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Continuing Education, College in the Country records

 Collection
Identifier: UA-0005-1005

Scope and Contents note

This collection contains the records pertaining to the educational outreach program, College in the Country, at the West Georgia College which existed from 1949 to the 1960s. These records contain various publications by and about the program.

The collection consists of clippings, magazines, newsletters, news releases, notebooks, photographs, postcards, posters, programs, publications, radio interviews, a report, and a thesis. Also included in the collection are three metal printing plates used to promote the program to the community.

Dates

  • 1942-1972

Creator

Conditions Governing Access note

Open to all users; no restrictions

Conditions Governing Use note

Rights have been transferred to the University of West Georgia.

Biographical/Historical note

This collection forms part of the records of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

College in the Country, an informal non-credit adult education program, was founded in 1949. The idea for College in the Country began as a request to J. Carson Pritchard, West Georgia College chaplain and Yeoman’s successor as the adult education director, to teach bible classes to the Mountain View-Garrett’s Chapel Community Improvement Club in Smithfield, located in northwest corner of Carroll County. Attendees of the class expressed interest in learning about a variety of topics.

President Irvine S. Ingram taught the first official College in the Country class, a lecture on the history of Carroll County, which was held at Smithfield Elementary School. At the end of the lecture, attendees listed other topics that interested them.

The College in the Country program, as part of Continuing Education, organized classes on topics varying from religious studies to courses about history, politics and government, communism, world events, art appreciation, poetry, child development, and science. The regional librarian, Edith Foster utilized her “bookmobiles”—specialized automobiles full of books—to provide books for the courses. Instructors of the College in the Country courses included faculty members from West Georgia College, subject experts from all over Georgia, prominent members of the community, several government officials, and some authors. Visitors to West Georgia College, if from out of state or out of the country, would be asked to give a talk on their own community and customs to the program.

Participants in the College in the Country were often of a generation which lacked opportunities to continue their education because of the Depression and World War II. Students were presented a certificate when they completed a certain amount of coursework.

During 1951, interest in foreign farming techniques prompted the program to raise the funds and bring a young Indian farmer to Carrollton. Amar Singh stayed in Carrollton for several months talking to both white and African American farmers in the community. This visit was such a success that a year later, the Seth family, a young man and his wife, also from India were invited to stay in Carrollton for six months to also give talks and demonstrations.

Sometime during the 1960s or 1970s, the College in the Country ended as a distinct adult education initiative and its mission was folded back into Continuing Education.

Extent

1.76 Linear feet (2 boxes and 1 oversize box)

Language

English

Overview

This collection contains the records pertaining to the educational outreach program, College in the Country, at the West Georgia College which existed from 1949 to the 1960s.

Arrangement note

Arranged alphabetically by file title.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Transferred from the Continuing Education department at an unknown date.

Related Archival Materials note

Continuing Education audio recordings, UA-0005-1001 Continuing Education catalogs and other materials, UA-0005-1002 Continuing Education photographs and negatives, UA-0005-1003 Continuing Education, Adult Education records, UA-0005-1004 Continuing Education, Studycades records, UA-0005-1006 Irvine S. Ingram papers, UA-0002-01 Collus O. Johnson papers, MS-0020

Processing Information note

Processed by Jennifer Little in 2013.

Title
Guide to the Continuing Education, College in the Country records UA-0005-1005
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Written by Jennifer Little
Date
2013
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English

Repository Details

Part of the University of West Georgia Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Special Collections, Ingram Library
University of West Georgia
1601 Maple Street
Carrollton GA 30118-2000 United States