A Letter From Mary Rose Taylor

July 21, 2004

Dear Members and Friends:

Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the history of the Margaret Mitchell House & Museum. As many of you have already read in this morning's newspaper, the MMHM is merging with the Atlanta History Center. It's exciting news because the merger guarantees new opportunities for our employees such as improved benefits. It's exciting because the infusion of staff resources and professional expertise that the History Center provides in areas like exhibits, education curriculum, collections and archives, capital repairs and maintenance as well as development will strengthen our offerings to the community. And it's exciting for me personally because it brings to full fruition 17 years of challenging but rewarding work.

Beginning immediately, the History Center under the dynamic leadership of Jim Bruns will assume administrative oversight for the Margaret Mitchell House & Museum and its programming division, The Center for Southern Literature. Diane Lewis, Vice President of Operations for the History Center, has been named interim Executive Director of the MMHM, relieving me of day-to-day management responsibilities. Diane brings 25 years of museum experience to this position and is well equipped to lead the MMHM to what is commonly referred to as "the next level!"

I will assist Diane with the transition while continuing with my own responsibilities as Director of The Center for Southern Literature working closely with our Programs Manager, Lynda Hawkins, to provide an ever expanding array of literary events and writing workshops that is sure to excite everyone. I will also continue to provide curatorial assistance in the development of new exhibitions and outreach initiatives. Our wonderful staff remains the same and will be augmented by the staff of the History Center.

The merger of our two institutions draws on ties with the Mitchell family that date back 75 years. Eugene Mitchell, Margaret Mitchell's father, was a founder of the Atlanta Historical Society in 1926 and served as its second board chairman. After "Gone With the Wind" was published ten years later, Margaret joined the board. Her brother Stephens was elected board chair in 1956. Additionally, the AHS was located in Midtown until its move to Buckhead in 1966. I think you will agree we have a lot in common!

The mission, vision and branding identity of both organizations will remain unchanged and operate as separate facilities. The MMHM docents will continue their daily tours of our two-acre historic site and The Center for Southern Literature will maintain its weekly programming schedule of literary lectures as well as its writing workshops for children and adults.

We are indebted to a number of local foundations and individuals for their assistance in covering the costs of the merger, particularly to the Lettie Pate Evans Foundation for its generosity in helping us pay off a line of credit that allowed us to open the "Gone With the Wind" Movie Museum years ago. We are also indebted to our staff and Board of Trustees, led by David Golden, Denise Cleveland-Leggett, Lynne Land, Susan Bell and Mary Brown for charting the course that has led us to this new chapter in our history. We are indebted too to the staff and Board of Trustees of the History Center who are taking us on with such enthusiasm and commitment.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge both our patron Daimler Chrysler whose $5 million dollar contribution in 1995 allowed us to purchase and restore our historic site and our Chairman Emeritus Dr. Otis Smith who courageously stepped forward to tell the story of Margaret Mitchell's largesse to Atlanta's African American community that made it possible for him and others to graduate from Morehouse College and MeHarry Medical School when Atlanta was still a segregated city.

Finally, I would like to offer my personal gratitude to you our members and friends who have supported our efforts over a great many years to make the Margaret Mitchell House & Museum a reality. Margaret Mitchell was a remarkable woman. We can all be proud to have played a role in securing this block of Peachtree Street as a permanent testament to the contributions she made to the world in both literature and human relations.

Please join us in celebrating the closing of one chapter and the opening of a new one.

Warmest regards,

Mary Rose Taylor
Founder and Executive Director