Georgia Sociological Association
A Professional Association of Scholars and Practitioners in Georgia
Historical Overview
On November 20, 1964 sociologists and anthropologists from Atlanta and Athens attended an organizational dinner meeting at Emory University for the purpose of establishing a state professional association. The meeting was held to respond to a recognized need for a state professional organization that did not discriminate by race or geographical location.
At this time, the primary organization in the State for professional exchange among sociologists and anthropologists was the privately endowed University Center in Georgia. While supporting a forum for the presentation and discussion of ideas by guest lecturers, participation was restricted to the University of Georgia and a select number of Atlanta colleges.
The November 20th meeting resulted in the establishment of the Georgia Sociological and Anthropological Association (GSAA). John Doby (Emory University) was elected President; Tilman Cothran (Atlanta University), Vice-President; and Raymond Payne (University of Georgia), Secretary-Treasurer.
The first annual meeting of the Association was held on October 15-16, 1965 in Macon. The meeting was co-hosted by Mercer University and Wesleyan College, and Tilman Cothran served as the chair of the first Program Committee. The theme of the conference was "Problem of Recruiting Sociology Majors at the Undergraduate and Graduate Level." Association membership stood at 84, with 45 attending the meeting.
At this time, a Constitution and By-Laws Committee was established, chaired by Drenan Kelley, to prepare a document for discussion at the next meeting. The constitution and by-laws were duly approved at the 1966 annual meeting in Milledgeville. According to the adopted Constitution, the objectives of the Association were "to stimulate and improve research, teaching, and discussion, and to encourage cooperative relations among persons in the State of Georgia engaged in the scientific study of society and culture." In 1987, the objectives were expanded to include the encouragement of community service.
In 1974 Wilfred Bailey, an anthropologist and member of GSAA, wrote Drenan Kelley, President of GSAA, requesting that "Anthropology" be removed from the name of the Association. As a Council member of the Georgia Academy of Science, he wrote the letter on behalf of anthropologists active in that Organization. The reason for the request was that the majority of anthropologists were in archaeology, an area of little interest to sociologists. Further, the Academy had just established an Anthropology Section. At the 1975 annual meeting of the GSAA in Statesboro, the name change was ratified and the Association became the Georgia Sociological Assocation.
The Semaphore, the official publication of the GSA, was launched in 1977 under the co-editorship of Charlene Black and Larry Platt. The Semaphore remains the primary means of communication among the Association's members.
Over the past thirty years, the GSA has remained a vibrant and supportive organization for Georgia sociologists. It continues to serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas; a support for those studying the discipline; a means for establishing and renewing friendships; a meeting ground for public and private, large and small colleges and universities; a professional voice to the larger community; and, a medium for community service. From its founding in 1964, its membership has grown to over 140 members, and its formal structure to eight officers, four standing committees, an archivist and Semaphore editors.
Charles J. Karcher
Archivist 5
May 1997
NOTE: The Association is indebted to the conscientious and dedicated work of its first Archivist, Drenan Kelley, in gathering and organizing the historical records from which this brief history has been drawn and to Charles J. Karcher, the present Archivist for his work in producing this overview and preserving the GSU records.
Copyright © Georgia Sociological Association 2006
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