GHT 2015 Spring Summ

PERSPECTIVES ON THE COVER Junction of Forsyth and Peachtree Streets, Atlanta, Georgia, early 20th Century. From the GHS Collection of Postcards, MS 1361PC. We have nothing to Fear Spring/ Summer 2015 | Volume 9, Numbers 1 & 2 from the Past by W. Todd Groce, Ph.D. colleague recently told me about a student in Already, high school students in Colorado have protested against Poland who wrote to him before the fall of the Iron proposed curriculum revisions that stress only “positive” aspects Curtain begging for American history textbooks. of American history. Carrying signs inscribed “Teach us the This Polish student longed to read the whole story, truth,” they demanded to learn the whole story — not so they Awarts and all, of how freedom had evolved in the United States. could tear down their country, but so that they could improve it by learning from the past. The American approach to teaching history was very different from how he was being taught in his school, where Communist One of America’s greatest virtues is that our commitment to officials censored the past out of fear that open discussion might liberty has allowed us to grow as a nation. The Founders knew undermine their legitimacy. Only a government-approved history, that forming “a more perfect Union” and defining what it means one that was in no way critical of the Party or the country, was to be free would be an evolutionary process. It’s a measure of our permitted. This sanitized version was called “patriotism.” strength as a people, of our patriotism, that we have the capacity for self-reflection, self-criticism, and self-improvement. Conversely, here in the U.S. students are challenged to think critically about the past. Rather than merely memorizing What makes America exceptional is not that we are perfect, but government-approved facts and dates, they examine how events that when we misstep, we own up to it and keep striving toward and people have shaped the world we live in today. Learning how excellence. Unlike totalitarian regimes that use sanitized history to and why we got here—and using that knowledge to meet the reinforce their legitimacy, America draws its strength from open challenges of the future—requires us to look at our failures as and honest debate about its past, present, and future. Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr., Speaks with Demonstrators (1962 – 1970). From the Collection of Ed Jackson. well as our successes. Feature Story Page 11 – Business Leadership Helped Sing the Song of Tolerance There are reasonable objections to the new But will teaching students about “failure” undermine their curriculum, and I share some of them. But patriotism? If we focus only on success do we run the risk that fixing the problems can be accomplished TABLE OF CONTENTS they will lose respect for a country that cannot look honestly at without covering up the unpleasant its past? aspects of our past. We don’t need PERSPECTIVES INSIDE GHS to turn to censorship for the solution. 01 | We have nothing to Fear from 09 | The Georgia Business History Initiative: The legislatures of several states have recently criticized the The good, the bad, and the ugly must the Past by W. Todd Groce, Ph.D. Sharing the Stories of the Companies that new Advanced Placement American History course for public all be learned without fear that it will Built Georgia by Christy Crisp high school students, charging that the new material emphasizes diminish patriotism. Just the opposite is PROFILES “what is bad about America” and downplays “American true. When a nation is honest with itself 03 | John McMullan – A Legacy of FEATURE exceptionalism.” They fear that young folks who discover our and unafraid of its past, it will never lose Generosity by Stan Deaton, Ph.D. 11 | Business Leadership Helped Sing the nation’s imperfections could turn into less than patriotic adults. the admiration and loyalty of its citizens. Song of Tolerance by Neely Young As one critic observed, “most people” who complete the course STATE OF HISTORY will be “ready to sign up for ISIS.” 06 | The Delta Flight Museum, MILESTONES Atlanta’s Best Kept Secret by Tiffany Meng 15 | GHS News But even if it’s done with the best intentions, censorship of history is dangerous. Students are smart and any attempt to tell less than GEORGIA GEMS HAPPENINGS W. Todd Groce, Ph.D. the whole story could backfire. 