Historical figures in Atlanta
The atlas holds 19 people and 30 moments here, from 1882 to 2019. The most recorded lives are Martin Luther King Jr., Jimmy Carter and Muhammad Ali. Among them Writers, Performers and Musicians and Composers, across the Space Age and the Cold War.
Notable people
Carl Sagan
in 1988
1 moment here
American astronomer, planetary scientist, educator, author, and science communicator. Sagan studied at the University of Chicago, held appointments…
Claudia Cardinale
in 1967
1 moment here
Italian-Tunisian actress whose career ranged from postwar Tunis through Italian, French, British, American, and international cinema, as well as…
Deng Xiaoping
in 1979
1 moment here
Chinese revolutionary, statesman, and paramount leader of the People’s Republic of China from 1978 to 1989.…
Desmond Tutu
from 1986 to 1998
2 moments here
South African Anglican bishop, theologian, anti-apartheid activist, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Archbishop of Cape Town, and chair of South Africa’s…
Jimmy Carter
from 1942 to 2019
3 moments here
James Earl Carter Jr. was an American naval officer, Georgia state senator and governor, the 39th president of the United States, and a…
Julius Nyerere
in 1977
1 moment here
Tanzanian anti-colonial leader, political theorist, and founding president of Tanzania. Nyerere led the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU),…
Kenneth Kaunda
in 1960
1 moment here
Zambian teacher, nationalist leader, and first president of independent Zambia, serving from 1964 to 1991.…
Martin Luther King Jr.
from 1929 to 1965
8 moments here
American Baptist minister and civil-rights leader who advanced racial equality through nonviolent protest.…
Max Weber
in 1904
1 moment here
German sociologist, historian, jurist, and political economist whose work on rationalisation, bureaucracy, religion, capitalism, and social action…
Muhammad Ali
from 1970 to 1996
2 moments here
Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.) was an American boxer, activist, humanitarian, and global cultural figure.…
Paul Walker
in 2010
1 moment here
Paul William Walker IV was an American actor best known for playing Brian O'Conner in the Fast & Furious franchise.…
Prince
in 2016
1 moment here
Prince Rogers Nelson was an American singer, songwriter, musician, producer, actor, and filmmaker associated with the Minneapolis sound.…
Rosa Parks
in 1988
1 moment here
American civil-rights activist whose lifelong work against racial segregation included local NAACP organizing in Montgomery, the 1955 bus protest and…
Tupac Shakur
in 1993
1 moment here
American rapper, actor, poet, and political activist, also known as 2Pac and Makaveli. His documented life included childhood in New York City and…
Warren G. Harding
in 1921
1 moment here
Warren G. Harding was the 29th president of the United States, serving from 1921 until his death in 1923.…
Whitney Houston
in 1996
1 moment here
American singer, actress, producer, and cultural icon known for recordings including “I Will Always Love You,” major world tours, film roles, and…
William McKinley
in 1898
1 moment here
William McKinley Jr. (1843–1901) was an American lawyer, Civil War veteran, Republican politician, governor of Ohio, and the 25th president of the…
Woodrow Wilson
in 1882
1 moment here
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was an American academic, governor of New Jersey, and the 28th president of the United States.…
Yun Ch'iho
in 1910
1 moment here
Korean politician, reformer, educator, Christian leader, diarist, and later Japanese colonial collaborator.…
Moments
- 1882 Brief legal practice Woodrow Wilson
- 1898 Speech to Georgia legislature William McKinley
- 1904 Rail journey through Atlanta Max Weber
- 1910 Southern Methodist lay conference Yun Ch'iho
- 1921 Southern-tour stop in Atlanta Warren G. Harding
- 1929 Born at 501 Auburn Avenue Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1941 Moves to Boulevard home Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1942 Transfer to Georgia Tech Jimmy Carter
- 1944 Begins Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1948 Ordained at Ebenezer Baptist Church Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1957 Helps establish the SCLC Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1960 Visit with Martin Luther King Jr. Kenneth Kaunda
- 1960 Returns to Atlanta ministry Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1960 Arrested at Rich's sit-in Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1965 Moves to Sunset Avenue home Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1967 Wedding ceremony in Atlanta Claudia Cardinale
- 1970 Return to boxing Muhammad Ali
- 1977 State visit and civil-rights commemoration Julius Nyerere
- 1979 Visit to Coca-Cola headquarters Deng Xiaoping
- 1982 Carter Center founding Jimmy Carter
- 1986 Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize Desmond Tutu
- 1988 Meeting with CDC employees Carl Sagan
- 1988 Democratic National Convention appearance Rosa Parks
- 1993 Arrest in Atlanta Tupac Shakur
- 1996 Olympic flame lighting Muhammad Ali
- 1996 Preacher's Wife gospel recording Whitney Houston
- 1998 Visiting professorship at Emory Desmond Tutu
- 2010 Takers Atlanta premiere Paul Walker
- 2016 Final concert performance Prince
- 2019 Emory University Hospital treatment Jimmy Carter