2023 Bartram Trail Conference

August 4–5, 2023
Athens, Georgia

Special Collections Library, University of Georgia

Marking the Semiquincentennial starts here in Athens, almost exactly 250 years to the date when Bartram arrived with the party of surveyors marking the boundary of the "New Purchase"— 1.2 million acres of land ceded by the Creeks and Cherokees to erase their debts to English traders. Current co-sponsors: Georgia Museum of Natural History, UGA Environmental Ethics Certificate Program, College of Environment and Design, State Botanical Garden of Georgia.

 

Accommodations

The Bartram Trail Conference has reserved a block of rooms at Holiday Inn Express, just two blocks from the conference site. This link will give you the reserve page for the conference.

Find other hotels in Athens for your conference stay here.

Conference

Please note that registration will be available in June

Friday, August 4, UGA Special Collections Library

Registration opens at 4 p.m. with book sales and special exhibits.

5:00–6:30 p.m., Reception, Tours of Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library,

 

Dinner on your own

 

Saturday, August 5, UGA Special Collections Library

Registration continues, Coffee and pastry provided

 

Theme I: Following in Bartram's Footsteps

"Mapping the New Purchase: Bartram's First-Person Account," Dr. Kathryn Braund.

 

"In Search of William Bartram's Buffalo Lick," Brad Sanders.

 

“Finding Bartram’s Fish,” Dr. Bud Freeman, Georgia Natural History Museum.

Focusing on the fish species Bartram described from the Broad River in northeast Georgia as well as efforts to establish a new species of shoal bass to be named in honor of Bartram.

 

Theme II: Preservation and Innovation

“The usefull, the beautifull, the singular…” Highlighting the State Botanical Garden’s work in propagating rare plants as part of the Center for Plant Conservation.” State Botanical Garden of Georgia staff member to be decided. Focus on rare plants in northeast Georgia as well as elsewhere in the state, particularly those related to Bartram.  Afternoon guided tour of rare plant propagation facilities at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.

 

Lunch, catered at the Special Collections Library.

Theme II: Preservation and Innovation (continued)

"Preserving Bartram Landscapes in Georgia," Wendy Jo Ledbetter, Fort Stewart Project, The Longleaf Alliance.

 

“Innovative Approaches to Visualizing History in the Landscape,” Dr. Micah Taylor, UGA College of Environment and Design.

6:00–7:00 Reception, Special Collections Library.

7:00 Banquet

Keynote address: Darlene Farris-Labar, Stroudsburg University, Pennsylvania, "Reimagining Bartram's Artistic Vision."

3D printed flower sculptures traveling exhibition in cooperation with Columbus State University. 

 

Afternoon Tours in the area, self-guided and sponsored

 

State Botanical Garden of Georgia:

Bartram plants featured at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia; opportunity for field trips to see propagation of rare native plants and/or prairie testoration; Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum featuring botanical works galore.

 

Field trips following in Bartram's path in northeast Georgia.

 

Kayaking on the Broad River and "Biking with Bartram" on the Firefly Trail.

Circle Gallery, College of Environment and Design, "With Rapture and Astonishment," art and sculpture inspired by Bartram's Travels in the Blue Ridge.