This project began in 2024 in response to the growing need and desire for public access to the stories and history of Towns County while ensuring their preservation for future generations. Lindsey Walker, a doctoral student at Texas Woman’s University and a Towns County native, brought together a dedicated group passionate about preserving history, sharing stories, and educating future generations.  

 

The founding team includes:  

• Dr. Leah Panther – Mercer University & Linguistic Justice Collaborative  

• Presley Dyer – Metadata Librarian, Georgia Tech  

• Kerri Abernathy – Educator, Towns County Middle School  

• Tyler Osborn – President, Towns County Historical Society  

 

After forming, the group collaborated with volunteers from the Historical Society and the Linguistic Justice Collaborative, bringing in key partners to ensure the project's success. Kennesaw State University agreed to house the archives in its public database, making them accessible to the community.  

 

The first event was a major milestone, consisting of:  

- Two days of public information gathering

- Two days of local research  

- One day dedicated to organizing materials

 

By the event’s end, over 400 artifacts, stories, oral histories, folk tales, and photographs had been collected—many of which had never been seen by the general public or local researchers.  

 

Following this success, the Historical Society established an educational committee and officially launched the Swappin’ Stories project. This ongoing initiative continues to collect and expand the Towns County historical archives, preserving them in a modern format for future generations.