A Conversation with Ann Hite, Author of I Am a Georgia Girl
Lucille Selig Frank (Courtesy of Ann Hite)
Atlanta author Ann Hite’s newest book, I Am a Georgia Girl, revisits a haunting chapter of Atlanta history from new and often overlooked perspective: that of the women at the center of the story—most notably, Lucille Selig Frank.
Lucille Frank was the wife of Leo Frank, a Jewish man accused and convicted of the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan in early 20th-century Atlanta. Lucille Frank, at the time a socialite and active member of Atlanta’s Jewish community, became a fierce advocate for her husband during his arrest and trial, which ultimately ended in tragedy.
The story, which inspired the Tony Award-winning musical Parade, is often cited as a pivotal moment in Atlanta’s history and a testament to the dangers of mob violence, antisemitism, racism, and xenophobia.
While much has been written about the case, few accounts center Lucille’s voice or those of the women connected to these events. The title of Ann Hite’s book is taken from a statement by Lucille Frank in the wake of her husband’s death, reaffirming her status as a Southern woman and member of her community; “We are one of you — not exotic interlopers,” as Hite described to ArtsATL in a recent interview.
Many key figures connected to the case, including Lucille Selig Frank and former Governor John M. Slaton, are buried at Oakland Cemetery—their stories are regularly told on Oakland’s special topic tour “Fear and Accusation: The Leo Frank Story.”
On November 15, 2025, Ann Hite will host a presentation on the book at the Oakland Visitor Center, followed by a walking tour of the Cemetery’s Jewish grounds. In advance of the discussion, learn more the book and what compelled her to tell Lucille’s story below.
What initially inspired you to want to write about the Leo Frank case?
“When I was nine years old in November of 1966, I came to live in Marietta, Georgia with my grandmother, who decided to tell me the story of how at six, she accompanied her father to see Leo Frank hanging from the tree on property across the street from what some say was Mary Phagan's maternal family's home. The seeds of being a writer were already beginning to sprout and this story stuck with me. In particular, I was drawn to Leo's last request for Lucille, his wife, to receive his wedding ring that had remained on his finger throughout his two year ordeal of being jailed, convicted, and sentenced to death for Mary Phagan's murder 1913-1915. This wasn't a story talked about in my community, but my grandmother's experience always stayed with me. As I grew older, I devoured any book or article on the subject. This was way before the internet so I couldn't look at old newspaper articles and such. When Steve Oney's book, And The Dead Shall Rise, was published I bought it hot off the presses. Lucille hadn't left my mind since that November day my grandmother told me the story. Steve's book gave me a tiny glimpse of Lucille and her family. He was the first author to give any 'real' notice of who she was in the tragic story. I began to think I would like to write about her. Fast forward to 2014, some eleven years and four novels later, I decided to write a historical fiction book about Lucille. I presented the idea to my publisher, and they agreed that it was intriguing. As I began to research, I realized that very few people knew Lucille other than what newspaper articles at the time said. I went back to my publisher and proposed I write the biography of Lucille Selig Frank. They were thrilled. The project began.”
How does this story take on new meaning when told in a way that centers Lucille Frank and the other women involved?
“Finding Lucille's story opened up the perspective of what this event did to the Jewish community of Atlanta 1913-1915 and beyond. Readers see the building of Atlanta and how the Jewish community was partly—I would say mostly—responsible for the economic success of the small city. They are at the core origins of our great city. Through Lucille's story, we see how Georgians, who were Jewish, lost friends and associates, at the very least, and some cases were driven from their homes and businesses not just in Atlanta, but in Marietta too. Thus, the title: ‘I Am A Georgia Girl.’ Lucille left her home for years after Leo was lynched. Women at the time were marginalized, but I was able to find their true voices. This includes Mary's mother, Fannie, who came out to speak to a reporter the day after her youngest child was murdered. Her whole purpose was to warn other mothers that their daughters were not safe working in the factories of Atlanta. She was buried on page eight of the newspaper. Most didn't want to hear that child labor was dangerous.”
What was it like visiting Lucille Frank's grave at Oakland Cemetery?
Ann Hite visiting Lucille Selig Frank’s grave at Oakland Cemetery (Courtesy of Ann Hite)
“The day I went in search of Lucille's grave was chilly. The leaves on the trees were turning, and Atlanta's tall buildings stretched above the tops as a backdrop. I wondered what Lucille would think of the view. What would she think of present-day Atlanta? The strides that women had made since her death in 1957?
Her being between her parents seemed the best place, but I couldn't help but think that if things had been different, she would have been buried by the husband she loved so much.”
Why do you believe this story is still so relevant today?
“All we have to do is pick up a newspaper on any given week and find examples of antisemitic behavior across the country. Not to mention the atmosphere of intolerance and racism that suggests we are moving back in time instead of forward.”
What is something featured in your book that may be surprising even to Atlantans who are familiar with the Leo Frank case?
“I was surprised at how many Georgians haven't heard of the Leo Frank case, and some who have, only knew it in passing, not in depth. Of course, I set out to write the book for those who knew nothing about the events in 1913-1915 and much more. For this reason, the reader will find many things about Lucille and her family that they probably didn't know.
One of the myths told about Lucille is that she almost died from shock and grief when she found out about Leo's kidnapping and death—this was reported in the Atlanta newspapers. Yet, The New York Times reported that Lucille was seen settling her accounts in Milledgeville, Georgia, before leaving for Atlanta, where she would insist that Leo would not be buried in Atlanta, the city that she felt had let him down.
Also, few know that Lucille wrote the story of Leo's attack in his cot at the state prison, where his throat was cut, and he almost died, on the last two pages of his journal. This way, there would be a record of what happened that night. Something in her must have known things weren't going to turn out well. The entry was dated July 17, 1915, one month to the date before his lynching in August.
These kinds of stories are scattered throughout the book.”
