Atlanta, Georgia - The Robert C. Williams Paper Museum at Georgia Tech is pleased to announce that George W. Mead and the Mead Witter Foundation were awarded Patron of the Year by the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries. The ceremony took place in Albany Georgia on January 20th at the state wide annual meeting of the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries.  George Mead attended the ceremony and spoke on the need to pair the interests of the funders with the needs of the non profit organizations.  The Mead Witter Foundation generously funded the new education and exhibition center for the museum. 

George Mead accepting the award

Cindy Bowden, David Dundee, George Mead and Jim Frederick

The Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries holds in high esteem patrons and foundations which support museums.  The award is competitive and each nomination is scrutinized by a committee of museum peers.  The award committee this year was included Pat Morris, Director of the St. Simons Lighthouse Museum, Lamar Renford and David Vogt, curators from the Atlanta Jackson Hartsfield International Airport Art Program.  George Mead and the Mead Witter Foundation were recognized for their significant contribution to the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum in supporting the creation of a new exhibition gallery, research center for scholars and education outreach area.   The new George W. Mead Education Center allows visitors to gain an increased appreciation for something we take for granted everyday: paper.  George W. Mead II, for whom the center is named said, “I was very proud to accept this fine award on behalf of the Mead Witter Foundation. The Foundation’s financial strength came from the paper industry. And our efforts are all based on improving everyone’s future, especially with an emphasis on education. Thus we were glad to have the opportunity to finance the Education Center as an addition to the American Museum of Papermaking”  George W. Mead, II, Chairman of the Mead Witter Foundation, a leader in philanthropic support of educational programs and is passionate about the role which papermaking plays in our culture.  George Mead is the former Chairman of Consolidated Papers, Inc.  He received a Master of Science degree from the Institute of Paper Chemistry in 1952 and an honorary doctorate from the Institute of Paper Science and Technology in 2004. Mead served as trustee of IPST for many years including a term as chairman when the Institute moved to the Georgia Tech campus. 

About the Mead Witter Foundation:
The Mead Witter Foundation, a private philanthropic organization, is headquartered in Wisconsin Rapids.  Founded in 1951, the Foundation is funded through earnings from endowments from George W. Mead I and family members who were major shareholders in Consolidated Papers, Inc.

About the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries:
The Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries is a statewide organization dedicated to serving a diverse membership in a way that establishes a responsive network, provides a resource base and promotes professionalism so that Georgia's museum community is strong, effective and proactive. There are over 400 museums in Georgia who are members of the association.

About the Museum:
The Robert C. Williams Paper Museum is located within the Institute of Paper Science and Technology, Georgia Tech at 500 10th Street NW, in Atlanta, Georgia. The museum features the premier collection of paper and paper related artifacts in the world. The permanent exhibit traces the history of the art and science of papermaking from ancient cultures to modern paper technologies. Museum hours are 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.