Sweet auburn is one of the best places in the city to celebrate black history month each february. There are also historic photos of the sweet auburn neighborhood and its african americanowned businesses. Auburn avenue sweet auburn new georgia encyclopedia. The sweet auburn historic district is a historic africanamerican neighborhood along and. Decades before the auburn avenue research library opened, its core collection was formed at the auburn branch of the carnegie library of atlanta. Its also the location of the auburn avenue research library, the atlanta.
The sweet auburn historic district is a historic africanamerican neighborhood along and surrounding auburn avenue, east of downtown atlanta, georgia, united states. Today the buildings on auburn avenue honor the determination and tenacity of black americans. Sweet auburns rich history is a point of pride for the neighborhood. The auburn avenue research library, in collaboration with the hammonds house. Anchoring the west end of the sweet auburn h istoric district, the auburn avenue research library on african american culture and history opened may 1994 in atlanta.
Restaurants near sweet auburn, atlanta on tripadvisor. Atlanta history center archives and access terminus, one of the centers databases. If youre visiting in february, try to see the black history month parade, where the neighborhoods history is celebrated with performances. Downtown atlanta is getting another startup hub, this time in the historic sweet auburn district. The aarl oral history collection is one of eight special collections housed in the. In it, they trace the history of auburn avenue as a.
Angus beef patty topped with blackened shrimp and smoked gouda. Duffy also has ties to history through her sister, a lawyer and president of. John wesley dobbs was known as the unofficial mayor of sweet auburn. Explore sweet auburn neighborhood in downtown atlanta, georgia.
Calloway, the sweet auburn avenue business history, 19001988as told by w. Drain the potatoes, and run them under cold water to remove. The historic district dominated by auburn avenue, once known as the richest negro street in the world, spiraled into decline in the 1980s. Black owned book store in atlanta atlanta journalconstitution. In 1992, the national trust added sweet auburn to its list of americas 11 most endangered historic places. Visit the apex museum, which presents our nations history through the eyes of africanamericans. Explore atlantas sweet auburn district atl freedom trail. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
At one point a businessman describes a meeting with mayor maynard jr. The oral histories of auburn avenue residents and merchants were gathered by local teenagers in 1978. For more information contact the friends of sweet auburn. Atlanta filmmakers shonda harper, 34, and alahna lark, 24, began filming the 60minute documentary in 2016. Concentrated along a short mile and a half of auburn avenue, the sweet auburn historic district reflects the history, heritage and achievements of atlantas african americans. Rosa duffy designed the shop and reading room to be a place for people to interact with history that is.
Pomerantz is an author and journalist and serves as a visiting lecturer in the department of communication at stanford university. Atlantas for keeps bookstore owner says sweet auburn spot. The 10 best restaurants near sweet auburn in atlanta, ga. Gary m pomerantz, where peachtree meets sweet auburn penguin books, 1996, 8485.
And, its wonderful to be proudly constituted in the birthplace of dr. The saga of two families and the making of atlanta, written by gary pomerantz. Visit sweet auburn on your trip to atlanta or united states. The auburn avenue research library on african american culture and history is a special library within the atlantafulton public library system, located in atlantas sweet auburn historic district. Auburn avenue films, owned and operated by the jackson team, is developing the story for a television series. Stroll down sweet auburn avenue, the heart of africanamerican commerce and culture in atlanta at the turn of the century. For keeps, a shop for rare and classic black books, opens on auburn avenue. I left the church and hiked back toward the sweet auburn curb market, thinking this was perhaps the best thing sweet auburn had to offer. The onestory redbrick building, located at 333 auburn avenue, officially opened july 25, 1921, becoming atlantas.
The sweet auburn neighborhood project is an oral history project that was funded by an neh youth project grant. Hoke smith was able to spread his ideas in the atlanta journal because he was. Sweet auburn atlanta 2020 all you need to know before. Discovering black history in atlantas sweet auburn. The steps leading to 540 john wesley dobbs avenue, the former home of john wesley dobbs photo by r.
The idea really was reinforced last week when gene kansas invited gary pomerance, the author of where peachtree meets sweet auburn, to speak at the auburn avenue library. His first book, where peachtree meets sweet auburn, was named a 1996 notable book of the year by the new york times. Just down the street, the neighboring auburn avenue research library also has exhibits on african american culture and history, including one on the life and legacy of writer toni morrison. New startup space constellations will shine a spotlight on.
Buildings on auburn avenue in the sweet auburn historic. A special library of the atlantafulton public library system afpls, it is the first public library in the southeast to offer specialized reference and archival collections dedicated to the study and research of african american. A pictorial history paperback july 21, 2010 by dan moore sr author. The author was extremely detailed in his account which included much of. The name sweet auburn was coined by john wesley dobbs, referring to the richest negro street in the world. Early civil rights challenges in georgia flashcards quizlet. Where peachtree meets sweet auburn is a 624page history of a section of atlanta and. Located in the historically black sweet auburn district, rosa duffy, 28, has. The area, known as sweet auburn, is home to ebenezer baptist church, where civil rights and atlanta icon rev.
