The Eleventh Circuit Historical Society is a private, nonprofit organization incorporated in Georgia on January 17, 1983. Although the Society has no legal connection with the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit or the federal government, its primary purpose is to keep a record of the history of the courts of the Eleventh Circuit as institutions and of the judges who have served these courts. In this regard, the Society considers the judges in the old Fifth Circuit from the states of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia to be included in its area of interest.

 

In addition, the Society has a broader mission to foster public appreciation of the role and impact of the federal court system in the states encompassed by the Eleventh Circuit.

 

Since the formation of the Society came shortly after the creation of the Circuit, this timing is especially exciting because the Society can write history as current history, not as research history. The Society is devoted to preserving our courts' heritage through the collection of portraits, photographs, oral histories, documents, news articles, books, artifacts, and personal memorabilia.

 

The Society's permanent office is in the Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building in Atlanta. Its Board of Trustees is composed of lawyers and legal scholars representing the historical interests of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.

 

While the Society's archival activities are partially funded by grants and other special gifts, it primarily depends on members for financial support.

 

If you would like information on becoming a member or have historical information, artifacts, or memorabilia for the Historical Society, please contact Wanda Lamar, Executive Director, at (404) 335-6395.