December 2011
57 posts
December 31, 1946
President Harry Truman officially proclaimed the end of World War II.
December 30, 1851
Businessman and philanthropist Asa Candler was born in Villa Rica, GA.
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December 29, 1847
GA Gov. George Towns signed an act changing the town of Atlanta to the city of Atlanta.
December 28, 1904
In an effort to raise cotton prices, GA farmers burned two million bales.
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December 27, 1942
Rachel Herndon became the first female African American lawyer in GA.
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December 26, 1939
Franklin D. Roosevelt was given a private viewing of Gone With The Wind at the White House.
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December 25, 1929
The Fox Theatre opened in Atlanta.
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December 24, 1827
Columbus, GA was incorporated.
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December 23, 1843
Marthasville (later renamed Atlanta) was incorporated.
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December 22, 1696
GA founder James Oglethorpe was born in London, England.
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December 21, 1946
GA politician Eugene Talmadge passed away in Atlanta.
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December 20, 1860
The Ordinance of Secession was passed in Charleston, making South Carolina the first state to secede.
December 19, 1839
GA Gov. Charles McDonald signed an act chartering the Georgia Historical Society.
December 18, 1886
Baseball great Ty Cobb was born in Banks County, GA.
December 17, 1859
GA Gov. Joseph E. Brown signed an act prohibiting free blacks from entering GA.
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GUEST BLOGGER - IZO
Hi friends! It’s Izo again. My good friends at the Atlanta History Center invited me back to blog – I jumped at the chance because that meant I got to visit the AHC again! Last night, I went to their new Holiday program, “The Holiday Spirit.” This Charles Dickens style family program transported me back in time! The “Journey Through Holidays Past” was the main event of the program. By...
December 16, 1861
GA Gov. Joseph E. Brown signed an act allowing married women to have their own bank accounts.
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December 15, 1939
Gone With the Wind premiered at Atlanta’s Loew’s Grand Theater.
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December 14, 1939
Clarke Gable arrived in Atlanta for the world premier of Gone With the Wind.
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FROM THE ARCHIVES
They’ve got fancy candies AND an endless variety of toys! And apparently they’re good for shotgun weddings too. c.1881
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December 13, 1989
Driving Miss Daisy (filmed in Atlanta) was released.
December 12, 1829
GA Gov. George Gilmer signed an act making it illegal to teach a slave or free black to read or write.
December 11, 1944
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” singer Brenda Mae Tarpley was born in Atlanta.
December 10, 1873
Atlanta’s Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception was dedicated.
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December 9, 1992
Chicago Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux signed with the Atlanta Braves.
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December 8, 1864
The Confederate flag was raised over Atlanta for the first time since Union occupation.
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Winecoff Hotel Fire
On December 7, 1946, Atlanta’s Winecoff Hotel (know today as the Ellis Hotel) was the scene of the deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history. Of the 280 guests staying in the hotel, 119 perished.
The fire, believed to have started on the third floor, began sometime around 3:00 AM. Due to poor design, the flames easily spread from floor to floor. The hotel lacked fire escapes, fire...
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December 7, 1941
Japan launched a surprise attack at Pearl Harbor.
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December 6, 1889
Atlanta businessman and philanthropist Robert W. Woodruff was born in Columbus, GA.
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December 5. 1877
Georgians voted 99,000 to 55,000 to keep Atlanta as state capital (rather than Milledgeville).