Executive Vice Chancellor Tristan Denley and Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council (GHRAC) Chair P. Toby Graham recently presented Gordon State College alumnus Benjamin Joiner with the GHRAC Award for Excellence in Student Research Using Historical Records, Undergraduate level, during the 15th Annual GHRAC Archives Awards ceremony at the Georgia Archives.

The GHRAC Awards recognize outstanding efforts in archives and records work in Georgia.

Joiner's Senior History Seminar paper, "Science Education and the Seminary Movement of Central Georgia, 1820-1840" traces the changes in what society deemed appropriate education for a Southern woman. These were changes that ultimately led to the establishment of the first female college in the United States, Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. Joiner argues that ideals of "republican motherhood" (the 18th century notion of women as custodians of civic virtue) and the Second Great Awakening helped to push educational transformation in rural Southern states. Northern teachers were drawn to Southern schools and colleges to help the advance of education for young Southern women.

In his research, Joiner made use of manuscript collections, including the Thomas Bogue Slade Letters from Columbus State University; a variety of newspapers from central Georgia such as the Athenian and the Augusta Herald ; and printed primary sources including Georgia law.

GHRAC works to promote the educational use of Georgia's documentary heritage and to support efforts to improve the condition of records statewide. The Board is charged with advising the Chancellor and the Georgia Archives on records and policy issues.

For more information, please visit www.GeorgiaArchives.org and click on Partners, then click on Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council (GHRAC).

The Georgia Archives is a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and identifies, collects, manages, preserves, provides access to, and publicizes records and information of Georgia and its people and assists state and local government agencies with their records management. This work is done within the framework of the USG's mission to create a more highly educated Georgia.