ON THE COVER PERSPECTIVES FDR, 1933. Image Courtesy of Ed Jackson Finding Our Best in the Worst of Times by W. Todd Groce, Ph.D. Spring/ Summer | Volume 14, Number 1 “These are the times that try men’s souls.” information they needed to ensure our students’ success. We have reached out to teachers and administrators in every school district across the state to see what they need and how we can be of This famous opening line from Thomas Paine’s American Crisis, assistance. written during the darkest days of the American Revolution, aptly describes the era of COVID-19. A public health disaster, coupled The end of the 2020 academic year will not mean our work is with an economic downturn, makes what we are experiencing over. Indeed, no one knows what the future holds for the fall today one of the most challenging episodes in American history. semester and beyond. While no one has been untouched by the pandemic and its fallout, We are thankful for the opportunity to help in our own way its worst effects have been unevenly distributed. At the top of the during this unprecedented challenge and grateful for the ongoing list are the victims of the disease, their families, and those health support of our members, donors, and friends that has made that providers who are risking their lives daily to care for them. Others assistance possible. Because of you, when the crisis came, we were have lost jobs, businesses, and their livelihoods. prepared and ready to swing into action. Much of the burden has also fallen on our teachers and students. At the Georgia Historical Society, we believe that education has Faced with school closures, they were suddenly forced to convert been, and always will be, a priority, no matter what the economic to distance learning. Their ability to adapt to these circumstances Eleanor Roosevelt and FDR in the 1930s. Image Courtesy of Ed Jackson conditions. We cannot deprive our children of the knowledge and has depended upon such factors as access to technology, the Feature Story Page 4 – Remembering FDR on the 75th Anniversary of His Death by Ed Jackson skills they need to be productive citizens. internet, and especially online educational resources. TABLE OF CONTENTS Many of us have felt frustrated and helpless that we cannot Fortunately, they are not alone. Over the past decade, the Georgia PERSPECTIVES INSIDE GHS control or change what’s happening around us right now. But we Historical Society (GHS) has invested considerable time and 02 Finding Our Best in the Worst of Times 12 Rising to the Challenge: GHS & Georgia do have the power to influence the future by continuing to support | | resources into creating digital educational resources that are tailor- by W. Todd Groce, Ph.D. Teachers in the Era of Remote Learning the educational mission of GHS. made for this challenge: the Emmy Award-winning Today in Georgia by Lisa Landers History (jointly produced with Georgia Public Broadcasting), the FEATURE On behalf of the students, teachers, and “GHS Schoolhouse,” online primary source material, teacher 04 | Remembering FDR on the 75th Anniversary STATE OF HISTORY parents of Georgia, thank you for standing guides, and classroom curriculum aligned with the Georgia of His Death 14 | Understanding Racial Integration with us during these trying times. When the By Ed Jackson Standards of Excellence, to name a few. For a full list see Lisa with Students history of this event is one day written, your by Kenneth H. Wheeler, Ph.D. Landers’ “Inside GHS” story in this issue. GEORGIA GEMS unshakeable commitment to our children 08 | Frank Cheatham, Polio, and FDR MILESTONES and their education will be a shining example This material has been used extensively for years by Georgia by Stan Deaton, Ph.D. 16 GHS News for future generations. | teachers. But when all learning moved to online platforms, it PROFILES became more valuable than ever. Within days of the crisis, the 10 | John Duncan GHS education and communications teams quickly pivoted John MacPherson Berrien Award and began providing parents and educators with the tools and W. Todd Groce, Ph.D. by Stan Deaton, Ph.D. President & CEO of the 2 Georgia Historical Society ON THE COVER PERSPECTIVES FDR, 1933. Image Courtesy of Ed Jackson Finding Our Best in the Worst of Times by W. Todd Groce, Ph.D. Spring/ Summer | Volume 14, Number 1 “These are the times that try men’s souls.” information they needed to ensure our students’ success. We have reached out to teachers and administrators in every school district across the state to see what they need and how we can be of This famous opening line from Thomas Paine’s American Crisis, assistance. written during the darkest days of the American Revolution, aptly describes the era of COVID-19. A public health disaster, coupled The end of the 2020 academic year will not mean our work is with an economic