Sparks, George M. (McIntosh), 1907-1963
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No requestable containers
Scope and Content of the Series
This series, covering the period 1915-1957 dates from the university's beginning as Georgia School of Technology's Evening School of Commerce, through four decades to its independent status as Georgia State College of Business Administration. Though the bulk of the material dates in the 1950s, considerable information is present describing the school's development through the twenties, the Great Depression, and the war years (World War II and Korea) under the leadership of George Sparks.
Class schedules, student and faculty organizations, data on the physical plant, the development of various departments, faculty personnel records, and several types of public relations material constitute the bulk of these records.
Dates
- Creation: 1907-1963
Creator
- From the Collection: Georgia State University. Office of the President (Organization)
Restrictions on access
Series I, box 8 folder 120 is restricted. In addition, certain records or information is restricted by law. See University Archivist.
Biographical Note
George Sparks was born in Quitman, Georgia on November 19, 1889. He graduated from Lanier High School in Macon, and went on to earn his Masters degree and Doctor of Letters from Mercer University. While working as a journalist at the Macon Telegraph, Dr. Sparks met and married his wife, Mary Booth. The couple had four children. Sparks taught journalism at Mercer, and at Georgia Tech where, in 1924, he was put in charge of publicity and journalism. In 1928 he was appointed director of what was to become Georgia State College. Dr. Sparks served as director and president at the ever-growing Georgia State College for 29 years, retiring in 1957. He died on October 29, 1958.
Extent
17.9 Linear Feet (43 containers)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Organization of the Series
The records of the President Sparks' Office were received by University Archives in two groups. The first, comprising three filing cabinets, were retrieved from a locked cage in a custodial room in Sparks Hall, and were in their original order. These cabinets contained two alphabetical files, the division between the two being a name change of the university. The second group of records was rescued from a filing cabinet found on the main floor of Sparks Hall. It was clear that these records had been rifled through. As the material in this cabinet overlapped and continued that of the other cabinets, it was determined that the most appropriate arrangement for the material was to combine all the folders from all four cabinets into one alphabetical subject file. This basically retains the original order, and enhancesthe ability to locate a given file. A folder containg filing notes kept by the President's secretary introduces the combined records.
Any filing system maintained over as long a period as these records encompass will have inconsistencies in the filing of documents. Different secretaries place similar information under different headings. In using these files, the searcher should consider the various headings under which information could be filed. For example, information concerning moves, construction, and renovation was files under the name of the school at the time (e.g. Georgia Evening College: Building Authority). Similar data, however, was located under "Regents, Property."
Repository Details
Part of the Georgia State University Archives Repository
Georgia State University Library
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)
archives@gsu.edu