Georgia Historical Society

What Georgia Historical Society does

Georgia Historical Society (GHS), founded in 1839 and headquartered in Savannah, Georgia, is the premier independent statewide educational and research institution dedicated to collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia and American history. It maintains one of the oldest archival collections in the United States, with 5 million manuscripts, and operates the statewide Georgia Historical Marker Program — a public-private partnership with the State of Georgia established in 1998 — managing over 2,200 historical markers. The organization serves three primary constituencies: K-12 students and educators (250,000 reached annually through the Georgia History Festival), academic and professional researchers (60,000 visits annually to the GHS Research Center), and the general public through publications, events, and digital content.

GHS's product and technology stack centers on archival collection management, a digital archive/catalog, interactive educational exhibits (Georgia Uncovered, Decoding Histories Inquiry Kit), the Georgia Historical Marker Program mapping tools, and a network of digital channels including a daily Today in Georgia History site, the Off the Deaton Path podcast, and a Shopify-based merchandise store. The organization also runs the Vincent J. Dooley Distinguished Fellows Program and a statewide Affiliate Chapter Program to extend local reach.

The business model is nonprofit and donation-dependent. Revenue streams include charitable donations and memberships, foundation and corporate grants (Frances and Beverly DuBose Foundation, NHPRC, Georgia-Pacific, Hyundai title-sponsoring the History Festival), earned revenue from the Georgia History Festival (~$2.1M annually) and Trustees Gala, and merchandise sales. Under Dr. W. Todd Groce's leadership since 1995, annual revenue grew from $500K to over $5M, endowment from $1M to $23M+, and net assets from $2M to nearly $38M. Major corporate sponsors include Hyundai, Chick-fil-A, Delta, Georgia Power, Southern Company, Home Depot Foundation, AT&T, Gulfstream, and Georgia-Pacific.

Name

Georgia Historical Society

Legal name

Georgia Historical Society

Website

https://georgiahistory.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1839

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Georgia Historical Society, founded in 1839 and headquartered in Savannah, GA, is a nonprofit educational and research institution that collects, preserves, and teaches Georgia and American history. It serves K-12 students (250,000 annually), academic researchers (60,000 visits/year), and the general public via its 5-million-manuscript archive, 2,200+ historical markers, and educational programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historical Education and Archival Research Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (712120), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

