Thornton, Ella May, 1885-1971

Ella May Thornton was the former State Librarian for the state of Georgia.

Ella May Thornton (1885-1971) was born on April 28, 1885 in Atlanta, Georgia. Her father was Eugene H. Thornton, a veteran of the Confederate Army, and later a banker, and president of the Atlanta Young Men's Christian Association (Y.M.C.A.). Miss Thornton never married and had no children. She graduated from Carnegie Library of Atlanta, Library School in 1909, and began her career as a librarian with the state library in Atlanta that same year. She became assistant librarian in 1919 and state librarian in 1926. She retired in 1954. Miss Thornton was a former president of the National Association of State Libraries, and served on the board of the Georgia Historical Commission from 1926-1931. She contributed to professional journals, and in 1941 wrote "Georgia Women: 1840-1940, A Record of Achievement". She was the first professionally trained librarian to hold the office of State Librarian in Georgia, and one of the few professionally trained state librarians in the nation.

Ella May Thornton was the former State Librarian for the state of Georgia.

Thomas Greene Wiggins was born May 25, 1849 to Mungo and Charity Wiggins, slaves on a Georgia plantation. He was blind and autistic but a musical genius with a phenomenal memory. In 1850 Tom, his parents, and two brothers were sold to James Neil Bethune, a lawyer and newspaper editor in Columbus, Georgia. Young Tom was fascinated by musci and other sounds, and could pick out tunes on the piano by the age of four. He made his concert debut at eight, performing in Atlanta. Blind Tom Wiggins gave his last performance in 1905. He died three years later on June 13, 1908 at the age of 59 at his manager's home in Hoboken, New Jersey.