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Gerald Garmon papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0081

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence both editorial and in the capacity of professor, notice of appointments, promotion notifications, notification of tenure, conference programs, photographs, and pamphlets.

Dates

  • 1970-1996

Creator

Conditions Governing Access note

Open to all users; no restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use note

As stipulated by U.S. copyright laws.

Biographical/Historical note

Gerald M. Garmon (1932-2015) was born in Washington, D.C., to Orion Meredith Garmon and Flora Hatch Garmon. He graduated from John Marshall High School in Richmond, Virginia, and attended the University of Richmond, receiving both bachelor’s and master’s degrees with a major in English. He married Mary Lucille Burnett in 1956. They had a son, Stephen Meredith, and daughter, Alizon Margaret. He began doctoral studies at the University of Virginia, then taught at North Carolina Wesleyan College, before completing his Ph.D. at Auburn University. He moved to Carrollton in 1967 to join the English Department faculty at what was then West Georgia College, where he taught for 29 years before retiring in 1996.

In addition to teaching an estimated 300 English classes over his career, he was instrumental in reviving the Georgia-South Carolina College English Association, organized several Tolkien symposia at Modern Language Association meetings, organized a conference, “The Word and World of Discovery,” in 1992, and was active with the American Association of University Professors, the West Georgia chapter of which he served as president. He authored a biography of the American poet, journalist, and editor, John Reuben Thompson, and his dissertation, Tragic Realism in English Literature, was published in 1988.

Garmon was active in the Carrollton Optimist Club for over 40 years, serving as the club’s newsletter editor, director of its annual Oratorical Contest, and twice serving terms as president. He was active with Common Cause and served as secretary of the West Georgia chapter. He was a founding board member of the West Georgia Credit Union, later absorbed into the Southern Credit Union. He served as president of the West Georgia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Gerald Garmon died from Alzheimer’s disease in 2015.

Extent

0.21 Linear feet (1 box)

Language

English

Overview

Correspondence, publications, books, photographs, and manuscripts collected by Dr. Gerald M. Garmon, Professor of English during his twenty-nine year career at West Georgia College.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Gifted to Special Collections by Alizon Garmon, May 2019.

Title
Guide to the Gerald Garmon Papers MS-0081
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Allison Perrigo
Date
2019
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