Cherokee Historians Oppose Archives Closure

Add the Cherokee County Historical Society to the list of entities that oppose a decision to limit public access to the Georgia State Archives and thousands of historical records.

Fans of the society's Facebook page will find this message on the site:

Join the Cherokee County Historical Society in opposing the closing of the Georgia Archives. Sign the petition and share it with your friends and family!

Effective Nov. 1, access to the state's records will be curtailed and only limited public appointments will be available, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Gov. Nathan Deal has asked state agencies to trim their budgets by 3 percent, and this move will help the Office of the Georgia Secretary of State do that.

Since Secretary of State Brian Kemp made the announcement about the Georgia State Archives last week, the Society of Georgia Archivists and the Friends of Georgia Archives and History has started a social media campaign and collected more than 11,000 signatures from supporters who say the state should reverse its decision, SGA Outreach Manager Courtney Chartier said.

SGA members will meet with Deal at 11 a.m. Wednesday to proclaim October as Georgia Archives Month.

In a press release issued Monday, group president Marie Force said that members will wear “I Support Our Georgia Archives” stickers and present letters of protest to Deal.