Little 5 Points 1951 political rally with Mr. William Hartsfield
We are honored to host this display until the end of April.
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) March 05, 2014
Atlanta West Fulton High School graduate Ralph Sosebee, Sr passed away in 2008. After a series of fortunate events, a photography exhibit of Atlanta history through Sosebee’s work from the early 1940s and 1950s is displayed for fans of Atlanta as well as the mid-century era.
According to family records, Mr. Ralph Sosebee, Sr. of Mableton, Georgia entered into Navy service as a photographer during World War II. Following the war’s end, Sosebee went to work for the Atlanta Police Department and WAGA TV before opening his own studio in Grove Park. During his lifetime, Sosebee captured Atlanta’s history including local and national heroes such as Baseball Hall of Famer Eddie Matthews, legendary actor Anthony Quinn, country music legend Gene Autry, Mayor William B. Hartsfield and local famed athlete Larry Osborne, graduate of West Fulton High School in Atlanta.
Following Sosebee’s death in 2008, family members stored the images never knowing what to do with their father’s many boxes of negatives. In 2010, during the last days of a yard sale, over 6000 negatives were about to be hauled to the dump when a last minute phone call saved the archive. Local photographer Timothy Cole remembers getting that phone call: “They said they were getting ready to haul the negatives to the dump and asked me if I had any interest. I didn’t hesitate. I had met Mr. Sosebee years earlier and was a huge fan. I went straight away to collect the negatives unsure of what I would do with them - beyond save them from the dump.”
It wasn’t long after that Cole ran into local politician Senator Steve Thompson, also a friend of Sosebee. Cole reports “Thompson immediately recognized the historical value of this archive and donated personal funds to support the restoration of several significant pieces.” Finding a place to display the work was as easy as contacting local attorneys Michael and Shelia Manely. Says founding, family law attorney, Michael Manely, “we had just moved into new offices and were happy to offer our bare walls for Tim’s display. The images captured the same essence as our mid-century building. With two floors and a sunlit atrium it was just a beautiful fit.”
Several weeks ago the exhibit opened to a gathering of Sosebee’s friends and family. Manely Assistant Business Manager, Rebecca Jordan stated “seeing Mr. Sosebee’s family looking at work by their beloved father was a beautiful reminder of how a family’s legacy is never ending. It was a magical night for them, for Mr. Cole, for Senator Thompson and for The Manely Firm. We are honored to host this display through the end of April.”
At present, more than 20 of Sosebee’s photos are on display at The Manely Firm, PC firm in Marietta located at 211 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA 30060. Guests are welcome to peruse during normal business hours.
About The Manely Firm, P.C.:
Metro-Atlanta attorney family law attorney Michael Manely began practice in 1989 and established The Manely Firm, P.C., in 2003 with the goal of providing highly effective legal advice and representation to families struggling with complicated family law matters. Since hanging his own shingle in 1991, Michael Manely has developed a leading family law firm with multiple office locations throughout Georgia in Marietta, Atlanta, Lawrenceville, Canton and Savannah. Mr. Manely is recognized as the only attorney in the country practicing all family law to win unanimously both before the United States Supreme Court (Chafin v. Chafin; 11-15355-CC) and a State Supreme Court (Georgia, McDermott v. McDermott; 2011CV199099)
