This is my first peer-reviewed academic article, and I hope it will be the first of many!

The full article can be found here: atlantastudies.org/2025/10/20/c...

Using this story, I explore civic boosterism, white flight, and the rise of Atlanta’s suburbs. Researching this forgotten peace of Cobb County history was a great experience, and I am glad this story can now be shared with the world.

Mr. Williams helped to introduce me to the world of rare books, and has been a important part of my time at KSU. It is exciting to see his name will be an integral part of the school for years to come!

While working at the KSU Archives last week, I was scanning some slides from SPSU and ran across this good photo of the door. I made a copy, hoping that someone might have a clue about its whereabouts.

Has anyone seen this doorway? (7/7)

Bealy Smith evidently saved this doorway, but it was never used at SPSU, and I have been unable to find out what happened to it after the 1980s. (6/7)

Notably, Henry W. Grady had his offices in this building during the most important years of his career.
In 1947, the 1883 Constitution building was replaced by a new Atlanta Constitution building across the street, and the old building was demolished in 1967. (5/7)

According to records from the library, the head librarian also considered acquiring this doorway for the Johnson Library. It belonged to the old headquarters of the Atlanta Constitution, which opened in 1883 near what is today the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center. (4/7)

All of the pieces came from Bealy Smith, an Atlanta collector who worked to save various pieces of Atlanta's architectural heritage as buildings were demolished downtown in the 1960s and 1970s. (3/7)

Many of these pieces are still part of the building today, though a few are now stored in the KSU Archives. (2/7)

I meant for this to be posted on my
@archiveofthepast.bsky.social
account, but I will also leave it here because it is cool.

Image: [Lantern slide of Merchants National Bank Building] (date unknown). From the Andrew J. Bramlett Collection.

This picture clearly shows the large stained-glass windows on the façade, but what is not seen is the massive skylight. It was almost demolished in 1968, but after public outcry, the building was restored in 1972.