Folks Worth While in Western North Carolina: featuring Frederick Raymond Georgia
Asheville Citizen-Times, Dec 30 1934, P. 22, Cols. 2-3, with photo

'BLUE RIDGE. Dec. 29. (special) - Frederick Raymond Georgia, professor of chemistry at Black Mountain College here and secretary to the faculty, was born at Sayre, Pa., and educated at the grammar and high schools of Scranton in the same State. He graduated from Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. in 1915 with the degree of bachelor of chemistry specializing in the chemistry of public water supplies, under the nationally known authority. Professor E. M. Chamot. He stayed on at the university as instructor in sanitary chemistry while studying for an advanced degree.
  In 1917 he was commissioned first lieutenant in the sanitary corps. A. E. F. and went at once to France with the 41st or "Sunset Division." a national guard outfit from the Northwest, sailing in November, 1917. He was the one sanitary officer attached to the Mobile Laboratory as water expert of the division. This later became the First Depot Division and eventually Depot Division of the First Army Corps. Most of his time in France was spent in  St. Aignan. "St Agony, as the boys promptly christened it, had the doubtful honor of being reputedly the second muddiest place in France. Dr. George remarked reminiscently, "Of course, anyone who saw Brest knows what town is entitled to first honors in any such competition."
  -- Awarded Ph.D. in 1922 --
  He returned to the United States in February, 1919, and was discharged from the service the following month. He returned at once to Cornell, where he resumed his duties as an Instructor at the university, and his studies for his doctorate. In 1922 he completed these, and was awarded the degree of doctor of philosophy in chemistry.
  Dr. Georgia remained on the faculty at Cornell until 1926, when he was called to Rollins College, Winter Park, Fla., as professor of chemistry. He held this position for seven years. He served as chairman of the curriculum committee during the years that saw most of the changes in educational practice for which Rollins has become known.
  When, in company with nearly a dozen other members of the faculty of Rollins, Dr. Georgia's connection with this institution was severed in the spring of 1933, the question of founding a new college in which some really fundamental educational changes could be embodied and given a real try-out, was seriously considered as a practical possibility. As summer advanced, what had at first seemed but a hazy dream began to take shape as an attractive hope; but it was not until September that the necessary funds had been underwritten to justify the announcement that the projected institution would actually open its doors for students, at what may now be considered almost the low point of the depression.
-- College Opened In Sept. 1933 --
The men who, with Dr. Georgia, had the courage to become the founders of this new laboratory of educational theory at the college level were John Andrew Rice, Ralph Reed Lounsbury, and Theodore Dreier, all members of the group who had been it Rollins college. Others who had considered joining with this group had been unable to wait until the opening of the new college could be assured, and so had taken other positions.  Nine other members were added to this original group and Black Mountain college, having obtained ideal quarters in Robert E Lee hall, the main building of the Blue Ridge assembly, opened its doors in September, 1933.
  For the first year, Dr. Georgia served as rector, in accordance with the practice in European universities, where the head of the institution is not a permanent president, chosen from outside the faculty, but one of the professors, designated to serve in this capacity for a year.
  Dr. Georgia also became secretary of the college after the death of Professor Lounsbury and continues to hold this office. He is also a member of the board of fellows, the governing board of the college, which is made up of five faculty members and one student member, thus making faculty control certain and obviating the unfortunate condition seen on some American college and university campuses where control by a board of governors or fellows made up largely from the business world often renders the best scholastic ideals and practices impossible of adoption.
  -- Married Miss Healey --
  In 1920 Dr Georgia married Miss Lolita Healey, of Boston, a graduate of Radcliffe college, They have two children. Daniel Carver and Nathalie Elizabeth. Both attend the Cottage school, the newly founded elementary school that serves the faculty children and other youngsters living In the neighborhood of Blue Ridge and Black Mountain. This school, which is a branch of the Black Mountain public school system, is attempting to do for education at the elementary level what the college is doing for older students.
  Dr. Georgia is a member of the American Chemical society, the American Waterworks association, and the American Association of University Professors. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and of the American Public Health association. He was made a member of the Sigma Xi fraternity (honor scientific society) at Cornell university.'