On July 26, 1834, a small group of graduates of The University of Georgia met in the Chapel to organize an alumni society. A.S. Clayton, '04. was chairman of the gathering. A special meeting to elect officers and adopt a constitution was set for 10 days later.

Seventy one alumni attended the August 5th meeting with a representative from each graduating class, 1804 - 1834, present. A constitution was adopted, officers were elected, and The University of Georgia became the fourth college in the U.S. to establish an alumni society. The UGA society is the second oldest among state universities.

A.S. Clayton was named president; Jeptha V. Harris, David Chandler and William C. Dawson, vice presidents; William L. Mitchell, recording secretary; William E. Jones, corresponding secretary, and Elizur L. Newton, treasurer.

One of the first services performed by the Society at the second meeting in 1835 was the approval of a letter to be sent to all University alumni on record requesting their aid in collecting and forwarding to the school specimens of animals, birds, small insects, plants, flowers and minerals. Alumni were also asked to assist in procuring books, old and new editions, manuscripts, letters, autographs, facsimiles, and all other things curious and rare.

Meetings were held each year in conjunction with commencement week until the outbreak of The War Between the States when a lapse of six years occurred. In 1886, the first issue of The Pandora (University yearbook) devoted a full page of its 100-page edition to listing the officers of the Society and to report on activities of former Georgia students.

Dr. R.P. Brooks, later Dean of the School of Commerce and then Dean of the Graduate School, was named secretary of the society and editor of The Alumni Record. The publication was started principally to support the first major alumni fund-raising effort, the War Memorial Fund. This campaign led to the completion of the building now known as Memorial Hall. Dr. Brooks, the first paid part-time professional, served until 1926. Dr. Brooks was followed in this position by E.A. Rastus Lowe who served from February, 1926 through July, 1926. John D. Allen then became alumni secretary, editor of The Record and business manager for the society from July, 1926 through August, 1927. Tom S. Gray, Jr. held the position from August 1927 until May, 1935. Col. A.T. Tolley served from 1935 through 1939 when Dyar Massey, director of public relations for the University, took on the additional duties of alumni secretary. He served until 1941.

The first full-time alumni secretary was William M. Crane who took over in 1941. Under his direction, special emphasis was placed on keeping more complete alumni records and in establishing alumni chapters.

One of the most important efforts of Mr. Crane was the absorption of the State Normal School - Georgia State Teachers College into the records and programs of the Georgia Alumni Society.

In 1956, the Alumni Society, working with the University of Georgia Foundation and school administration, established the new position of director of alumni relations. Tyus Butler '35, a member of the Grady School of Journalism faculty, was named to this position. He had edited The Alumni Record for several years previously. His main task was to create closer ties between the Alumni Society, the UGA Foundation, and the University faculty and administration. He served until his retirement in December, 1982.

Under Butler's leadership, new chapters were established, the staff was expanded and numerous programs and activities undertaken including nationally recognized alumni seminar and alumni tours programs.

Gordon Bradwell '65, who joined the Alumni Society Staff in 1971, succeeded Butler and continued expanding the outreach and programs of the society with special attention given to young alumni and enhancement of the seminar and tour programs. He served until 1989.

Dave Muia '74, who began his UGA career in the alumni relations office in 1975 and also worked in the Development Office, succeeded Bradwell and served until his retirement in January, 2004.

Notable changes occurred during Muia's years including the society becoming a dues paying organization, a change of name for the Society and the magazine, realignment of staff, development of an off-campus alumni center in Atlanta, establishment of an association for retired faculty and staff, the beginning of a Student Alumni Association, the offering of an affinity card, and a revised program of regional programming.

Upon the institution of annual dues, the organization's name was changed from Alumni Society to the National Alumni Association in 1996. The 'National' was later dropped. The Alumni Record became the Georgia Magazine.

There are presently over 22,000 dues paying members of the Association and a dues-paying Student Alumni Association. The Association provides assistance to more than 90 regional contacts throughout the country and in several foreign areas.

Muia retired in January, 2004. Deborah Dietzler currently serves as the Executive Director of the UGA Alumni Association.

The Association operates with a staff of 21. Headquarters is the historic Wray-Nicholson House, 298 South Hull Street in Athens. However, plans are nearing completion for a new state-of-the-art alumni center to be erected on campus.

Revised February 2007