Deal Announces Reprieve for Georgia Archives

Gov. Nathan Deal and Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced Thursday that the state will restore $125,000 to Kemp's budget thus enabling the State Archives to remain open to Georgians - at least for the rest of the budget year. 

“Georgia’s Archives are a showcase of our state’s rich history and a source of great pride,” Deal said in a press release. “I worked quickly with my budget office and Secretary Kemp to ensure that Georgians can continue to come to Morrow to study and view the important artifacts kept there. I appreciate Secretary Kemp’s commitment to work with me to find a solution.”

This funding allows for the Archives to remain open to the public until June 30, 2013. According to the release, on July 1,  the Georgia Archives will be transferred to University System of Georgia, pending approval of the move by the General Assembly. Funds will be appropriated for operations. Additional staff will be provided by USG at that time and efficiencies will be sought by consolidating the Archives under the University System of Georgia, reportedly as the state sought to do with the library system.

“From the beginning of this budget process, I have stated that it was my hope that current access to the Archives could be maintained,” Kemp said. “I greatly appreciate Governor Deal’s leadership and recognize the difficult decisions that had to be made in order to identify this funding. He has proposed a plan that supports Archives not just this year, but for years to come.”

This move allows Georgia State Archives to maintain its current access hours, which are three days a week. Georgia Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe), was pleased by the move, calling it "good news."

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