This 1841 Harper & Brothers edition of Edward Bulwer-Lytton's Night and Morning is a moral novel about family, class, and ambition. This copy once belonged to John Fontaine, the first mayor of Columbus, Georgia, and his family, connecting it to local…
This book was a part of the John Fontaine book collection. It was gifted to him by his Aunt Susan on September 11, 1849. It was originally written for the American Sunday-School Union. It is considered a children's book with a storyline about a young…
The Vast Army: An Allegory is 145 pages in length, and features a marbled front cover, a partially missing/damaged spine, and is most likely bound through sewing. It is a religious allegorical novel that follows three boys who are divinely appointed…
Book. 4 5/8" x 7 1/8". Paper covered board and red cloth binding. Worn cover, split binding. Front matter is missing, likely the title page and table of contents page. The first page of preface is torn. Several torn/damaged pages throughout the…
It shows a main street in Columbus, with streetcars, carriages, and pedestrians bustling about in the city. It gives an idea of what the city center looked like at the dawn of the 20th century, with commerce, early public transportation, and…
Historic view of Broad Street looking north from 11th Street. Commercial buildings, urban activity, and the early Columbus scene in the late 19th century are visible
A scanned nomination form from 1983 for the Apollo Theater to the National Park Service to be recognized as a registered Historic Place. This follows after the Apollo was forced to close in 1976 due to the degradation of the facility, lack of…
An important photograph of the Liberty Theatre shortly after its opening in 1925. The building invites patrons to experience a vibrant mix of films and live performances. As the only theater in Columbus where African Americans could attend during…
The Royal Theatre in 1928, stood as one of the early landmarks in the cultural development of Columbus. More than just a venue, the theater quickly became a central hub for entertainment, community gatherings, and the performing arts. Its presence…
Exterior view of the Springer Opera House, opened February 21, 1871. Designed by architect Daniel Matthew Foley, the building stands as one of the oldest surviving performance halls in Columbus, Georgia. Its elaborate façade captures the elegance of…
A black-and-white image of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra's inaugural concert in 1907. Musicians sit in formal attire with their instruments poised, while the conductor stands at center stage mid-gesture. The stage is framed by ornate drapery, and…
The now titled Liberty District was one of Columbus' most prolific and safe gathering places for black entertainment during the era of segregation, and is home to the famed and now restored Liberty Theater.
After decades of decline and eventual closure, the Liberty Theatre in Columbus, Georgia underwent a major restoration project in the 1990s. A subsequent federal grant in 1993 helped fund its restoration. And it reopened in 1996 as the first…