Olympic Anniversary Archive
In the spring and early summer of 2006, a group of Athenians began to organize a celebration to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, and to celebrate the special role played by Athens-Clarke County and the University of Georgia in those games.
Chris Mallet (BBA, `82) co-chair of the Athens Celebration Committee, approached the UGA Libraries, and specifically Jacquie Houston of the Science Library, herself a collector of Olympic memorabilia, to solicit the Libraries’ assistance. The committee wanted to tell the University’s part of the story with an exhibit that would be open to the public at the celebration on August 10, 2006.
Carol Bishop, Steven Brown, and Gilbert Head from the University Archives in the Hargrett Library put together a fabulous exhibit and were on hand at the event to answer questions. Jacquie Houston also brought pieces from her own collection and lent her expertise during the event as well. Mr. Mallet made arrangements for a copy of a commemorative video of the event to be placed in the UGA Archives. In March of 2008, Mr. Mallet delivered the video as well as a very generous check for $1000 from the celebration committee, to be used for maintenance of the UGA Archives collection.
The Libraries certainly appreciates the generosity of the Celebration Committee and their foresight to record the event for posterity. We certainly also appreciate their generous gift to help maintain the UGA Archives.
Chris Mallet, co-chair of the Athens Celebration Committee (L) presents
a check to William Gray Potter, University Librarian.
