Christmas Day in Georgia History

 

While the traditional Christmas has certainly been celebrated in Georgia, there have also been some significant historical events to occur on this day. Georgia's westernmost county - Dade County - was created on Christmas Day in 1837.

---

Both sides of the secession debate were printed in Georgia newspapers on Christmas Day in 1860. The Federal Union of Milledgeville printed an address from some Southern congressmen, including six from Georgia, stating the secession was the only option left to the Southern states:

But the Southern Recorder of Milledgeville printed an editorial arguing for cooperation among Southern states to demand their rights within the Union, and calling for "cool, second sober thought, tempered by wisdom, moderation, true statesmanship and common sense."

 

---

Future Georgia governor John Slaton was born on Christmas Day in 1866. Slaton served as both Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives and President of the Georgia Senate before being elected governor. He led a progressive administration, but is most noted for commuting the death sentence of Leo Frank - convicted of murdering young Mary Phagan in one of Georgia's most infamous trials - to life in prison.

 

---

On Christmas Day in 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all persons involved in the Confederate cause during the Civil War.

Stella Akin, who would become the first woman admitted to the Georgia bar, was born in Savannah on Christmas Day in 1897. Ironically, she would be quailified and allowed to practice law three years before women had the legal right to vote!

There was a grand opening on Christmas Day in 1929 for a building still popular today - the Fox Theater in Atlanta.

 

---

Unfortunately, not all the news has been merry - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician James Brown - a native of Augusta - died on Christmas Day in 2006.

 

---

Happy Holidays to all from GeorgiaInfo and the Digital Library of Georgia!

---