GCSU kicks off celebrations ahead of Flannery O’Connor’s centennial year

Ninety scholars and up to 200 enthusiasts nationwide are about to descend upon Georgia College & State University’s campus and Andalusia in Milledgeville, where Flannery O’Connor spent her later years. 

They come for a free, four-day conference Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 12-15, hosted by the university’s Flannery O’Connor Institute for the Humanities. The gathering begins a countdown to the popular Southern writer’s 100th birthday in March 2025 and months of special activities.

“We’re thrilled to welcome conference attendees from all over the country to see how Georgia College & State University's liberal arts mission cultivates collaborative opportunities among disciplines on campus and across the community,” said Dr. Holley Roberts, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

“Through the lens of studying Flannery O’Connor’s work,” she said, “we open doors to many interdisciplinary fields for students to explore—from grant writing to oral history to graphic design. By stewarding the historic home of Flannery O’Connor, Andalusia, our archival holdings of O'Connor's work and our public liberal arts mission, we see the humanities thrive.”

The conference, “Flannery O’Connor’s Second Century: Looking Forward, Looking Back,” is filled with talks by expert scholars and nightly keynote addresses. 

Keynotes feature historic preservation architect Karen M. Gravel of Atlanta; Southern studies author Dr. Lisa Hinrichsen from the University of Arkansas; author and activist Dr. Mab Segrest from Connecticut College; and poet Mark Jarman from Vanderbilt University.

An opening reception will be 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in the Andalusia Interpretive Center, following Gavel’s presentation.

“We're very excited to bring over 90 scholars to Milledgeville from around the country,” said Dr. Katie Simon, interim executive director of the O’Connor Institute at Georgia College.

“As we near her 100th birthday,” Simon said, “we’re amazed at how much Flannery O'Connor's work speaks to our present time. We also find—as do Ethan and Maya Hawke in their new film ‘Wildcat’—much that is entertaining and brilliant in her work.”

Other speakers include writers and professors from Georgia College’s Creative Writing program. 

There will be readings, presentations and resources for those interested in studying more about O’Connor and her work. Sessions by K-12 English teachers, creative writers, Georgia College students, oral historians, local history enthusiasts and naturalists can be found on the attached schedule.

Two book releases will be celebrated during the conference, as well, and there will be a self-guided walking tour at Andalusia Farm with a focus on native plants.

“Georgia College has a unique responsibility to support those doing serious work on our most famous graduate,” said Dr. Bruce Gentry, conference organizer and O’Connor Institute fellow at Georgia College.

 “I’m proud to have this conference supporting serious scholarship,” he said. “I hope it sparks increased interest in and study of O'Connor on campus.” 

This conference is open to the public and free with a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. To register for the conference registration, please visit this webpage. For more information, see the this page.

The accompanying image was provided to GCSU by O’Connor’s cousin, the late Louise Flourencourt.