April 30, 2026, Cartersville, GA – The Bartow History Museum invites the public to the unveiling of its newest temporary exhibit, M.W.H “Alphabet” Collins: A Lifetime of Innovation, along with a special evening lecture on Thursday, April 30, at 6 pm. Mary Norton and Julia Knight will give a presentation on the life and work of Mr. Collins, including the founding of the Georgia Institute of Genetics, in the Bergman Theater at the Booth Western Art Museum Following the lecture, attendees are invited back to the Bartow History Museum for an unveiling of a sculpture of Alphabet Collins created by Ms. Knight that will be installed on the Cartersville campus of Georgia Highlands College later this year.
Admission is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served. Attendees are encouraged to make reservations at www.BartowHistoryMuseum.org.
About the Speakers
Mary Norton has been an active and dedicated member of the Etowah Valley Historical Society since 1972. Alongside Dr. Bob Norton, she has provided decades of leadership, conducted in-depth historical research, and delivered engaging presentations and events at Valley View. Her commitment to preserving and sharing local history has earned her recognition, including the EVHS Lifetime Achievement Award.
Julia Trawick Knight is a figurative sculptor with extensive experience in both private and public commissions. She developed her artistic foundation through studies at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee; Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida; and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Her early influences include classical Greek and Roman sculpture, European works from the Renaissance through the modern era, and American art of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Knight further refined her style through mentorships with Leslie T. Posey, Eugene Daub, and, most significantly, Stanley Bleifeld in Pietrasanta, Italy. These experiences helped her develop a distinctive voice while honing her technical skill.
Her notable works include Swept Under the Rug at the McKissick Museum in Columbia, South Carolina; a sculpture of President Jimmy Carter at the Booth Museum of Western Art in Cartersville, Georgia; and numerous public works throughout Georgia, as well as a statue of Rosa Parks in Montgomery, Alabama.
About the Bartow History Museum
The Bartow History Museum, located in Historic Downtown Cartersville, documents the history of Northwest Georgia’s Bartow County spanning more than 200 years. Artifacts, photographs, documents, and a variety of interactive exhibits tell the story of settlement, Cherokee life of removal, Civil War strife, and lifestyles of years past. The Bartow History Museum also provides a variety of educational opportunities for adults, children, families, and school groups. Our extensive archives and research library contains photographs, documents, newspapers, rare books, genealogy records, oral history interviews, and more. For additional information, visit www.bartowhistorymuseum.org.
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Press Release