In recent years, the budget of the Georgia Archives has been reduced so severely that the facility has had to cut public access back from five days a week to two, as well as cut staff by more than half. The Archives are now open the fewest number of hours of any state archives in the nation. Georgia citizens deserve a funded, functioning State Archives. The Archives holds deeds, mortgages, court records, legislative records, marriage and birth records, and many other documents that Georgians depend on to protect their health, their property, and their civil rights.

The reputation of this once nationally-respected institution has been tarnished by a critical shortage of staff, funding and limited hours. If another budget cut occurs, the Georgia Archives will be unable to fulfill its mission to the citizens and taxpayers of Georgia.

How You Can Help:

Contact your legislator today!  Below you'll find a template letter, as well as the information packet.  Continue to watch this space for additional resources, including tips on talking to researchers and other potential supporters about this issue.

SGA Actions to Date:

We've been asking SGA members to contact their representatives to discuss this vital issue and ask for support for the Archives.  On January 9, 2012, SGA Outreach Co-Managers Courtney Chartier and Sarah Quigley, along with SGA President Marie Force and Coalition Co-Chair Kenneth Thomas met with Senator Jason Carter.  In preparation for the meeting, Marie Force put together a wonderful information packet that you can send to your own legislators.  Our meeting with Senator Carter proved fruitful in helping us better understand how to reach our representatives and provide them with the information they need to support us.

On January 24, 2012, the Friends of Georgia Archives and History hosted a legislative breakfast in Secretary of State Brian Kemp's Office.  Marie's presentations were on hand, and we had a fine turnout from the archives, genealogy and history communities, and many state legislators dropped by for coffee and a chat.  At the breakfast meeting, we learned from Secretary Kemp that the Archives rent increase has been funded for FY 2012.  This was great news, and will help the Archives tremendously, but our work isn't done.

Resources:

Letter Template

History of the budget crisis (for distribution to legislators)