Community Archives

The Community Archives, Digitization, Access, and Preservation Partnership, coordinated by Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections, is a collaborative project dedicated to preserving and making accessible the historical records of South Georgia’s diverse communities. Through partnerships with local historical societies, museums, libraries, and community organizations, the project provides support for the digitization, description, and online publication of unique archival materials that document the region’s rich cultural heritage. By aggregating and sharing these collections on a centralized platform, the Community Archives project aims to ensure the long-term preservation of local history while expanding public access to primary sources that might otherwise remain hidden or at risk. Explore the collections below to discover the stories, people, and organizations that have shaped the history of our region.

If your organization is interested in participating or would like more information, please see our Community Archives, Digitization, Access, and Preservation Partnership Flyer.

Lowndes County Historical Society and Museum (CA-001)

Founded in 1967, the Lowndes County Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the rich history of Valdosta and Lowndes County, Georgia. The Society operates the Lowndes County Historical Museum, housed in the historic former Carnegie Library at 305 West Central Avenue in downtown Valdosta. The museum features nearly 10,000 square feet of local history exhibits, research materials, and multiple outdoor displays. Welcoming over 6,000 visitors each year—including 2,000 local students—the museum also serves as a community hub, hosting meetings, guest speakers, and a wide variety of public programs and events.

 

Grady County Historical Society (CA-002)

The Grady County Historical Society Collection preserves and shares the documentary heritage of Grady County, Georgia, through a diverse array of digitized materials organized into multiple series. With content ranging from 19th-century church and school records to photographs, oral histories, and community ephemera, this collection offers rich insight into the cultural, religious, and educational life of Grady County. Developed in partnership with the Grady County Historical Society and supported by the Community Archives Digitization, Access, and Preservation Program, these materials are now accessible online for research, education, and community memory. Explore the series below to discover the stories and institutions that have shaped Grady County’s past and present.

 

Thomasville History Center Collection (CA-003)

The Thomasville History Center Collection represents an ongoing collaboration between the Thomasville History Center and Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections to digitize, preserve, and provide access to selected archival materials documenting the rich heritage of Thomasville and the Red Hills region. The History Center’s physical holdings encompass more than 500,000 artifacts and archival items—including historic structures and resources from the Flowers-Roberts House and Lapham-Patterson House. The Thomasville History Center was established in 1952 and has served the community as a steward of local history for over seventy years. Since opening its museum within the Flowers-Roberts House in 1972, the Center has played a vital role in preserving and interpreting the stories, people, and built environment of Thomasville and the surrounding Red Hills region.

Houseal Collection (Valdosta, Ga.) (CA-004)

The Houseal Collection documents the political, educational, and cultural history of Valdosta’s African American community through the personal papers, photographs, scrapbooks, legal records, writings, and digital media of Dr. Willie Houseal. A longtime educator, civil rights leader, and local politician, Dr. Houseal’s contributions offer unique insight into local struggles for voting rights, the development of public education, and the life of the Southside community. Developed in partnership with Dr. Houseal and Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections, the collection features materials spanning from the 1930s to the present, including significant series on Pinevale High School and the Valdosta Southside Living History Project. These resources support research and public understanding of underrepresented voices and pivotal moments in Valdosta’s history.

Bennet Collection (Brooks Counnty, Georgia) (CA-005)

The Bennet Collection preserves the personal papers, photographs, letters, memorabilia, and family histories of the Bennet family, early residents of Quitman and southern Georgia. Dating from 1826 to the late twentieth century, these digitized materials offer a window into the daily lives, travels, relationships, and experiences of several generations, including Oliver Winn Stevens, the Reverend William Baker Bennet, and Samuel Stevens Bennet. The collection includes letters, diary entries, photographs, genealogy notes, and other documents that reflect both the family’s legacy and the broader history of Quitman and Brooks County. Digitized and made available through the Community Archives project in partnership with the Bennet family, these resources are especially valuable to those interested in local history or genealogy.

Valdosta's Project Change, one of only four such programs set up in the nation was established in 1991 in order to help combat friction between different racial and ethnic groups. The mission of Valdosta Project Change was to dismantle institutional racism and encourage community empowerment through increased education and access to small business loans and homeownership opportunities. This collection features digitized copies of four Valdosta Project Change publicity scrapbooks covering the years 1997-2003. The scrapbooks hold newspapers clippings, predominately from the Valdosta Daily Times. This collection is property of the Lowndes County Historical Society and was digitized in coordination with the Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections in 2023.

