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Ray Billings photographs

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.VIS176

Scope and Contents of the Records

This collection contains images of Atlanta taken by Ray Billings, an amateur photographer. The collection consists of images of downtown, parks, high schools, shopping centers, and Atlanta area landmarks. The majority of images consist of aerial views of downtown Atlanta that include images of Adams Park, Adamsville, Atlanta City Hall, Atlanta Civic Center, Atlanta Police Department building, Atlanta Stadium, the Baptist Tabernacle, Fulton County Court House, the Georgia State Capitol, Grady Memorial Hospital, the Hurt Building, and Rich’s Department Store. Billings took aerial photos of the city in his efforts to locate suitable locations for police towers. Other images of downtown Atlanta include Hurt Park, Kimball House, and the Fulton County Jail. Images of parks include Ansley Park, Candler Park, Grant Park, Piedmont Park, and others. The collection includes aerial views of several Atlanta high schools including Grady High School, Harper High School, Northside High School, and Fulton High School. In addition, there are several images of a circus at Ponce de Leon Park and photographs of the Billings’ Family on Kennesaw Mountain.

Dates

  • 1958-1973

Creator

Restrictions on Access

This collection is located in cold storage (CS) as indicated in the descriptive inventory. Patrons must allow 2 hours after retrieval of cold storage item(s) before viewing material.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.

Administrative History

Ray Henry Billings (1922-1979) was a communications engineer for the Atlanta Police Department. He was born in Vernon, Texas to parents Melford Ray Billings (1893-1969) and Louise Dorothy Frank Billings (1898- 1964). Billings served in the 13th Fighter Squadron, United States Air Force. He met his future wife Elizabeth Truitt (1927-) at a dance in Macon for service men and proposed to her at the Dwarf House in Hapeville. After marriage, the couple resided in College Park and had four children: Truitt Ray (1949-2007), Maria Frieda (1951-), Henry Lee (1955-), and Raynette Leila (1957-). Upon completing his service with the Air Force, Billings attended Georgia Tech, graduating in 1950. His first job was with Ford Motor Company. He later became communications engineer for the Atlanta Police Department, designed the Emergency 911 system for the city, and worked with Motorola Corporation in purchasing the 911 towers built for the system. Billings retired from the police department in 1978.

Extent

281 image(s)

Language

English

Additional Description

Arrangement of the Papers

This collection is arranged alphabetical according to titles supplied by staff.

Acquisition Information

Gift, multiple donations

General Physical Description note

Extent: 281 color slides

Processing Information

Collection processed in 2009

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Ray Billings photographys ahc.VIS 176
Subtitle
An Inventory of His Photographs at the Kenan Research Center of the Atlanta History Center
Author
Inventory prepared by Paul Crater
Date
July 2009
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/
Contact:
130 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040