Clayton News Daily

Clayton County and City of Morrow officials argue closing the Georgia Archives would have a negative impact on education, tourism and economic development in the county.

ATLANTA — Two Clayton State University representatives will help lead a nine-member group of educators and librarians who will oversee the transition of the Georgia Archives from the Secretary of State’s office to the University System of Georgia, the USG announced Wednesday evening.

Clayton State President Tim Hynes will be the working group’s chairman and Richard Pearce-Moses, director of the university’s Archival Studies program, will also serve on the body. The archives is located next to Clayton State’s Morrow campus and the two institutions have enjoyed a long relationship.

State leaders decided to transfer the archives from Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s office to the university system after Kemp announced plans to close the facility to walk-in traffic because of budget cuts.

Although Kemp and Gov. Nathan Deal announced the transfer last fall, it is still pending Georgia General Assembly approval. If the transfer is approved, the university system said it will then address long-term planning issues stemming from the transition. The university system announced the group’s immediate job will be to evaluate transition-relation issues and report back to system Chancellor Hank Huckaby.

“Secretary Kemp has expressed his full cooperation and support of this transition effort and we look forward to working with him and his staff on this important part of the process,” said Huckaby in a written statement.

In addition to Hynes and Pearce-Moses, the university system’s working group will include: Friends of the Georgia Archives & History member Dianne Cannestra, University of West Georgia Library Director Lorene Flanders, Valdosta State University history professor Dr. Catherine Oglesby, University System of Georgia Executive Director of Library Services Merryll Penson and Georgia Public Library Service Executive Director Dr. Lamar Veatch.

University of Georgia Associate Provost Dr. William Potter and UGA Deputy University Librarian Dr. Toby Graham will also serve on the panel. Graham is also the head of UGA’s Hargrett Library.