Special
Collections possesses numerous manuscripts, photographs, recordings,
newspapers, and vertical files that directly or indirectly relate to women’s
studies. Significant collections include the Flannery O’Connor collection,
university archives that describe life at Georgia College for students,
faculty/staff, and administrators, and our small manuscripts (local history)
collection.
Collection
strengths include Georgia women, women living in Milledgeville/Baldwin County
and contiguous counties, students, faculty/staff at Georgia College, alumnae
such as Flannery O’Connor, and teachers of Peabody Model School.
Educational
records abound in Special Collections. Former student collections and
teacher/professor collections are numerous.
Of
Special note:
Mary
Flannery O’Connor attended school at Georgia State College for Women from 1942
until 1945. She went on to write short stories and the novels, Wise Blood and The Violent Bear it Away.
During
World War II, the W.A.V.E.S. (Women Accepted for Auxiliary Service) were housed
and trained on the GSCW campus from 1943 through 1945. Barbara Chandler was a member of the W.A.V.E.S. Her
uniforms and scrapbook are stored in Special Collections.
The Golden Slipper theatrical competition was initiated by Ethel Adams in
1935 to inspire camaraderie and lasted until the 1970s.