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Philip Weltner (1887-1981) was a major civic leader from the [[Progressive Movement|Progressive era of the early 20th century]] to the 1960s. A lawyer who was both a reformer of social ills and a shaper of welfare, higher education, and philanthropic programs in Georgia, Weltner preferred to remain anonymous, letting others take credit for efforts in which he played a significant role. Obtaining support from wealthy and influential men such as John Eagan, Joseph Logan, Marion Jackson, and Robert W. Woodruff, Weltner helped people better themselves in the areas of housing, health, labor conditions, prison life, and small farm enterprises. He helped establish and served on Georgia University System's Board of Regents and served as regional director of the Resettlement Administration. He also restored fiscal soundness to and gained accreditation for Oglethorpe University, where he was president for ten years.<ref> Noell Wannamaker, "'Mr. Anonymous, Jr.': Philip Weltner and Uplift from Progressivism to the Great Society." ''Journal of the Georgia Association of Historians'' 1995 16: 16-51. 0275-3867 </Ref>  

Philip Weltner (1887-1981) was a major civic leader from the [[Progressive Movement|Progressive era of the early 20th century]] to the 1960s. A lawyer who was both a reformer of social ills and a shaper of welfare, higher education, and philanthropic programs in Georgia, Weltner preferred to remain anonymous, letting others take credit for efforts in which he played a significant role. Obtaining support from wealthy and influential men such as John Eagan, Joseph Logan, Marion Jackson, and Robert W. Woodruff, Weltner helped people better themselves in the areas of housing, health, labor conditions, prison life, and small farm enterprises. He helped establish and served on Georgia University System's Board of Regents and served as regional director of the Resettlement Administration. He also restored fiscal soundness to and gained accreditation for Oglethorpe University, where he was president for ten years.<ref> Noell Wannamaker, "'Mr. Anonymous, Jr.': Philip Weltner and Uplift from Progressivism to the Great Society." ''Journal of the Georgia Association of Historians'' 1995 16: 16-51. 0275-3867 </Ref>  

The Chamber of Commerce's monthly magazine "The City Builder" (1916-35) was used by boosters to define Atlanta's unique characteristics and to apply them to daily city life. Money, morality, idealism, and sanctification of the city became known collectively as "the Atlanta Spirit," which supposedly united all citizens in a fervor of boosterism. Local businessmen hoped to attract new industries and populations by these zealous appeals to civic pride, which included the black community. It published information about the labor force, particularly its skill, cleanliness, and docility, observing that the Blacks knew their place. Realizing that Atlanta was the center of the cotton economy, it promoted agricultural growth, improvement in farm productivity, modernization of the state education system, and extolled the talent of its businessmen.<ref> Charles Garofalo, "The Atlanta Spirit: A Study in Urban Ideology," ''South Atlantic Quarterly'' 1975 74(1): 34-44. 0038-2876 </ref>

The Chamber of Commerce's monthly magazine "The City Builder" (1916-35) was used by boosters to define Atlanta's unique characteristics and to apply them to daily city life. Money, morality, idealism, and sanctification of the city became known collectively as "the Atlanta Spirit," which supposedly united all citizens in a fervor of boosterism. Local businessmen hoped to attract new industries and populations by these zealous appeals to civic pride, which included the black community. It published information about the labor force, particularly its skill, cleanliness, and docility, observing that the Blacks knew their place. Realizing that Atlanta was the center of the cotton economy, it promoted agricultural growth, improvement in farm productivity, modernization of the state education system, and extolled the talent of its businessmen.<ref> Charles Garofalo, "The Atlanta Spirit: A Study in Urban Ideology," ''South Atlantic Quarterly'' 1975 74(1): 34-44. 0038-2876 </ref>

===1920-1945===

===1920-1945===

====Great Depression====

====Great Depression====

As a commercial city with a small industrial base, Atlanta suffered less during the Great Depression than most northern cities,. Nevertheless unemployment was high and times were hard. Women suffered from poverty and unemployment. A caste system based on a woman's race, age, and (sometimes) marital status determined the type of job she was likely to have. Statistics indicate that, generally, black women had greater difficulty in the job market and were employed as domestics, while white women held clerical positions.<ref> Julia Kirk Blackwelder, "Quiet Suffering: Atlanta Women in the 1930s," ''Georgia Historical Quarterly'' 1977 61(2): 112-124. 0016-8297 </ref>   

As a commercial city with a small industrial base, Atlanta suffered less during the Great Depression than most northern cities. Nevertheless unemployment was high and times were hard.  

