Andrew J. Bramlett

Happy Halloween from Peach State Past!

Did you know that grave robbery was once a major concern in Georgia? These two articles from Oakland Cemetery detail the history of Atlanta’s graverobbers.

Part 1: web.archive.org/web/20240909...
Part 2: web.archive.org/web/20240918...

I have a number of unusual postcards in my collection, but this is easily one of my favorites.

The original Far Side Cow Tools Cartoon by Gary Larson. A cow stands on its hind legs behind a table, staring blankly at the viewer from behind its heavy brow ridge. On the table are four crudely made tools: a lump, a lump with an offset crooked handle, a long stick with hooked prongs at the end, and a crude handsaw with irregular teeth. In the background a barn sits on a hill. Caption reads, "Cow tools."

43 years ago today, readers the world over opened their newspapers and gazed upon cow tools for the first time. happy birthday cow tools. you look great.

Did you know that the Atlanta Braves' move to Cobb County in 2017 wasn't the first time the suburban county tried to lure a professional team with the promise of a new stadium?

Check out @andrewbramlett.bsky.social's new article in for more of this history!

atlantastudies.org/2025/10/20/c...

This is my first peer-reviewed academic article, and I hope it will be the first of many!

The full article can be found here: atlantastudies.org/2025/10/20/c...

Using this story, I explore civic boosterism, white flight, and the rise of Atlanta’s suburbs. Researching this forgotten peace of Cobb County history was a great experience, and I am glad this story can now be shared with the world.

Today, my newest article was posted by the online journal Atlanta Studies. It looks at Cobb County’s attempts in the 1950s and ‘60s to build a professional baseball stadium in roughly the same area where Truist Park would open in 2017.

Mr. Williams helped to introduce me to the world of rare books, and has been a important part of my time at KSU. It is exciting to see his name will be an integral part of the school for years to come!

Today, the Kennesaw State University Library celebrated the naming of the Robert B. Williams Rare Book Museum. Mr. Williams has been active at the university for forty years, and helped to start the museum in 1986.

Last night, we had a great evening seeing “The Great Locomotive Chase” at the Strand Marietta. The movie premiered at the Strand in 1956. Yesterday was also the 90th birthday of the Strand.

It was great to see this classic on the big screen!

Does anyone else remember ReceptioGate from a few years ago? I don’t know why I remembered it today, but I never saw how it all was resolved. Have there been any updates?

Yesterday evening, I had a great time leading a historic walking tour of Downtown Kennesaw for the City of Kennesaw Government’s Government 101 class. I spoke about city’s history and the Historic Preservation Commission.

Thank you to Anna Trapp and Darryl Simmons for arranging this tour!

Wishing you a peaceful start to your day. We think this tune is “The Carnival of Venice.”

While working at the KSU Archives last week, I was scanning some slides from SPSU and ran across this good photo of the door. I made a copy, hoping that someone might have a clue about its whereabouts.

Has anyone seen this doorway? (7/7)

Bealy Smith evidently saved this doorway, but it was never used at SPSU, and I have been unable to find out what happened to it after the 1980s. (6/7)

Notably, Henry W. Grady had his offices in this building during the most important years of his career.
In 1947, the 1883 Constitution building was replaced by a new Atlanta Constitution building across the street, and the old building was demolished in 1967. (5/7)

According to records from the library, the head librarian also considered acquiring this doorway for the Johnson Library. It belonged to the old headquarters of the Atlanta Constitution, which opened in 1883 near what is today the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center. (4/7)

All of the pieces came from Bealy Smith, an Atlanta collector who worked to save various pieces of Atlanta's architectural heritage as buildings were demolished downtown in the 1960s and 1970s. (3/7)

Many of these pieces are still part of the building today, though a few are now stored in the KSU Archives. (2/7)

In the late 1980s, the L. V. Johnson Library at Southern Polytechnic State University (now Kennesaw State University) was expanded. Surviving architectural elements from various demolished structures, including Atlanta's Terminal Station and Peachtree Arcade, were incorporated into the design. (1/7)

Today, we visited Rome, GA, and its historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery. I took the best photos from Myrtle Hill and created a post on my blog: ajbramlett.com/2025/09/06/t...

@beth-loves-epcot.bsky.social

We are visiting Rome, GA today and started at Myrtle Hill Cemetery. I got some great photos on my camera, and hope to post more later today.

I meant for this to be posted on my
@archiveofthepast.bsky.social
account, but I will also leave it here because it is cool.

Image: [Lantern slide of Merchants National Bank Building] (date unknown). From the Andrew J. Bramlett Collection.

This picture clearly shows the large stained-glass windows on the façade, but what is not seen is the massive skylight. It was almost demolished in 1968, but after public outcry, the building was restored in 1972.

The Merchants National Bank Building in Winona, Minnesota, was built in 1912 and designed by Purcell, Feick, and Elmslie. That same architectural firm designed almost twenty other bank buildings across the Midwest.

Next week, @monicacmiller.bsky.social will be speaking to the History Club at KSU about "The Tacky South," a book she co-edited. This will be a virtual presentation, and all are welcome to attend! The Zoom link for registration is kennesaw-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

On September 17, I will be presenting this unique story on campus at Kennesaw State as part of the Year of the United Kingdom. The presentation will be at noon in the Global Education Lounge in the ALC building. (3/3)

In 1856, the Times of London contained a sensational article - “Railways and Revolvers in Georgia” - about five duels and a murder that took place on a train ride from Macon to Augusta. The story was an international sensation, but was it true? (2/3)

Today, a new edition of Georgia Backroads arrived in the mail, which contains my latest article for the magazine. (1/3)