Month: October 2010

6 Questions About…John O’Shea

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NAME: John O’Shea
POSITION: Special Collections Librarian
INSTITUTION: Augusta State University
How long have you lived in Augusta and how did you come to live there? I have lived in Augusta since the 1970s. I originally transferred and came to Augusta to finish college.
What is the focus of the archives/library/museum where you work? Augusta State University publications and documents, local history including some archival material from Augusta’s early history, genealogy materials and archival collections with a related focus.
What is your favorite thing in your holdings? I have many favorites, but I’d include the maps of the area that give a sense of what Augusta was like from its early history.
What aspect of archival work are you most interested in, especially for the future of the profession? Succinctly, preserving archival materials that are unique, significant and reflect what has happened in the past. Collections that are likely to be beneficial in the future.
What is your favorite bar or restaurant in Augusta and why? My favorite restaurant is the Village Deli on Wrightsboro Road in Daniel Village. It is across from Daniel Field which has a history going back to the early 1900s. The Village Deli has both interesting and eclectic pictures which reflect the history of the immediate area. Obviously I like the food. It’s close to Augusta State. It isn’t as close to the conference. 
What is the one thing that you think all SGA/SCAAers should do or see in Augusta? During the day, I suggest visiting the Augusta Canal Interpretative Center at Enterprise Mill.

What to See and Where to Visit: A Sampling of Augusta Area Institutions and Attractions for SGA’ers

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National Park Service Travel Itinerary for Historic Augusta http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/augusta/listsites.html
This online travel itinerary highlights 39 Augusta sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The website provides descriptions, maps, photographs, visitor information, and links for each place. Five essays interpret important themes including the city’s overall history, historic preservation, the African-American community, and religious institutions.
This is your 1 stop shop for all things historic in Augusta!

Augusta Museum of History and Augusta Visitors Center
http://www.augustamuseum.org/
Augusta’s home for history features a number of permanent exhibitions, including the award-winning Augusta’s Story – a 12,000-year journey through local history. The Children’s Discovery Gallery offers hands-on activities. An observation gallery allows visitors to see artifact conservation activities and much of the museum’s fascinating permanent collection. Hours: Thursday-Saturday: 10AM-5PM
Sunday: 1PM-5PM, closed Monday and legal holidays.
Augusta Riverwalk
 Located in downtown Augusta on Reynolds Street between 7th and 10th streets, Riverwalk is an integral part of the downtown Augusta revitalization project. Surrounded by shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels, and historic sites, in the mid 1980’s community leaders realized the potential for transforming the riverfront into a thriving business and tourist center. It took an act of Congress to breach the levee, which lines the shores of the Savannah River, and was completed in 1917 to protect the city from flooding. Ground breaking for the project was held in 1986 and today Riverwalk plays host to festivals, concerts, sporting events and holiday celebrations.
Morris Museum of Art
http://www.themorris.org/
Discover the fascinating story of painting in the South at the Morris Museum of Art, where you’ll find more than a dozen galleries devoted to the art and artists of the South. The museum includes antebellum portraits, Civil War illustrations, Southern impressionist paintings, landscapes, contemporary art and more. The museum presents changing exhibitions and educational programs, and features a research library and a museum shop.
Tuesday – Saturday: 10AM-5PM, Sunday: 12-5PM,  Free tours available every Sunday at 2:30PM.
Augusta State/ U.S. & Confederate Arsenal
http://www.aug.edu/public_relations/history/acaddays.html
The 72-acre former arsenal is now the campus of Augusta State University. The commandant’s house (circa 1829), now used for administrative offices, was the boyhood home of poet and novelist Stephen Vincent Benet. The university offers a helpful walking tour brochure on its many historic buildings.
Cedar Grove Cemetery
Land was allotted for Augusta¹s first “Colored Cemetery” in 1820. In continuous use until the 1960s, it is the final resting place of many notable black Augustans. With few tombstones and no record of specific gravesites previous to 1932, the individual histories of many are sadly lost.
Ezekiel Harris House Museum
Built in 1797 by a prominent tobacco merchant, this house is an outstanding example of 18th century architecture. Tuesday-Friday: by appointment, Saturday: 10AM-4:30PM.
Laurel and Hardy Museum, Harlem, GA
http://www.laurelandhardymuseum.org/
The only museum in the United States dedicated to one of the greatest movie comedy teams in history – Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Oliver Hardy was born in Harlem, GA. The museum is filed with memorabilia from all over the world, to include toys, figurines, posters and lots more. Movies are shown in Babe’s Bijou daily. The Harlem Visitors Information Center is housed in the museum.
10AM-4PM