The UGA charter is on display during Founders Week, now through January 27 in the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library gallery of the Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries.
The Charter of the University of Georgia is one of the most significant documents in the history of America . Dated January 27, 1785, nine years after the Declaration of Independence and two and a half before the Constitution of the United States, it marks the earliest American example of the putting into practice of the principle that education is the responsibility of the state and should be state controlled.
To protect the ink of the parchment manuscript from further fading it is displayed to the public only once a year, during Founders Day activities.
Happy 232nd birthday UGA!