
Descriptive Summary
Title: Georgia Environmental Oral History Project
Creator: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Creator: Bean, Betsy
Inclusive Dates: 2013-
Language(s): English
Extent: 24 interview(s)
Collection Number: RBRL345GEOH
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: The Georgia Environmental Oral History Project was started in 2013 via a partnership between the Russell Library and Betsy Bean. The project documents the forces that have shaped and are currently shaping the Georgia landscape, including such topics as environmental activism (with a focus on grassroots activism), legislation related to environmental issues, the environmental history of the Georgia coast, the interplay between conservation, industry, and tourism, the politics of "sustainability," and the relationship between environmental issues and public safety. Early interviews focus on Brunswick and Glynn County including numerous Superfund sites, the development issues surrounding St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island, and the challenges of protecting coastal marshlands.

Collection Description

Historical note

The Georgia Environmental Oral History Project was started in 2013 via a partnership between the Russell Library and Betsy Bean.

The first eight interviews (GEOH-001--GEOH-008) were recorded over a two day trip to Brunswick, Ga. in September 2013, by Russell Oral History and Media Archivists Callie Holmes and Christian Lopez. Interviews were recorded in a classroom space at the College of Coastal Georgia, except for GEOH-001, which was recorded in Ms. Poleszak's home on Jekyll Island. Betsy Bean is the primary interviewer, though occassionally Holmes and Lopez pose questions to the interviewees.

Scope and Content

The Georgia Environmental Oral History project documents the forces that have shaped and are currently shaping the Georgia landscape, including such topics as environmental activism (with a focus on grassroots activism), legislation related to environmental issues, the environmental history of the Georgia coast, the interplay between conservation, industry, and tourism, the politics of "sustainability," and the relationship between environmental issues and public safety.

Early interviews focus on Brunswick and Glynn County including numerous Superfund sites, the development issues surrounding St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island, and the challenges of protecting coastal marshlands.

Organization and Arrangement

Interviews are arranged chronologically by interview number (ex. GEOH-001, GEOH-002, etc.).

Administrative Information

Preferred citation

Georgia Environmental Oral History Project, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Processing Information

Original and transfer media formats for this collection include 96 khZ/24-bit WAV files that were recorded using a Sound Devices 552 audio recorder. Digital jpeg photographs also exist for this collection.

Copyright Information

Resources may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.