Atlanta History Center -. Libr

For much of the 20th century, Atlanta was a magnet drawing newcomers from around the nation. Atlanta's growth from a small Southern town to a Sunbelt colossus in many ways parallels the changes that shaped America during those 100 years: industrialization, technological innovation, suburbanization, and battles over racial equality. Largely overlooked in the Atlanta story, however, are the experiences of lesbians and gay men. In a city governed by powerful business interests and an ethos of Christian conservatism, gays and lesbians maneuvered in ways both large and small, public and private, to find personal happiness, professional fulfillment, and, eventually, a political voice. Until recently, Atlanta's gay and lesbian history survived and perished with the memories of the men and women who lived it. Now a small part of that history has been preserved in this collection of unforgettable images.

Atlanta, the thriving capital of the New South, has a rich and fascinating history. In Atlanta Scenes, authors Kimberly S. Blass and Michael Rose draw from the works of some of the city's earliest and finest photojournalists--Francis Price, Marion Johnson, Bill Wilson, and Kenneth Rogers--to bring that history to life. Atlanta Scenes documents some of the city's noteworthy events, personalities, and landmarks, many of which will be readily identifiable. The images range from the everyday (baseball games at Ponce de Leon Ballpark, boys on bicycles, and Humane Society dog rescues) to the eventful (the Gone with the Wind premiere, the deadly Winecoff Hotel fire, and the infamous Leo Frank trial). Many scenes reflect the iconography of the Old South, while others provide insight into the harsh realities of twentieth-century life. In this volume, well-crafted, artistic images blend with on-the-spot action shots.