The Genesis of SESAPS

On March 23, 1935, a meeting of ``Southern Physicist" was held at the Candler Hotel in Decatur, Georgia. In addition to a scientific program the next day, consisting of the presentation of twenty-five papers (held in the Emory University's chemistry building), an address was given by Professor A.~H.~Compton on that Friday night during a banquet sponsored by the Georgia Academy of Science. However, the main goal of this meeting was to work out the details of a new organization, which was called the ``Southern Association of Physicists." My talk provides background on the genesis of this gathering and gives a brief summary of the new organization's subsequent activities, including its ``absorption" by the American Physical Society as its Southeastern Section, i.e., SESAPS. In particular, I discuss its management structure; its three awards for teaching, research, and leadership; and the planning process for its annual meeting. My general conclusion is that SESAPS has been very successful in promoting ``physics" in the southeastern states.