University Homes Community

Girl Scouts pictured at University Homes Roosevelt Hall, 1950. Photograph UNIV 2013.00258. Atlanta Housing Archives.

The TAB, the University Homes resident newsletter and a handwritten account of community organization activity circa 1940, attest to a vibrant community life at University Homes: "Among the many achievements of University Homes has been the development of many well organized groups which have provided a well-rounded program of community-wide activities. The tenants of University Homes are living and bound together by common interests and ideals, and few of the tenants would have recognized this fact to the fullest extent had it not been for the development of the various organized groups. These groups include all tenants regardless of age and are of benefit to the tenants in sponsoring activities which lend aid to them in their home life, school life, civic life, play life, and care of person."

A few of University Home's community activities included a Tenant's Association, Women's and Men's clubs, a Girl Reserve and Boy Scouts, the Children's Theatre in which plays were performed by the children, the Federal Credit Union, activities pertaining to Adult Education, a Garden Club, and a Choral Club.

SHOR_2015_av_00123.mp4

Janet Crawl Shortt

“Many people left their drafty, inadequate places of residence to move into the apartments [University Homes] because they were nice and clean, and had steam heat, a very popular feature since many were living in drafty, sub-standard housing.”

— “A Brief History of University Homes As I Remember It” by Janet Crawl Shortt

This video clipping features an oral history with Ms. Shorrt conducted by Atlanta Housing in 2015. Janet Crawl Shortt, born 1930, was the daughter of Roscoe and Alberteen Crawl. Her father worked in the Maintenance Department at University Homes and later as the Assistant Superintendent of John Eagan Homes. Ms. Shortt was one of the earliest residents of University Homes when it was completed in 1937.

Janet Crawl Shortt Oral History, 2015. SHOR 2015.00123. Atlanta Housing Archives.

Portion of University Homes library, 1962. Photograph UNIV 2013.00436. Atlanta Housing Archives.

University Homes Library

Mrs. Ethel Hawkins, a professional librarian residing at University Homes, and the former assistant librarian at the Auburn Branch, also volunteered to manage the University Homes library, which was first dedicated December 4, 1937 and in 1941, The Tenants Committee took the first initiative to provide public library service in the area. The University Homes Reading Room was established under the supervision of the Auburn Branch Librarian. In 1942, the Reading Room was designated a branch of the Atlanta Public Library. The University Homes Branch operated from 1941 to 1962.

UNIV_2017_doc_00142_redacted.pdf

University Homes space inventory, circa 1930s-1960s.

The University Homes space inventory consisted of a directory maintained on cards stored in a small wooden box. For preservation reasons, these cards were removed from the wooden box and rehoused in archival folders. The index included each resident of University Homes, their rate of rent, the dates they were residents, and remarks sometimes including employment, reasons moved away, or other insightful information showing historically the make-up of the University Homes community. Names have been redacted to protect the privacy of AH participants.

University Homes space inventory, circa 1930s-1960s. University Homes records. Project Records. Atlanta Housing Archives.

UNIV_2017_doc_00336.pdf

University Homes account of community organization activity, circa 1940

This record consists of a handwritten document which describes community programs and organizations at University Homes. Some of the programs and organizations mentioned include tenant associations, the library, the WPA softball league, women's and men's clubs, cabaret shows and theatre, dancing, cooking classes the newspaper, girl and boy scouts, The Federal Credit Union, the community center, the garden club, adult education, and chorus.

University account of community organization activity, circa 1940. University Homes records. Project Records. Atlanta Housing Archives.

Tenant Newsletters.pdf

The Tab: The Voice of University Homes newsletter, 1937-1939

Tenant newsletters have everything from the announcement of a play, to a recipe, to examining important community issues. They are important glimpses of community life and planning, but tenant newsletters also functioned as a medium to express ideas, to strengthen and support a community, and sometimes present a call to action.

The TAB: The Voice of University Homes began as what its tenant editors called “an experimental project” in 1937, but in 1938 the editors announced that the idea had passed the stage of experimentation, “It has grown to be a necessity to the activities of the Homes.” Having become such a necessity, the editors announced too that they were also improving their technology and that they were experimenting with various papers, multigraph duplicators, and mimeographed issues. The price of the TAB was five cents per an issue.

Regular features in the 1930s and 1940s include Editorials, the Woman’s Page, the Men’s Page, Sports, the Kitchen Korner, a Kiddie’s Korner, and a Library Page (which featured reviews of new books added to the University Homes Library).

The Tab: The Voice of University Homes, 1937-1939. University Homes records. Project Records. Atlanta Housing Archives.

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