Discover the Male Academy Museum in Newnan Georgia- Thia museum was conceived by Georgia Shapiro and other Historical Society members.
General Info
Mrs. Shapiro recognized a long vacant, deteriorating building on College Street as being the old Male Academy, or Male Seminary, which originally had been a private boys' school in the 1880's. Special exhibits are presented periodically. Permanent exhibits feature the I.E.C.W, Smith collection of decorative arts, and an actual Civil War battle flag, which has been restored and framed. A well-documented costume and textile collection includes articles from 1850 to 1950, and is representative of the economy and the lifestyle of Coweta County residents through the years. In addition, exhibits on local notables: Charles Wadsworth, Alan Jackson, among others are shown.
Secure repository and exhibit space is provided for a significant collection of Historical objects and documentary materials which have been donated by local residents.
The museum is open to the public at designated times on a regular basis. Admission is free to Society members and children under 9. A nominal fee is charged for admission for others. However, donations are needed and appreciated in order to continue this service to the Community.
Amenities: Parking, Public Restrooms, accessibility for mobility-impaired
Museum Exhibits
Front Vestibule - Indian artifacts and the Male Academy Museum history on the wall.
The Smith Collection - On December 6,1821, Ellen Peniston married Dr. Ira Ellis Smith in Petersburg, Va, They departed in a covered wagon and arrived in Newnan in 1828.
They had 11 children, 8 of these reached adulthood of which there were: 3 Lawyers, 3 Physicians, 1 Preacher, 1 Professor-who was President of Emory at Oxford. The contents of this room span 150 years.
This display collection includes: The Cherry Hunt board, or Sideboard. The Poster Bed with the acanthus design, also the drop leaf table. In the wall is a Dolly Madison mirror, the white teapot were all brought in a covered wagon from Virginia to Coweta County. The Oil Tapestry c. 1911 was done by Lois Smith a granddaughter in-law of Francis Scott Key-who wrote the Star Spangled Banner. The Biscuit Table or Block c 1840-1860 is also a part of the Zeke Smith Collection.
The Judge Byron Mathews - Judge Byron Mathews was an ardent collector of Civil War artifacts, Guns, Swords, Bayonets, Cannon Balls, early Medical Instruments, the cot and the blanket which were used to treat men who were wounded.
In this room on the wall is an early lithograph of College Temple. This was a college which was founded to educate women, it later opened its doors to young men. The first degree to be conferred on women was the "Magister in Artibus" or Master Of Arts Degree. Two remaining buildings of the College can still be seen on College Street. The College operated from 1854 to 1888.
The Male Academy Classroom
This is a room in which students would receive instruction. This Male Academy (Seminary) was established in 1840. To begin with there were 60 students. Professor Moses leased the ground for the academy.
The Teacher's desk is original. The bell on the desk. The student's desk with slate and chalk. The student's uniform as well as the teacher's dress, the stove also the lunch pail. The pictures are of the early days in Newnan. Display case shows other local notables.
Back Vestibule
In the large exhibit room on the left is a vignette of furnishings from and a picture of the Dr. Calhoun home on Greenville Street. The house was torn down in 1955 to build the present Newnan Plaza Shopping Center on Greenville Street. It was said that a 12 gauge shot gun could be fired in one of the rooms and the sound would not be heard in the next room. This also was the house where the singer and entertainer Lena Horn's grandmother lived and worked.
There are early maps are of Newnan and Coweta County. The show case was give by the daughters of the confederacy as well as the items on display. Photos are of early families of this area. The picture is of William Thomas Overby who was born in Coweta County and volunteered for the Georgia Confederate Army with the 7th Regiment. He refused to reveal the hiding place of the Mosby's Rangers and was hanged without a trial.
The Alan Jackson Collection
For the past three years he has been number one in Country Music. His first car was a 1955 White Thunderbird. He purchased the car at the age of 15. His wife, Denise bought it back for him in 1993. His wife taught at Atkinson school. He lived in a house on Corinth Road and then on Reese Street. Alan would build houses, live in them, and then sell them.
His mother retired from Elm Street School as dietitian. His twin sisters, Cathy and Carol are in the education system in Coweta County. Pictures are of his early years and his marriage.