downturn, makes what we are experiencing over. Indeed, no one knows what the future holds for the fall today one of the most challenging episodes in American history. semester and beyond. While no one has been untouched by the pandemic and its fallout, We are thankful for the opportunity to help in our own way its worst effects have been unevenly distributed. At the top of the during this unprecedented challenge and grateful for the ongoing list are the victims of the disease, their families, and those health support of our members, donors, and friends that has made that providers who are risking their lives daily to care for them. Others assistance possible. Because of you, when the crisis came, we were have lost jobs, businesses, and their livelihoods. prepared and ready to swing into action. Much of the burden has also fallen on our teachers and students. At the Georgia Historical Society, we believe that education has Faced with school closures, they were suddenly forced to convert been, and always will be, a priority, no matter what the economic to distance learning. Their ability to adapt to these circumstances Eleanor Roosevelt and FDR in the 1930s. Image Courtesy of Ed Jackson conditions. We cannot deprive our children of the knowledge and has depended upon such factors as access to technology, the Feature Story Page 4 – Remembering FDR on the 75th Anniversary of His Death by Ed Jackson skills they need to be productive citizens. internet, and especially online educational resources. TABLE OF CONTENTS Many of us have felt frustrated and helpless that we cannot Fortunately, they are not alone. Over the past decade, the Georgia PERSPECTIVES INSIDE GHS control or change what’s happening around us right now. But we Historical Society (GHS) has invested considerable time and 02 Finding Our Best in the Worst of Times 12 Rising to the Challenge: GHS & Georgia do have the power to influence the future by continuing to support | | resources into creating digital educational resources that are tailor- by W. Todd Groce, Ph.D. Teachers in the Era of Remote Learning the educational mission of GHS. made for this challenge: the Emmy Award-winning Today in Georgia by Lisa Landers History (jointly produced with Georgia Public Broadcasting), the FEATURE On behalf of the students, teachers, and “GHS Schoolhouse,” online primary source material, teacher 04 | Remembering FDR on the 75th Anniversary STATE OF HISTORY parents of Georgia, thank you for standing guides, and classroom curriculum aligned with the Georgia of His Death 14 | Understanding Racial Integration with us during these trying times. When the By Ed Jackson Standards of Excellence, to name a few. For a full list see Lisa with Students history of this event is one day written, your by Kenneth H. Wheeler, Ph.D. Landers’ “Inside GHS” story in this issue. GEORGIA GEMS unshakeable commitment to our children 08 | Frank Cheatham, Polio, and FDR MILESTONES and their education will be a shining example This material has been used extensively for years by Georgia by Stan Deaton, Ph.D. 16 GHS News for future generations. | teachers. But when all learning moved to online platforms, it PROFILES became more valuable than ever. Within days of the crisis, the 10 | John Duncan GHS education and communications teams quickly pivoted John MacPherson Berrien Award and began providing parents and educators with the tools and W. Todd Groce, Ph.D. by Stan Deaton, Ph.D. President & CEO of the 2 Georgia Historical Society Franklin served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1913-1919), which required Eleanor to take on the role of an official’s wife, one that included many social functions. These were responsibilities she neither enjoyed nor had time for, so in 1914 Eleanor hired 23-year-old Lucy Mercer to serve as her social secretary. This relieved her of many of her official duties and allowed Eleanor and the children to vacation during the summer at the family vacation home on Campobello Island in New Brunswick, while her husband stayed behind in Washington, D.C. Lucy Mercer was an attractive young woman, and sometime in 1916, t was an April 12, 1945 spring Franklin and Lucy began a romantic morning in Warm Springs, affair. Eleanor apparently discovered Georgia. After recently returning the affair, and Mercer either quit or from the Yalta Conference in the was fired, at which point she joined the Crimea, an exhausted Franklin Navy. As FDR was Assistant Secretary of D. Roosevelt had come to Warm the Navy, he arranged for Lucy to become Springs for rest and exercise in his his secretary—and their affair continued. Ibeloved pools of warm water. That morning In 1918, Eleanor discovered love letters from the president was tired and not feeling well, Lucy and threatened divorce unless he broke but he still rose around 9 am for a light breakfast.