Keywords

• Historical archives research
• K-12 history education
• Archival collection services
• Historical marker programs
• Teacher professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Savannah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: GHS relies on charitable donations and membership programs to support operations. The organization has grown its annual revenue from $500,000 in 1995 to over $5 million under current leadership.
2. Grants and Foundation Support: GHS receives support from foundations including Frances and Beverly DuBose Foundation ($150,000 grant), National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), Georgia-Pacific, and other corporate sponsors.
3. Merchandise and Shop Sales: Online store (georgiahistory.myshopify.com) sells merchandise including books, publications, and historical items.
4. Educational Programs and Events: Revenue generated through Georgia History Festival, Trustees Gala, and educational programming. Georgia History Festival raises nearly $2.1 million for statewide education and research.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Georgia Historical Society is a nonprofit educational and research institution that collects, preserves, and teaches Georgia and American history. It operates an archival Research Center housing 5 million manuscripts, runs the statewide Georgia Historical Marker Program (2,200+ markers via public-private partnership), delivers the signature Georgia History Festival reaching 250,000 K-12 students annually, provides teacher professional development, and disseminates publications including the Georgia Historical Quarterly.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Georgia Historical Marker Program Statewide program operating the erection and maintenance of 2,200+ historical markers across Georgia through a public-private partnership with the State of Georgia. Includes online mapping tools for themed marker trails and custom driving routes, an application process for new markers, and reporting for damaged/missing markers.
• GHS Research Center Services In-person and remote research services providing access to 5 million manuscripts in the archival collection. Services include reference assistance, image reproduction, and collection highlights for academic researchers, historians, genealogists, authors, and graduate students. Serves 60,000 researchers annually from around the globe. Located at 501 Whitaker Street, Savannah.
• Georgia History Festival Signature K-12 educational program reaching 250,000 students statewide through public programs, exhibits, and events including the Colonial Faire and Muster at Wormsloe, Georgia Day video premiere, and Trustees Gala. Includes classroom resources, teacher training, and field trip programming.
• GHS Membership Program Annual membership program providing donors and supporters with engagement opportunities and benefits supporting the Georgia Historical Society's mission.
• Georgia Historical Quarterly Flagship scholarly publication of the Georgia Historical Society featuring historical research and book reviews related to Georgia and American history.
• GHS Online Shop Online store at georgiahistory.myshopify.com selling books, publications, and historical merchandise.
• Georgia Trustees Program and Annual Gala State recognition program administered jointly with the Office of the Governor honoring Georgians whose accomplishments and community service reflect the highest ideals of the founding body of Trustees. Includes the annual Trustees Gala fundraising event.
• Vincent J. Dooley Distinguished Fellows Program Fellowship program with two tracks - Distinguished Teaching Fellows and Distinguished Research Fellows - supporting history educators and scholars across Georgia.
• Decoding Histories Inquiry Kit Free digital online learning resource combining cursive handwriting practice with hands-on history education for K-12 classrooms. Includes teacher guide, primary source investigations, cursive practice worksheets, and curated collections. Aligned with Georgia K-12 English Language Arts Standards and Social Studies Standards of Excellence.
• Georgia Uncovered: Investigating Our State's Legends - Andersonville Prison Interactive online educational exhibit investigating legends surrounding Andersonville Prison through primary sources, videos, activities, Detective's Journal PDF, StoryMap, and elementary and secondary activity sheets. Sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company.
• Georgia Day Video - Thirteenth Colony's Founding Educational video resource exploring the founding of Georgia as the thirteenth colony. Includes classroom resources aligned with Georgia Standards of Excellence for middle and high school students. Supported by Chick-fil-A.
• Community Archives Initiative Statewide program supported by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for digitizing community-held materials and expanding public access to historical resources across Georgia.
• Jepson House Education Center - Teacher Training and Field Trips Education programming, teacher training, field trips, and in-school programs offered at the Jepson House Education Center in Savannah. Provides professional development for Georgia educators and curriculum-aligned programming for visiting school groups.
• Online Exhibits and Primary Resource Teaching Materials Online exhibits and primary resource teaching materials offered for K-12 teachers and students, integrating primary sources from the GHS collection into classroom instruction.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250,000 students reached annually through Georgia History Festival
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Abraham Baldwin Agricultural CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Partner for Frank T. Nixon and Solomon Nixon historical marker in Tifton, GA.
• Magnolia Lodge #87 F&AM Prince Hall AffiliatedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Community sponsor for historical marker commemorating Frank and Solomon Nixon.
• Civil Rights and Restorative Justice ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2026Partner for Strickland family historical marker dedication in Coweta County.
• African American Alliance, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2026Community partner for historical marker commemorating Denna and Estella Strickland.
• Mt. Calvary Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2026Host partner for Strickland family historical marker dedication site.
• Baldwin County Board of CommissionersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Partnership for State Prison Farm historical marker dedication in Milledgeville, GA.
• Peyton Anderson FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Partnership for Macon journalist and philanthropist Peyton Anderson historical marker.
• Friends of Kit JonesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 March 2025Partner for Vessel Kit Jones historical marker in Darien, GA.
• McIntosh County Board of CommissionersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 March 2025Partner for Vessel Kit Jones historical marker dedication.
• Citizens Trust BankminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2025Partner for Business History Initiative historical marker recognizing century-long banking history.
• Grady Health FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2025Partner for Grady Health System historical marker and Business History Initiative.
• Correll Family FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2025Supporter of Grady Health System Business History Initiative project.
• HyundaiflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for Georgia History Festival 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, providing major funding for educational programs reaching 250,000+ students annually.
• Chick-fil-AcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival sponsor providing support for Georgia History Festival programs and events including Georgia Day video production.
• Georgia PowercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing Trustee Sponsor for Georgia History Festival, supporting educational mission and programs.
• Delta Air LinescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival sponsor supporting Georgia History Festival and educational programs.
• Georgia-PacificcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting Decoding Histories educational initiative and other programs.
• Southern CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrustee sponsor supporting Georgia History Festival and Trustees Gala.
• National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner supporting Community Archives Initiative for digitizing materials and expanding access to historical resources.
• Atlanta History CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to make history more accessible to the public through collaborative programs and resources.
• Teaching Challenging HistoriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Georgia Uncovered: Andersonville Prison educational exhibit.
• AT&TcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for Georgia History Festival and programs.
• GulfstreamcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOglethorpe-level sponsor for Georgia History Festival.
• Home Depot FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrustee sponsor supporting Georgia History Festival educational mission.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Library of Congress: Federal archive and research institution providing grant funding (e.g., NHPRC) to GHS and serving as a backstop destination for researchers. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
• American Association for State and Local History (AASLH): National service organization supporting state and local historical societies, including peer institutions like GHS. Provides industry standards, accreditation, and a peer network relevant to GHS's operating model.

Direct peers

• Atlanta History Center: Strategic partner of GHS within Georgia; operates a museum, historic houses, and research archives in Atlanta. Directly comparable statewide educational mission and overlapping K–12 programming.
• South Carolina Historical Society: Statewide nonprofit historical society in Charleston managing archival collections, a research center, publications, and educational outreach — a direct functional peer to GHS for another Southeastern state.
• Chicago History Museum: Regional historical society operating a research center, museum exhibits, and educational programs for a major U.S. metropolitan/state region. Comparable mix of archival collection, exhibitions, and K–12 outreach.
• New-York Historical Society: One of America's oldest historical societies, operating a museum, library, and K–12 educational programs. A larger-scale analog of GHS's integrated archival-research-education model.
• Massachusetts Historical Society: Founded in 1791, MHS is one of America's oldest state-focused historical societies with a comparable archival collection, research center, and publication program. Directly comparable mission, scale, and operating model to GHS.
• Virginia Historical Society: Private nonprofit historical society operating a research library, museum, and statewide educational programs in Virginia. Closest mission and revenue-model analog to GHS, including donor-driven archival and educational operations.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: National nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation with a member-supported model and corporate partnerships. Comparable to GHS's preservation and marker mission but at a national scope.
• Smithsonian National Museum of American History: National-scale incumbent offering American history exhibitions, K–12 educational resources, and archival collections. Provides federal/national competition for grants, sponsorships, and educational mindshare that GHS must contend with.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/GeorgiaHistory
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GAHistoricalSociety/videos?app=desktop&view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0
• Facebookfacebook.com/GeorgiaHistory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/georgia-historical-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/ga_historical_society/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Georgia Historical Society