Turner Center for the Arts Collection (CA-007)

The Turner Center for the Arts Collection presents select archival materials that document the Center’s enduring role in promoting creativity and cultural enrichment in Valdosta and South Georgia. Established in 1962, the Turner Center has grown into a vibrant community hub supporting diverse visual, literary, and performing arts through exhibitions, education, and outreach. This digital collection, developed in partnership with the Turner Center and Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections, features materials such as curated scrapbooks, photographs, and press clippings that illustrate the Center’s history, community engagement, and impact on the regional arts scene. Content will expand as additional materials are digitized, offering researchers and the public an evolving window into the creative life of the community.

Macedonia Community Collection (Morven, Ga.) (CA-008)

The Macedonia Community Collection document the rich history and heritage of the Macedonia Community in Morven, Brooks County, Georgia. Developed in partnership with the Macedonia Community Foundation and Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections, this collection brings together a variety of digitized materials—including photographs, family histories, memoirs, letters, folktales, books, and school reunion records—spanning from the 1880s to 2023. These resources capture the stories of local families, community milestones, and the cultural life of this historically significant African American community. The collection provides valuable insight into personal journeys, collective memory, and the broader regional history of Brooks County, preserving materials for both educational and genealogical research.

Quitman Brooks County Museum and Cultural Center Collection (CA-009)

The Quitman Brooks County Museum and Cultural Center Collection is the result of a partnership between the Museum and Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections to digitize, preserve, and share selected historical resources from Brooks County, Georgia. The Museum, located in the historic 1937 U.S. Post Office in downtown Quitman, is dedicated to collecting, interpreting, and exhibiting artifacts, documents, photographs, and memorabilia that reflect the cultural, educational, and civic life of the region. The digital collection features a selection of materials that illustrate Brooks County’s unique heritage and the contributions of its communities over time. These resources are made available to support research, education, and public engagement with local history.

Brooks County Historical Board Collection (CA-010) 

The Brooks County Historical Board Collection documents the work of the Brooks County Historical Board, an African American-led organization founded to preserve, celebrate, and share the rich heritage of Black communities in Brooks County, Georgia. The Board brings together local leaders, alumni, and advocates committed to historic preservation, education, and public engagement—especially through efforts to safeguard landmarks, collect oral histories, and highlight the achievements of African American residents. In partnership with Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections, this digital collection serves as a growing record of the Board’s activities and the community’s ongoing contributions. The collection currently features the Horne House Foundation series, with future additions anticipated as preservation efforts continue.

Mitchell County Genealogical Society (CA-011)

The Mitchell County Genealogical Society, Inc. is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Mitchell County, Georgia, with a special focus on genealogy, local families, and community heritage. Established in Camilla, the Society provides educational programs, maintains a resource library, and supports research through the collection and digitization of historical documents and ephemera. In partnership with Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections, this digital collection features unique materials contributed by the Society, beginning with a series of wedding invitations spanning 1935 to 1981. Together, these resources support genealogical research and promote a deeper understanding of the people and social fabric of southwest Georgia.

Berrien County Historical Foundation (CA-012)

The Berrien County Historical Foundation Collection is a partnership between the Foundation and Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections to digitize, preserve, and provide access to materials documenting the history and families of Berrien County, Georgia. Established in 1995, the Foundation is dedicated to promoting local history through educational programming, community projects, and stewardship of archival resources. This digital collection features family newsletters, community publications, and a large historical photograph archive that collectively capture the people, places, and events shaping Berrien County’s past and present. Key components include the Shaw Family Newsletters (1993–2019), the Old Berrien Newsletters (2007–2025), and the Berrien County, Georgia Historical Photograph Collection, which is accessible online and contains over 16,000 digitized images.

Hahira Historical Society (CA-013)

The Hahira Historical Society Collection is a collaborative effort between the Society and Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections to digitize, preserve, and share the historical resources of Hahira and northwest Lowndes County, Georgia. Founded to foster community pride and promote awareness of Hahira’s rich heritage, the Society collects photographs, documents, and artifacts that illustrate the area’s agricultural roots, local institutions, and changing social landscape. This digital collection features selections from the Society’s holdings, supporting genealogical research, public education, and community engagement with the history and traditions of Hahira.

Ray City Community Library Collection (CA-014)

The Ray City Community Library Collection is a collaborative digital project between the Ray City Community Library and Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections to preserve and share the unique local history of Ray City, Berrien County, and the surrounding area in South Georgia. The collection draws upon the library’s holdings and the work of local historians, including the Ray City History Project, to present photographs, documents, oral histories, and community records that document the lives, families, and events that have shaped Ray City. These digital resources support genealogical research, public education, and the broader preservation of regional heritage for current and future generations.