Statement of Purpose

Vanishing Georgia exists primarily to bring attention to the myriad forms of vernacular architecture once common throughout the region. Many of these structures were built during the sharecropping and tenant farming eras, and as a result have long ago been abandoned. My archive includes over 125,000 images, though only a small percentage are published on the website. With over 8,000 locations and 27,000 photographs, Vanishing Georgia is the largest publicly accessible independent archive focused on the state, with at least one photo (usually many more) from all 159 of Georgia’s counties.

A dual purpose is to bring attention to the countless forgotten villages and towns which have all but disappeared with the passing of passenger railroads, the loss of viable employment, and the ensuing diaspora to larger cities. With Vanishing Georgia, I strive to give them a permanent photographic presence for future generations.

From time to time, I also feature photographs of wildlife and native plants of the region, as well as festivals, folklife, and personalities who help make Georgia the wonderful place I call home. Images of festivals or people on this website do not imply an endorsement of any kind, either by Vanishing Georgia or by those depicted.

Also, I should point out that not everything I document is literally vanishing. It’s like saying abandoned or forgotten, it’s relative. On this website, that includes myriad forms of architecture and businesses that just aren’t being built or operated anymore.

About the Photographs

Ultimately, the website is an archive and not a gallery. To protect my images, I make them available on this website in a lower resolution than that in which they are originally shot. For print quality images, contact me.

Dates and Identifications

The identification of many properties on the website come from local architectural surveys, local histories, and public resources such as the Historic American Buildings Survey and the National Register of Historic Places. Many more are shared by people from the communities in which they are located. Sometimes, these identifications are challenged and when they are, I do my best to investigate with what resources I have available. Dates are even more notoriously difficult to pinpoint, and similar resources are used. I often use the term ‘circa’ to denote a probable date, again, based on available resources. None of this is etched in stone and I’m always glad to amend listings, as I strive to be as accurate as is possible.

Ultimately, I don’t claim to be an authority on dates or identifications but I’m a lifelong learner who is always glad to review new or conflicting information.

Comments

The comments archive on Vanishing Georgia is one of its most popular features. It also functions as an informal oral history of our region shared by people who have lived it and learned stories passed down through their families. Your words and reminisces are very important to me, and I do my best to respond to them when possible. (Please note that I reserve the right to edit or refuse comments submitted to Vanishing Georgia, without explanation).