Three-governors controversy focus of Lunch and Learn event

The three-governors controversy of 1946-47 will be the subject of the Sept. 2 Lunch and Learn lecture at the Georgia Archives.

Charles S. Bullock, a University of Georgia professor and co-author of the book “The Three Governors Controversy” (UGA Press, 2015), will be the speaker. The free event is open to the public and will begin at noon; bring your own lunch. The Georgia Archives is at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow.

The controversy arose in December 1946, when Gov.elect Eugene Talmadge died before taking office. It was the first time Georgia elected a lieutenant governor, in this case, M.E. Thompson, who had a claim to be governor. Herman E. Talmadge, son of the deceased governor-elect, got write-in votes, and staked his claim. Outgoing Gov. Ellis Arnall would not leave until things got settled.

The book is a great record of this unusual controversy and the lecture should be quite interesting, as Bullock is a noted political scientist and frequent commentator on current politics.

For further information, see georgiaarchives.org or call 678-364-3710. Note that this is a date change for a Lunch and Learn event, normally held on the second Friday of each month.

Jefferson County records

Michael A. Ports of Jacksonville continues to edit and publish records of Georgia’s Jefferson County. Earlier, he published four volumes of Inferior Court records. Now, he has two volumes on the Superior Court: “Jefferson County, Georgia, Superior Court Minutes,” one covering 1796-1800 and the other 1800-1804, with more to come.

These cover all information from the minutes of the court, which covered lawsuits, jury lists and divorces, and may help you pinpoint an ancestor’s appearance in the county.

They can be ordered from Genealogical Publishing Co. at genealogical.com or call 1-800-296-6687.

Fall calendar

Genealogy events scheduled this fall, with more details to come: Sept. 17: National Archives, public health symposium; Sept. 24: Friends of Georgia Archives and History annual meeting; Oct. 13-15: African-American National Genealogy Conference; Oct. 22: Georgia Archives and Genealogy Day; Dec. 10: Georgia Genealogical Society’s winter event: Valerie Frey, “Family History Through Your Recipe Box.”

The book is a great record of this unusual controversy and the lecture should be quite interesting, as Bullock is a noted political scientist and frequent commentator on current politics. For further information, see georgiaarchives.org or call 678-364-3710.