Georgia Tech Alumnus Magazine Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: VAC359
This collection contains black and white photographs used in the Georgia Tech Alumnus magazine, 1927-1975. The collection documents activities at Georgia Tech with photographs of students, athletics, events, faculty, research, alumni, and Tech buildings.
approximately 945 photographs
None.
Permission to publish materials from this collection must be obtained from the Head of Archives and Special Collections.
2 Linear Feet
The Georgia Tech Alumnus Magazine Photograph Collection contains black and white photographs from the Georgia Tech Alumnus, 1927-1975. The collection includes photographs used in the magazine as well as unused images left over from photo shoots. The unused photographs usually are similar to the images that appeared in publication.
The photographs in this collection were taken to illustrate articles informing alumni of Georgia Tech events and as such they document life at Georgia Tech--students, athletics, events, faculty, research, alumni, and the Tech campus. The Georgia Tech Alumnus usually had at least one photographer on staff, or contracted, so the majority of the photographs were taken specifically for the magazine. Although most of the images are individual prints, there are a few contact sheets as well.
With the exception of two photos of the Alumni-Faculty House committee that appear in the new version of the magazine in 1975, all the photographs are from the original publication known as the Georgia Tech Alumnus.
The first recorded meeting of a Georgia Tech alumni association was held in 1896. Georgia Tech's first graduate, Henry L. Smith (ME '90), invited former classmates to join him at his home to discuss the idea of an alumni association. Together, they drafted the first set of by-laws in 1898. In 1906, a petition for a charter was produced, and it was granted on June 20, 1908. In 1919, reorganization occurred and new by-laws were drafted under the name of the Georgia Tech National Alumni Association, under the leadership of W. H. Glenn (1891).
In 1922, Albert H. Staton (ME '22) was hired as the first executive secretary. He also served as the editor of the Georgia Tech Alumnus magazine, which made its debut in March 1923. During the mid-twentieth century, the magazine defined its mission with this statement: "To serve as the continuing connecting link between the Institute and its alumni and to help maintain their interest in its growth, its successes, and its problems. The magazine also is used to keep the alumni advised about the Alumni Association and its services and needs."
Robert B. (Bob) Wallace, Jr. (1921-1970), Georgia Tech Alumnus' longest-serving editor, headed the magazine from 1953 until his untimely death in 1970. While Wallace was editor, the magazine was one of the most honored college publications in the country. During his tenure the publication won more than forty national awards.
In 1973, in a tough economic climate, the Alumni Association decided to end publication of the Georgia Tech Alumnus. In the final issue (Summer 1973) it was stated that Tech Topics, the publication sent to all alumni, was a better value than the Alumnus which was sent only to roll call contributors. However, in 1975, the magazine resumed publication under the name Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine.
The photographs are organized into seven series: Athletics, Campus/Buildings/Environs, Engineering Experiment Station, Engineering Extension Division, General Research, People, and Special Events and Traditions. Most of the series are organized further into sub-series. The sub-series are arranged alphabetically; item listings within these units are chronological.
Each image description is followed by a citation in brackets [year-volume-issue-page]. This citation provides the location of the image in the magazine. Any citation followed by "-S" indicates that the image is similar to the image found on that page. Usually this suffix is applied when there are unpublished photographs from a photo shoot. Any lower case letter following the page number portion of the citation (i.e. "-44a" or "-10c"), indicates the location on the page. Multiple images on one page are usually labeled from left to right, top to bottom.
A print copy of this finding aid is available in the Georgia Tech Archives reading room.
Accession #1985.1008
approximately 945 photographs
Mandi D. Johnson processed these photographs in January 2009.
Part of the Archives and Special Collections, Library, Georgia Institute of Technology Repository