The Center for Public History at the University of West Georgia is working on several projects related to music, textiles, and historic sites in Georgia. These include producing a CD of shape-note hymns, developing the West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail focusing on mill towns, assisting with the "New Harmonies" Smithsonian exhibit tour in Georgia, creating interpretive signs and materials for the Leake archaeological site, developing educational programs at Goldworth Farm, researching the history of Carl Sandburg National Historic Site, and creating an interactive kiosk about Georgia political leader Thomas B. Murphy. The Center is also working with Carrollton on interpretive signs about the city's former textile industry.

1. University of West Georgia’s
Center for Public History
CURRENT PROJECTS

2. REGIONAL MUSIC
 Jennifer Reid is continuing the Regional Music Project, begun by the Center in
2001. This fall, the Center is producing a CD comprised of the United Shape
Note Singers and the Associated Shape Note Singers performing traditional
shape-note hymns. The CD is available for purchase from the Center for Public
History.

3. WEST GEORGIA TEXTILE TRAIL
 Susan Frohlich, Keri Adams and Sam Stokes are working with Dr. Keith Hebert
and Dr. Ann Mccleary on the West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail. The West
Georgia Regional Textile Heritage Trail will be focusing on textile mill towns
along Highway 27. Susan has been focusing her research on Carrollton, GA and
looking at the textile sites in this city. It will focus on heritage tourism and
economic development in the West Georgia area by attracting tourists to the
textiles, but also to the shopping, restaurants, and hotels in the area. Sam has
been working on developing the Textile Heritage Trail website, which can be
accessed by going to westgatextiletrail.wordpress.com.

4. NEW HARMONIES
 Sarah Foreman and Mollie Marlow are working with Dr. Ann McCleary on the
Georgia tour of the Smithsonian’s “New Harmonies” exhibit. To provide context
for the state-wide program, Sarah and Mollie are researching Georgia’s music
traditions and assisting with the development of a print catalog and website to
accompany “New Harmonies.”

5. LEAKE INTERPRETIVE TRAIL TOUR
 Marcus Toft is serving as the project curator of the Leake Site Signage project.
Working in conjunction with Dr. Thomas Foster of the University of West
Georgia’s Waring Archaeology Lab, Marcus will assist with the development of
eighteen interpretive signs and three interpretive kiosk panels to be installed at
an important American Indian archeological site located along the Etowah River
southwest of Cartersville, Georgia. Jennifer Teeter is working with Dr. Keith
Hebert to develop the Leake website and podcasts, which will be used by
visitors visiting the Leake Site.

6. GOLDWORTH FARM
 Carla Ledgerwood is working with the Goldworth Farm Park to develop
educational programs as well as historic trails for the Goldworth Farm site. The
Goldworth Farm's mission is to preserve and interpret farm life in Carroll County
and the west Georgia region for the public, providing recreational and
educational programs and research opportunities in partnership with local
educational and governmental entities.

7. CARL SANDBURG NPS ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
 Donna Butler is working as an intern with the Center for Public History to assist
with the first phase of producing an Administrative History of the Carl Sandburg
National Historic Site, a new project being undertaken by the Center for Public
History in association with the Organization of American Historians and the
National Park Service. The primary focus of this phase is to develop the topics to
be covered in the Administrative History and to determine the best way to
organize the history, chronologically or thematically.

8. THOMAS B. MURPHY EXHIBIT KIOSK
 Jessica West is working with Dr. Keith Hebert to create an interactive kiosk
about the Honorable Thomas B. Murphy, who was Speaker of the House of
Representative of Georgia for twenty-eight years. This kiosk will utilize a touch-
screen interface which will allow guest to explore not only the life and times of
Tom Murphy, but also his political philosophy and his role in leading the state
through the immense social and economic changes that occurred in Georgia
throughout the latter half of the twentieth century. Matt is currently sifting through
the oral histories of Tom Murphy recounting his life and creating an index of the
specific topics which were discussed by Tom Murphy.

9. INTERPRETIVE SIGNS FOR THE CARROLLTON
COORDINATOR OF THE WEST GEORGIA TEXTILE HERITAGE TRAIL
 Keri Adams and Andy Carter are working in conjunction with the Carrollton Area
Convention and Visitors Bureau along with the City of Carrollton to interpret the
history of Carrollton's once prosperous textile industry. The five main interpretive
themes are centered around five important locations, which include Adamson
Square, Bradley Street, the historic train depot, Maple Street and Mandeville Mill
Lofts. The themes will focus on the role of cotton in the city and county, the
various textile industries, the industry leaders and the community and culture of
the mill workers and the mill village.
 For information about past projects at the Center for Public History, click here.