Holman Hotel collection, 1950s-1960s

Series — Box: 1, Folder: 7-8

Collection number: MSS 016.007

Scope and Contents

This subcollection contains the following items: in the first folder, nine black-and-white photographs of street scenes in front of the Holman Building credited on the back of the prints to Dick Allais, 134 E. Clayton St., Athens, Georgia; an unmarked postcard depicting the Holman Hotel Coffee Shop; three Season’s Greetings cards, each including copies of the same Coffee Shop postcard: two are unmarked, the other is in its original envelope, signed “E.D. Newton, Manager,” and includes three inserts bearing the text, “Holman Special: Country Ham For Breakfast. You Will Like It!”; a menu from the Holman Hotel Coffee Shop and another menu, mimeographed, presumably also for the Coffee Shop; a paper placemat bearing an illustration of the Holman building; two sheets of unmarked letterhead stationery; two unmarked envelopes; an unmarked bill of sale; an unmarked reservation card for the Holman Hotel; a 1962 letter to E. D. Newton, manager of the Holman Hotel, from James S. Rivers of WMJM in Cordele, Georgia, with Mr. Newton’s reply; a 1962 letter to E. D. Newton from Edgar M. Crosby of the Sarepta Baptist Association; postcards from Holman Hotel patrons requesting items left behind: one from Leon Mead of Knoxville, Tennessee, and one from J.M. Gooden of Atlanta; a petition concerning nighttime street parking, dated June 18, 1958; a clipping of a newspaper article concerning the above problem; a clipping, dated February 27, 1963, from the Advertiser Entertainment section of the Athens Album, showing a 1927 photograph of Holman Hotel employees; clippings of two newspaper articles concerning the closing of the Holman Hotel: the Athens Banner-Herald, December 16, 1962; the Independent (Anderson, S.C.), January 6, 1963; a brochure entitled Georgia Hotel Laws; a brochure from the Georgia Hotel Association listing Georgia hotels; an undated brochure from the Athens Chamber of Commerce with pictures of several local buildings; and a document with an undated map of the University of Georgia and downtown on one side and a text entitled “Student Life at Georgia” on the other. In the second folder, an Athens-Watkinsville telephone book dated September 1955 in a Holman Hotel folder; a trash container for automobiles with the name, Holman Hotel, and contact information printed on it; and two keys on holders marked Holman Hotel, for rooms 202 and 406.

Dates

1950s-1960s

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

English

Conditions Governing Access

This collection has no restrictions. This collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required. Apply in the Heritage Room for access. The exception is the Order of the Eastern Star collection, the directories included in which list the personal addresses and phone numbers of members. These directories are not available to the public.

Biographical / Historical

Built in 1915 by William S. Holman at the corner of Clayton and Lumpkin, the Holman Building was originally nine stories with 168 rooms. Designed by Charles Morton Strahan, the building held offices, with the top floor to be used for social functions. In March, 1925 the Holman Hotel opened with Luther W. Nelson as the manager of the hotel and a coffee shop also housed in the building. City directories list H. H. Binns as manager in 1931 and John C. Stiles and Arthur W. Hartley as co-managers in 1935. Ernest D. Newton took over management on July 1, 1937 and remained in that position until the hotel closed on December 15, 1962. C&S Bank took over the building and renovated the interior and exterior of the facility. In 1991, Nations Bank took over the offices. More recently, Nations Bank was absorbed by Bank of America, which currently operates in the building alongside other business offices.

Extent

.105 Linear Feet (Two of eight folders in a full legal document box.)

Additional Description

Overview

Ephemera pertaining to the Holman Hotel that operated 1925-1962 in the building currently occupied by the main Athens branch of Bank of America.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Carolyn Newton Bittick

Related Materials

Doster, Gary L. A Postcard History of Athens, Georgia. GRAS 975.818 DOSTER.

Reap, James K. Athens: A Pictorial History. GR 975.818 Clarke REAP.

Thomas, Francis Taliaferro. A Portrait of Historic Athens & Clarke County. GR 975.818 Clarke THOMAS.

"27 December 1936: New Social Security Office to Open in Athens.” This Day in Athens, http://accheritage.blogspot.com/2011/12/27-december-1936-new-social-security.html.