 

 

 

 

Women suffered from poverty and unemployment. A caste system based on a woman's race, age, and (sometimes) marital status determined the type of job she was likely to have. Statistics indicate that, generally, black women had greater difficulty in the job market and were employed as domestics, while white women held clerical positions.<ref> Julia Kirk Blackwelder, "Quiet Suffering: Atlanta Women in the 1930s," ''Georgia Historical Quarterly'' 1977 61(2): 112-124. 0016-8297 </ref>   

The spectacular premier in Atlanta of David O. Selznick's film version of Margaret Mitchell's novel ''Gone With The Wind'' in December 1939 was an unprecedented and unconventional success, marking both a new stage in film promotion and a milestone in Atlanta's efforts to remake itself as the capital of the New South.  It was a segregated event that attracted several hundred thousand spectators. The best-selling novel and the top-selling film ever gave Atlanta a heroic image worldwide.<ref> Matthew Bernstein, "Selznick's March: The Atlanta Premiere of Gone With The Wind." ''Atlanta History'' 1999 43(2): 7-33. 0896-3975 </ref>

The spectacular premier in Atlanta of David O. Selznick's film version of Margaret Mitchell's novel ''Gone With The Wind'' in December 1939 was an unprecedented and unconventional success, marking both a new stage in film promotion and a milestone in Atlanta's efforts to remake itself as the capital of the New South.  It was a segregated event that attracted several hundred thousand spectators. The best-selling novel and the top-selling film ever gave Atlanta a heroic image worldwide.<ref> Matthew Bernstein, "Selznick's March: The Atlanta Premiere of Gone With The Wind." ''Atlanta History'' 1999 43(2): 7-33. 0896-3975 </ref>

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* [http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Home.jsp ''New Georgia Encyclopedia'' (2007)], a solid, scholarly online reference book

* [http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Home.jsp ''New Georgia Encyclopedia'' (2007)], a solid, scholarly online reference book

* Abbott, Carl. ''The New Urban America: Growth and Politics in Sunbelt Cities'' (1987), compares Atlanta with San Antonio, Texas

* Abbott, Carl. ''The New Urban America: Growth and Politics in Sunbelt Cities'' (1987), compares Atlanta with San Antonio, Texas

* Allen, Frederick. ''Atlanta Rising: The Invention of an International City, 1946-1996.'' Atlanta: Longstreet, 1996. 290 pp.

* Allen, Frederick. ''Atlanta Rising: The Invention of an International City, 1946-1996.'' (1996). 290 pp.

* Ambrose, Andy. ''Atlanta: An Illustrated History.'' (2003) 224pp ISBN 1-58818-086-7.)

* Ambrose, Andy. ''Atlanta: An Illustrated History.'' (2003) 224pp ISBN 1-58818-086-7.)

* Barnard, Susan Kessler. ''Buckhead: A Place For All Time.'' Marietta, Ga.: Bemis, 1996. 270 pp.

* Barnard, Susan Kessler. ''Buckhead: A Place For All Time.'' Marietta, Ga.: Bemis, 1996. 270 pp.

* Bayor, Ronald H. ''Race and the Shaping of Twentieth-Century Atlanta.'' (1996). 334 pp. by a leading scholar

* Bayor, Ronald H. ''Race and the Shaping of Twentieth-Century Atlanta.'' (1996). 334 pp. by a leading scholar

* Braden, Betsy and Hagan, Paul. ''A Dream Takes Flight: Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport and Aviation in Atlanta.'' (1989). 252 pp.

* Braden, Betsy and Hagan, Paul. ''A Dream Takes Flight: Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport and Aviation in Atlanta.'' (1989). 252 pp.

* Daniel, Wayne W. ''Pickin' on Peachtree: A History of Country Music in Atlanta, Georgia.'' (1990). 295 pp.

* Daniel, Wayne W. ''Pickin' on Peachtree: A History of Country Music in Atlanta, Georgia.'' (1990). 295 pp.

* Davis, Harold E. ''Henry Grady's New South: Atlanta, a Brave and Beautiful City.'' (1990). 254 pp.

* Davis, Harold E. ''Henry Grady's New South: Atlanta, a Brave and Beautiful City.'' (1990). 254 pp.