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Georgia Historical Plates

History

The Transylvania Club of Sandersville, Georgia, in 1933, observing its 25th anniversary and Georgia's bicentennial, sponsored a set of commemorative plates which depict deeds and men who illuminated the stirring history of our famous state.

In 1974, the legislature of Georgia declared these plates to be the official historical plates of Georgia. They have been used at the Governor's Mansion, in the White House, and by members of England's royal family and are on display at the State Capitol.

The income from the sale of these plates supports a variety of causes on behalf of the Transylvania Club. One of these causes is the Rosa M. Tarbutton Memorial Library, Washington County, Sandersville, Georgia.

Design

The entire design of each border around a different historical center is an informal arrangement of the flora of our state wherein one finds cotton, peaches, and Cherokee roses as well as the needles of her famous long-leaf pine. The great seal of the state appears at the bottom with our altruistic motto: non sibi sed allis, entwined above. The floral scroll is broken by five other insets of historic interest. These are: Bethesda, first orphanage in America; home of Doctor Crawford W. Long, discoverer of anesthesia; the Savannah, first steamship to cross the Atlantic; Fort Frederica, fortification against the Spanish invasion; and Liberty Hall, home of Alexander H. Stephens. This stirring frame appears on every plate and surrounds the centers.

Subjects Available

1. General James Edward Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia.
2. Georgia Trustees receiving Oglethorpe and Indians in London.
3. Wesley teaching Indians - First Sunday School in the world.
4. Wesleyan College, first college in world to bestow degrees on women.
5. University of Georgia, first State University in United States.
6. Richmond Academy, oldest existing high school in America.
7. Nancy Hart capturing the Tories.
8. Burning of the Yazoo Act.
9. Old Capitol, Milledgeville.
10. Capitol, Atlanta.
11. Group of portraits of Georgia Patriots of Colonial and Revolutionary era includes Lyman Hall, Archibald Bullock, William Harris Crawford, James Jackson, Button Gwinett, William Few, John Milledge, George Walton, Abraham Baldwin, Joseph Habersham, Crawford W. Long.
12. Group of portraits of Georgia Patriots of Confederate and following era includes Joseph E. Brown, Robert Toombs, Clement A. Evans, Benjamin Hill, Howell Cobb, James Longstreet Joel C. Harris Sidney Lanier T.R.R. Cobb John B. Gordon Henry Grady Alexander H. Stephens.

Center portraits of the plates were chosen because these men represent Georgia in the Hall of Fame at the National Capitol in Washington.

Wedgwood and Queensware

There is abundant tradition for thus memorializing Georgia's history for since the eighteenth century, commemorative Queensware has been used as a medium to picture historic shrines.

The first Queensware was made by Josiah Wedgwood, F.R.S. for Queen Charlotte in 1762 and was so named in her honor.

The traditions of the master potter are carried on by his direct descendants and the Georgia plates are made from the original formula of Queensware under personal supervision of a lineal descendant of the founder. They are available in rose pink and blue dinner service size approximately ten and one-half inches in diameter. They are available in complete sets of twelve different subjects or by individual subjects. Each plate is backstamped with a short history of the subject.

Inquiries to:

Transylvania Club, Inc.
131 West Haynes Street
Post Office Box 813
Sandersville, Georgia 31082
(478) 552-6324

Information also available at www.ga.plates.com.