes from the Isaac Winship family, and his daughter, Anna Eliza Winship Flournoy. Isaac Winship( 1802 to 1885) married Martha Pearson Cook (1813 to 1882) in 1827. Their family included twelve children: Emory (b. 8 June 1829 d. 6 April 1888), Laura Ellen (b. 8 Sept. 1830 d. 29 Jan. 1856), Anna Eliza (b. 30 July 1832 d. 19 Nov. 1919), Ira (b. 15 May 1834 d. 1836), Martha Angelina (b. 28 Dec. 1835 d. unknown), Mary Cook (b. 25 Dec. 1837 d. unknown), Ida Louise (b. 27 Jan. 1840 d. unknown), Sarah Irene ( b. 7 June 1844 d.6 April 1873), Emily Lavina ( b. 16 May 1846 d. 27 Jan. 1908), Victoria Comer( b. 1849 d. 8 Feb. 1877), Isaac ( d. 2 Aug. 1854) and Nathan Robertson (b. 1856 d. unknown). After the Civil War, Isaac Winship raised his family in Macon, while maintaining a second home in Atlanta. Anna Eliza Winship married Josiah Asbury Flournoy in 1853. Their six children included Robert Flournoy, Martha Cook Flournoy, Mrs. Annie Laurie Flournoy Ayers, and Josiah Asbury Flournoy, Jr., Gertrude Flournoy, and Sarah.