Prolog more financial institutions, professionals, educators, entertainers and politicians were on this one mile of street than any other african american street in the south. The roots of rap and the history of hiphop have origins that precede dj kool. Atlanta, ga prweb august 21, 2017 maynard jackson iii and wendy eley jackson have optioned the book, where peachtree meets sweet auburn. Its fun to see familiar faces and have intelligent conversation. Auburn avenue research library on african american culture. They have so many amazing events and their art galleries are awesome. Sweet auburn touts the popular martin luther king junior national historical park, which honors the civil rights leaders legacy by preserving the home of his birth, ebenezer baptist church, and the tombs of dr. The auburn avenue research library, in collaboration with the hammonds house museum will host the roots of rap. Throughout most of atlantas history, the black and the white communities were like these two streets, separated, with only a perfunctory contact. The name sweet auburn was coined by john wesley dobbs, referring to the richest negro street in the world, one of the largest concentrations of africanamerican businesses in the united states. He and his wife irene raised six daughters including rennie dobbs jackson and matiwilda dobbs janzon all spellman graduates in a house purchased in 1909 at 540 houston street, now john wesley dobbs avenue, a few blocks north of sweet auburn avenue.
Atlantas for keeps bookstore owner says sweet auburn spot is no mistake. We conduct walking tours that cover four key elements in understanding atlanta. Where peachtree meets sweet auburn gary m pomerantz. Walk this way was formed out of a simple concept show people the hidden side of our great city. For keeps, a shop for rare and classic black books, opens on. Experience indepth atlanta tours walk this way atlanta. Sweet auburn historic district is located along auburn avenue, generally between courtland st. As the naacp and local votingrights organizations, from their sweet auburn offices, lobbied state and local governments for an end to segregation, and as native son martin luther king jr. Auburn avenue research library atlantafulton public library. We can accommodate up to 54 persons for a motor coach or 1544 persons in a minibus. Walking tour maps are available through the atlanta convention and visitors bureau, 4042226688. Excellent book about the history of the allen and dobbs family from atlanta, georgia. As mayor of atlanta during the tumultuous 1960s, what does ivan allen jr. The curb market, originally founded in 1923, is an experience in and of itself.
Constructing atlanta s auburn avenue as a heritage t ourist destination, urban geogr aphy, 31. Sweet auburn is an iconic area and place in black history, each street tell a different story in history but just as important as the other. The sweet auburn historic district is an important part of atlanta history because it enabled african americans to establish businesses, churches, and social organizations. Sweet auburn walks is a curated walk to the history, art, food, and entertainment of the sweet auburn historic district starting at. The auburn avenue history and culture project has been in the drawing books since at least 20. Sweet auburn avenue became home to alonzo herndons atlanta mutual, the citys first.
I attended the kwanzaa festival in december of 2019 it was an awesome family event the museum has so. The bestselling 1996 book about the rise of two prominent atlanta families one black and one white, has been optioned for a television series by auburn avenue films. Discover landmarks of the civil rights movement, and several historic africanamerican churches including big bethel ame church, the first africanamerican church in atlanta, and ebenezer baptist church, the spiritual home of dr. Sweet auburn avenue atlanta, georgia usa a history from 18801960. The sweet auburn curb market the history of our streets. The auburn avenue research library is committed to preserving and making. Sweet auburn avenue martin luther king birth home mlk historic site madam cj walker salon sclc headquarters the royal peacock werdam first black radio station ebenezer baptist church big bethel ame church atlanta daily world newspaper 100 black men national headquarters and more. A graduate of the university of california, berkeley, pomerantz lives. Rosa duffy, the owner of for keeps bookstore on auburn avenue. The street was paved in gold observed john wesley dobbs. National register of historic places nomination form for the sweet auburn district. Constellations, located in the 1910 southern school book depository building on auburn avenue, will serve as a shared workspace and educational hub for civic, social, and private startups with georgia tech and georgia state universities already signed on as tenants. Calloways pamphlet size book from the oral history, the sweet auburn avenue business history. For keeps, a shop for rare and classic black books, opens.
Auburn avenue research library on african american culture and. Atlantas white elite, and sweet auburn avenue, the spiritual main street of atlantas community. Boil the sweet potatoes for 40 to 50 minutes, or until tender. The 1885 edition of moses kings guide book, mount auburn cemetery, notes that on the left of central avenue, is a beautifully embellished octagonal building, with a stone platform and seats for visitors containing an excellent well of pure water.