The Atlanta Consular Corps donated its archives to the University of Georgia on July 16 in a ceremony attended by UGA President Jere W. Morehead and representatives of the corps including its dean, Stephen Brereton of Canada.
“We believe that this kind of partnership with the Atlanta Consular Corps fits perfectly with the mission of this library as well as the mission of the University of Georgia,” Dr. Morehead said at the signing ceremony held in the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies.
He added that he considered the diplomatic work of the corps, which is composed of the representatives of 75 countries with responsibilities for the Southeast, “as critical to the future of our state and our country.”
In addition, he said that the archives would provide insights into the work of the corps and “allow the public to have a glimpse into the important work that is going on.”
Established nearly 40 years ago, the Russell Library holds the archives of more than 300 organizations and individuals.
The corps’ archives provide the library with information regarding its role in promoting international business including alliances between American and foreign companies as well as partnerships in science and technology initiatives.
Sheryl Vogt, director of the library, said that the collection “enhances our holding in foreign policy and diplomacy. One of the university’s strategic priorities is to help Georgia compete in the global marketplace successfully — this donation advances that goal.”
Speaking on behalf of the corps as its dean, Mr. Breteton, Canada’s consul general based in Atlanta, traced the origin of the corps in Georgia to the first consulates with ties to the Savannah port in the early 1800s.
With the corps now comprising representatives of more than 70 countries, he added that its growth was “a reflection of the growing importance of Georgia in the international community and international economy.”
“And with the globalization of economies it’s important that our governments continue to work with partners in our places of accreditation and certainly here in Georgia.”
Mr. Brereton, a career diplomat and Toronto native, was joined for the formal signing by Paul Gleeson, the vice dean and consul general of Ireland, who will take over as dean later this summer.
While the corps has encouraged the university to accept its archives for several years, the initiative became a serious endeavor in March when the corps visited the library on the annual international VIP tour organized by the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Among the members of the corps attending the ceremony in addtion to Mr. Brereton and Mr. Gleeson were Bruce Allen, honorary consul of Liechtenstein; Georges Hoffman, honorary consul of Luxembourg; Romualda Klicius, honorary consul of Lithuania and John Parkerson, honorary consul general of Hungary.
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