University Library News

Georgia State University Library

Celebration for Dr. Merl E. Reed's New Book

The library and the Department of History are cosponsoring an event to celebrate the publication of Dr. Merl E. Reed’s new book, Educating the Urban New South: Atlanta and the Rise of Georgia State University, 1913-1969.  It will be held on Tuesday, February 16th, at 2:00pm in the Colloquium Room (Library South, 8th floor).  If you would like to join the celebration, please RSVP by February 9th to Pam Lucas at plucas@gsu.edu or 404-413-2703.

reedDr. Reed’s book traces the history of Georgia State University from its founding in 1913 as Georgia Tech’s evening school to its establishment of university status in 1969.  His work clearly demonstrates how GSU’s symbiotic relationship with urban Atlanta has been fundamental to the institution’s existence and growth.

Dr. Reed, professor emeritus at Georgia State University, specializes in education and labor history.  He was also instrumental in establishing the Southern Labor Archives in the library’s Special Collections and Archives.  Some of his other publications include:

Seedtime for the modern civil rights movement: the President’s Committee on Fair Employment Practice, 1941-1946

New Orleans and the railroads: the struggle for commercial empire, 1830-1860

Race, class, and community in Southern labor history