Charles Elmore facts for kids

Charles J. Elmore is an American scholar and historian. He is known for his work as an educator and for studying jazz music. He was born and grew up in Savannah, Georgia.

Early Life and Education

Charles Elmore was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. He went to St. Pius X School. Later, he studied biology and chemistry at Savannah State University. He earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree there.

He then continued his studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He earned a Master of Arts (MA) degree in journalism. He also received a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. This means he studied how colleges and universities are managed.

A Career in Education

Mr. Elmore taught at Savannah State University for over 35 years. He retired from teaching in 2007.

Leading Mass Communications

At Savannah State University, Mr. Elmore led the Mass Communications Department. This department teaches students about journalism and media. Under his leadership, the department achieved a special recognition. It was accredited by a group called ACEJMC in 2007. This made it one of only two programs in Georgia with this high standard.

He even came out of retirement in 2013 to help the department again. He made sure it kept its important accreditation until 2019. He was a tenured professor, which means he had a permanent teaching position.

Awards and Recognition

Charles Elmore received many awards for his work. In 1999, he got the Governors Award in the Humanities. This award came from Roy Barnes, who was the governor of Georgia at the time.

He was also named the Regents Distinguished Professor of Teaching and Learning. This was a special honor from Savannah State University. In 2015, he received the Richard R. Wright Award of Excellence. This is the highest award given by the university. In 2016, he was added to the Hall of Fame for the Southern Regional Press Institute.

Exploring Jazz History

Mr. Elmore has a strong interest in jazz music. He has collected many jazz recordings. He has also researched and written over twenty articles about jazz history in Savannah. His work helps people learn how this musical art form developed in the city.

Community Lectures

In 2008, Charles Elmore was a guest speaker for a special lecture series. He gave talks on interesting topics. These included the history of "Free Blacks in Savannah." He also spoke about the "Beach Historic Neighborhood" in Savannah.

Published Works

Charles Elmore has written several historical books and articles. His writings cover many topics about Savannah's history.

Here are some of his books:

• Athletic Saga of Savannah State College (1992)
• Richard R. Wright, Sr., at GSIC, 1891-1921 (1996)
• An Historical Guide to Laurel Grove Cemetery South (1998)
• All That Savannah Jazz…From Brass Bands, Vaudeville, to Rhythm and Blues (1999)
• The History of the First Bryan Baptist Church – 1788-2001 (2002)
• General Hunter’s Proclamation: The Quest for African American Freedom Before and During the Civil War (2002)
• Savannah, Georgia (2002)
• So Great A Cloud of Witnesses: The History of Butler Memorial Presbyterian Church (2006)
• Tell Them We are rising - The History of Savannah State University 1890-2015 (2015)

He has also written more than fifty articles. These articles have appeared in important journals. Some examples are the Georgia Historical Quarterly and the Journal of Higher Education. His work is also featured in the New Georgia Encyclopedia online. Major newspapers like the Washington Post and the Atlanta Journal Constitution have mentioned his writings.