Shirley Clarke Franklin, former mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, has recently donated a collection of her materials to the Robert W. Woodruff Library at the Atlanta University Center Consortium, a collaboration between four historically Black institutions in Atlanta. The collection includes historic photographs of Atlanta from the 1970s to present day, campaign information, news recordings, personal papers, and other materials regarding both her professional and private life.
In November 2001, Franklin became the first Black woman mayor of any major city in the southern United States. She served in this role for two-terms, focusing her efforts on supporting the local arts community and improving the city’s infrastructure. Some of her most notable achievements include establishing the Atlanta Beltline, the Atlanta Regional Commission on Homeless, and the Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Earlier in her career, Franklin held several political roles within the state of Georgia. She served on the 1972 congressional campaign for Andrew Young, as well as the election of Holbrook Jackson, Atlanta’s first-ever Black mayor. While serving under Andrew Young’s mayoral administration, Franklin became the first woman chief administrative officer of Atlanta’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs. In 1991, she was appointed to serve on the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games held in 1996.
Outside of her career in politics, Franklin has served as an active community member in Atlanta for over 40 years. Prior to her election as mayor, she served as the city’s second-ever commissioner of cultural affairs, where she created the Atlanta Jazz Festival, launched the Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport Public Art Program, and established a local art grant program.
The Franklin Collection will be used by AUC students and faculty to research local history, African American studies, gender studies, and politics. Leaders at the Woodruff Library expect to launch the collection for public access next year.
