Presented by Jeremy Katz, Hamilton College Archivist
As Atlanta evolved from a sleepy, backwater, 19th century frontier railroad town into a 21st century international metropolis, Jewish men and women significantly contributed to the rich tapestry of the “Gate City of the South.”
The commercial infrastructure of the expanding city was greatly enhanced by numerous small businesses established by Jewish merchants, some of which became major players in various industries. Many of Atlanta’s most recognizable icons such as The Coca-Cola Company, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the Atlanta Braves originated, in part, thanks to support from visionary leaders in the Jewish community.
While there are many success stories throughout Atlanta’s Jewish history, there are also dark episodes of blatant antisemitism that traumatized the community and had national implications. The lynching of Leo M. Frank, the bombing of The Temple, and the deliberate expulsion of Jewish students from Emory University Dental School marred Atlanta’s self-proclaimed reputation as “The City Too Busy to Hate.”
Join us to explore the rich and complex history of Atlanta through a Jewish perspective and gain new insight into the “Melting Pot of Dixie.”
Register to receive the link to join us online. Barring technical issues, this talk will be posted in our Program Archive.
Jeremy Katz, Hamilton College Archivist, holds a B.A. degree in History from The Ohio State University, a M.A. degree in Public History from Wright State University, and a certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists.
Prior to joining the Special Collections and College Archives staff at Hamilton College in October 2021, he served as Senior Director of Archives at the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked to grow, preserve, and democratize access to archival collections.
We extend a special thank you to Andrew R. Ammerman for sponsoring our 2026 program lineup. He dedicates the semester’s learning in loving memory of Josephine and H. Max Ammerman and Stephen C. Ammerman.