Photo Collections & Other Media

Photo Collections

The City of Georgetown Public Library has been a center for educational and arts events since its inception. Below are some photo galleries documenting various events that took place at the library.

 

Texas Society of Sculptors 2009 Show -- see some of the works that will be on exhibit at the library during the summer.

The Georgetown Public Library - search this gallery for pictures of our beautiful library

Plants of the Georgetown Public Library - plants used in library landscaping are identified

Kids Events - see photos from past children's events

Teen Events - see pictures of our teen programs

PostSecret Art Project - Secrets created by teens in 6-12 grades and anonymously submitted to the TeenSpace PostSecret Art Project.  Secrets were displayed in the library as well as online in this photo gallery.

Downtown Georgetown circa 1980 - see how Georgetown has changed

Georgetown Heritage Society Collection of Historic Photos - The Georgetown Public Library is honored to be the repository of a collection of historical photos belonging to the Georgetown Heritage Society. This is the first of several digital projects to preserve the history of Georgetown and Williamson County. Please see our digital collections terms of use policy.

Videos about Georgetown's Historic Architecture

The Georgetown Heritage Society produced two videos about Georgetown's historic architecture. Links to these videos (below) are through the Georgetown page on the Williamson County Historical Commission's website and are viewable with Windows Media Player.

Legacy of Wood and Stone

On the Square

 

 

Oral Histories: Memories of Marshall and Carver Schools and Desegregation in Georgetown

In August 2008, the Georgetown Public Library sponsored a panel discussion about desegregation in Georgetown. The event was the kick-off of an oral history project focused on memories of Marshall and Carver Schools and the events during the 1950s and '60s that led up to desegregation. The panelists who spoke that day were

• Harvey Miller, the African-American father who challenged integration by trying to enroll his daughter and some other black students in the Georgetown High School;
• Birdie Shanklin, an African-American mother who wanted her children to attend the white school and who helped conduct a survey in her neighborhood to determine black citizens' attitudes toward integration. She is Harvey Miller's younger sister.
• Paulette Taylor, an African-American student who attended Carver and Westside Schools just prior to integration.
• Douglas Benold, a white physician who had been on the school board during the late-'50s when desegregation was becoming a political and economic issue in Georgetown. He left the board during the early 1960s to avoid a possible conflict of interest, but remained active in promoting desegregation. He worked with Birdie Shanklin on the survey of the black neighborhood.
• Norman Spellmann, now retired, was a professor at Southwestern University who was a member of the Committee for Better Schools, the organization that brought the state and federal lawsuits seeking integration to court.

Each of the people on the panel agreed to be interviewed individually for the oral history project. The other interviews found here are with people who came forward as a result of the kickoff event and graciously agreed to participate.

These interviews reflect very personal memories and experiences. They are not intended to be the final word on the events surrounding desegregation. In fact, the project is will continue indefinitely. Anyone who wishes to be interviewed about their experiences at Marshall and Carver Schools, or about their experiences before and after integration occurred is invited to contact Judy Fabry (512-930-3552 or jkf@georgetowntx.org) to arrange for an interview.

Douglas Benold -- a participant in the 2008 panel discussion (see above). Click here to read a transcript of this interview.

Harvey Miller (part 1) -- a participant in the 2008 panel discussion (see above). Click here to see newspaper clippings related to Mr. Miller's interview.

Harvey Miller (part 2) -- a participant in the 2008 panel discussion (see above).

Birdie Shanklin -- a participant in the 2008 panel discussion (see above). Click here to read a transcript of this interview.

Norman Spellmann -- a participant in the 2008 panel discussion (see above).

Paulette Taylor -- a participant in the 2008 panel discussion (see above).

Nell Benold -- wife of Douglas Benold and a parent who advocated for integration.

Lee City -- a student at Carver who graduated in the late-1950s. He recalls life on his family's farm in Jonah and the black school there, where he attended some of the elementary grades. He also talks about his years in the military and how they influenced his higher education and subsequent employment.

Carl Doering -- chairman of the school board when desegregation occurred. Click here to read a transcript of this interview.

Milton Jordan -- was a student at Southwestern University during the early 1960s. He worked on the student newspaper, the Megaphone, and recalls an editorial concerning the wages paid to African-American employees of the University that first was censored and then later allowed to run. Click here to see the Megaphone articles Mr. Jordan talks about.

Laurie Locke -- daughter of Nell and Douglas Benold, who attended high school after integration took place. There were technical problems with the recording of this interview, so it is necessary to play it on the highest volume possible. You may read a transcript of this interview by clicking here.

Nora Miller Rose --an African-American who was a student at the time of the desegregation controversy. She is the sister of Harvey Miller and Birdie Shanklin.

Betty Spellmann -- secretary of the Committee for Better Schools and recalls some of the meetings. She is the wife of Norman Spellman and parent of four children who were in school during the period being discussed. To read a transcript of this interview, click here.

J.D. Thomas -- member of the school board during the years when desegregation was being considered and the lawsuits were brought against the school district.

The files above require Flash 9 or higher.