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Page 19
Campus Review
October 8, 2014
Archivist JoyEllen Freeman Earns Another Scholarship
by Siera Blasco
Stanley Johnson Calls for Education in
“Riding the Wave” of the Georgia Entertainment Industry
by Thomas Giffin
Self-motivated and self-nominated schol-
ar JoyEllen Freeman overachieves again
by gaining yet another scholarship to help
better her archival studies. Already in the
limelight once this semester in attribution
to her Emerging Archival Scholars
Program scholarship that paved her way
to the Archival Education and Research
Institute (AERI) program, now Freeman
has the Taronda Spencer Award to add to
her already many-feathered cap.
The Taronda Spencer Award will pay
Freeman’s way to the 2014 Society of Georgia
Archivists’ annual meeting Nov. 5 at the
University ofGeorgia. Thismeetingwill last for
two days and focuses on heightening the
attends’ archival skills through engaging break-
out sessions, poster sessions, presentations, and
lectures.The2014 themeof themeeting isPlans
and Strategies for the Future ofArchives.
Freeman not only brings her determina-
tion but her diversity to the future of
archives. The Taronda Spencer Award was
established in honor of Taronda Spencer,
an African American female like
Freeman. Freeman is, “excited to repre-
sent an element of diversity in the archival
community” and, through this meeting, to
be able to revisit the University of
Georgia, where the roots of her archival
dream began.
Now Freeman’s education through
Clayton State University has tended that
archival dream into a fully developed,
powerful tree.
“I am currently in my second year of the
Master Archival Studies program, and I feel
confident that the knowledge I have under
my belt from my first year at Clayton State
will allow me to formulate intelligent ques-
tions during the conference and contribute
ideas that will hopefully improve the
archival profession,” she says.
Richard Pearce-Moses, who wrote her let-
ter of recommendation for the Spencer
Award, and is the director of Freeman’s
graduate program, specifically played a
major part in Freeman’s success.
“I certainly would not have won it without
him.”
Freeman, a native of Milton, Ga., attend-
ed the AERI program from July 14 to July
18, with an intensive schedule full of
workshops, lectures, discussions, and
studies on how to better use new tech-
nologies to preserve lasting histories.
Freeman travelled to the University of
Pittsburgh for this year’s annual session.
Presenters came from all around the
world.
Freeman is hoping to expand her knowl-
edge on doctoral programs for archivists
like herself, which perfectly lines with the
AERI program’s objective to foster pas-
sion for archival doctoral programs. With
her studies, Freeman is intent on helping
her community integrate archival materi-
als into the K-12 educational system as
well as continue to meticulously attend to
her church’s archives in Roswell, Ga.
“Clayton State is the reason why I feel
ready for the program,” Freeman says. “I
can’t wait to make some great connec-
tions, develop friendships, and gain more
knowledge about preserving our commu-
nity archives.”
In Georgia, a major film, music, or movie
industry announcement arrives almost on a
weekly basis. The monetary figures bounced
around in the media are in the millions for
plans for the latest studio, new movie shoot,
or sound stage expansion.
Yet in the middle of these proclamations
is a voice at Clayton State University who
is calling for, “education and a well-
thought out approach for both individuals
and corporations looking to ride the wave
of this burgeoning industry.” The voice is
urging planning and preparation. The
voice is one of experience, honed on a
national stage while interacting with inter-
nationally known superstars.
That voice is Stanley Johnson.
At one time, Stanley received double plat-
inum sales recognition for his vocal
appearances on albums, “Wild and
Peaceful,” as well as, “Love and
Understanding,” with the group Kool and
the Gang. Led by Robert “Kool” Bell,
Kool and the Gang brought its style of
jazz, pop, and deep funk music to the
audiences of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. The
group would eventually sell more than 70
million albums worldwide and be immor-
talized in several movie soundtracks
including the cult classic Pulp Fiction,
and the 1976 Picture of the Year, Rocky.
For a young man who was still shy of his
17th birthday, his work in that environ-
ment became an invaluable education of
the entertainment industry. That is why
today, Stanley Johnson can speak so elo-
quently about the good and the bad, the
wondrous and the scandalous, and the
need to train a generation of young people
who understand the numerous sides of the
spotlight that is ascending upon the
state.
“The buzzwords today are… ‘Atlanta, the
Hollywood of the South.’ However, to be
truly successful, we need to convince the
industry leaders that we have knowledge-
able executives,” Stanley says. “We des-
perately need, not only creative, talented
people, but also individuals who are
trained, educated, and equipped but to be
the executives, the attorneys, the mentors,
and the creative geniuses who position
talent for the best possible, long-term out-
comes. Only then will we be truly suc-
cessful in this new environment.”
Today, as a multi-media specialist,
Johnson is CEO/Owner of Diamond Light
Entertainment, Inc., based in Atlanta.
Johnson, cont’d, p. 21