07 | Atlanta Gas Light Company Papers 17 | Calendar of Events President & CEO of the by Sophia Sineath Georgia Historical Society 1 PROFILES John mcmullan A LegacyBY STAN DEATON,of PH.D. Generosity ohn McMullan’s Georgia reach its goal of transforming roots run deep. His ancestor the antebellum mansion into of the same name arrived an elegant new home for the J here from Virginia in 1795 in office of the president and the the aftermath of the Revolution administrative and program staff. and settled in the area that is now Hart County. John and his John and Ted each pledged son Ted are deeply interested generous gifts to complete in both their own family history the renovation, and gave an and that of their state. And they additional pledge to design and have invested heavily in making furnish what became the Thomas sure that the Georgia Historical Leverette McMullan Board Society will continue to fulfill its Room, named in honor of John’s mission for years to come. father, who died in 1954 when John was 17. His portrait now When the Georgia Historical hangs in the room that bears Society purchased the structure his name (left). Together their that became the Jepson House contributions amounted to well Education Center as part of its over a half-million dollars. recent Campaign to Share Georgia History, the McMullans seized “The Jepson House Education the opportunity to help GHS Center is a great and worthwhile 33 “I never enjoyed having a boss, I was never a good employee!” STATE OF HISTORY John says. He began developing real estate in the early 1970s and is now chief executive officer of Camden Real Estate, an Atlanta-based company that he founded in 1990. His son Ted now runs the business—“I just sit back and criticize,” he says with a laugh. It was while developing residential subdivisions that John met the man who became his philanthropic mentor, Roy D. Warren. “I served as Roy’s CPA and worked with his company, Roy D. Warren Company, and he was the most ethical man that I knew. I never saw him take advantage of anybody. The way he conducted himself and his business had a powerful influence on me. And he gave of himself generously. I learned from him.” Atlanta’s Best Kept Secret By Tiffany Meng What motivates him to give of his time and resources? “All of the successful people that I’ve ever known have been philanthropic,” John says. “They give even when it hurts. When ideal location as they were Delta’s first Atlanta maintenance we see a need, it’s our responsibility to help if we can.” n May 23, 2015, the Delta Flight Museum celebrated its 20th hangars from the 1940s, and have since been designated a project for the Georgia Historical Society,” John says. “The John has long been a donor to the Georgia Historical Society, anniversary. Ever heard of it? Most Historic Aerospace Site. Society needed room to grow and expand its staff—and I’ve but when GHS received an NEH challenge grant in 2003, John always liked Bob Jepson,” the current GHS Board chairman people have not. The Museum is stepped up his giving—and that got the attention of president Over the course of the next seventeen years, Ship 41 was who, along with his wife Alice, was the main benefactor of the one of Atlanta’s best kept secrets, and CEO Todd Groce. “It didn’t take Todd long to come see me building. “Bob’s willingness to share his wealth is indicative of featuring exhibits and aircraft telling restored and flown around the country, several other planes after that!” he laughs. His support for other programs like Profiles my philosophy of giving as well.” the history of one of the largest companies in the state, Delta were added to the Museum’s aircraft fleet, and the collections in Leadership and the Georgia History Festival soon increased as well. OAir Lines. and exhibits grew. The public was invited to visit, but without John Francis McMullan was born in Covington and grew up Why GHS? “I was a voracious reader of history growing up, an advertising budget, a good website, or a social media in Athens, where his father worked as a district agent for the and I believe in the power of history and education to make a In the late 1940s, Delta began saving items of potential presence, most people never knew the museum existed – UGA Cooperative Extension Service. His parents, Thomas and difference. It goes back to what I learned from my parents. So I company importance. Publications, ads, photos, and papers including Delta employees and retirees! Pauline, instilled in him very early a love of learning and “pride firmly support the goals and mission of the Georgia Historical of success,” exemplified by the two degrees John earned from were tucked out of sight with the thought that saving them Society to teach and inspire the next generation of leaders the University of Georgia, a business degree in 1958 and an could come in handy one day. Over the years, the collections In October 2012, the Museum embarked on a major through history.

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