Atlanta in 50 Objects
A pink pig and a renegade cow. A movie prop and a Coke bottle. A Pulitzer Prize–winning book and a Nobel Prize–winning icon.
How do you tell the story of Atlanta in 50 objects? We decided the best experts were Atlantans themselves—residents who cheer the Braves and rue I–285 rush-hour traffic, who understand how Civil War losses and Civil Rights victories together helped forge the city’s unique identity. Atlanta History Center asked the public to submit what objects they think best represent their town. The parameters were broad: an object could also be a person, a place, an institution, or an idea. After receiving hundreds of submissions, History Center staff assembled a collection of fifty pieces that represent the themes identified by the public. In addition to items from our own collections, we have partnered with many local institutions and individuals to gather artifacts from around the city to tell this community–driven story.
Maynard Jackson
Jackson served eight years and returned for a third term in 1990. Before taking office, he announced his intention to give new people and new groups a voice in city government.
As a result, Jackson increased the number of women and minority city employees, created a system of Neighborhood Planning Units to influence zoning, and established policies that guaranteed minority-owned firms a substantial share of city business. Jackson’s willingness to address concerns of the city’s business establishment through compromise and cooperation ensured the economic development of the region.
This grandson of John Wesley Dobbs, the unofficial mayor of “Sweet Auburn” and founder of the Georgia Voters League, had deep roots in Atlanta and was a graduate of Morehouse College. Following Jackson’s death in 2003, the Atlanta airport, which he helped expand into the world’s busiest, was renamed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in his honor.
Maynard Jackson, ca. 1981. Courtesy of Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center