In early 2015, over 200 cubic feet of documents, ledgers, and other material from the Estate of Virginia Collier Dennis was donated to the Thomaston-Upson Archives in Thomaston, Georgia. The other material included a roll-top desk, large framed portraits, numerous photographs, and textiles. The desk and some of the portraits were put on display in the Archives meeting room. The Archives was selected because of the purpose of the facility and because much of the history represented in the collection related to Upson, Pike, and Lamar counties.
In May 2016, the Archives notified CHF the facility had neither the room nor the resources to handle the collection. Alternate facilities were examined and the best fit was found to be Georgia Historical Society in Savannah On July 26, 2016, Georgia Historical Society had the Collier Collection packaged and loaded on a truck for transfer to Savannah. It was delivered safely and unloaded the same day.
Georgia Historical Society is one of the oldest historical societies in the country. The building is impressive and its facilities are excellent. However, as the state historical society, much of its material is related to Savannah and coastal Georgia. The “Collier Collection” will give them over 100 years of material from the 1820s through the War between the States, World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. The collection includes deeds, legal documents, business and personal letters, farm information, textile mill documents, merchant records, and industrial reports that document the history of middle Georgia and a prominent family of that area. Many of the photographs and documents you have seen, or will see, posted here will be preserved at the Georgia Historical Society.
The Georgia Historical Society is excited to have the Collier Collection, and the Collier Heritage Foundation is excited for them to have it.
Click on this link to go to the Georgia Historical Society website. Don’t expect to find our donation listed for quite some time as it is being inventoried and cataloged.
Main Building of the Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia