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Frederick A. Birchmore was born 29 November in 1911 in Athens, Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia and received his B.S. in 1932 and his masters' and law degree in 1934. Upon completion of his degrees, Birchmore traveled to Europe and bought a bicycle in Gotha, Germany in July 1935. Birchmore named this bike, Bucephalus after Alexander the Great's war horse and decided to ride it around the world. Over the next two years, Birchmore rode his bike throughout Europe, Crete, Cyprus, Egypt, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and finally across the United States back to his home in Athens, Georgia. It is estimated that Birchmore traveled approximately 40,000 miles, of which 25,000 were on his bicycle and the remainder by boat. His bicycle is now part of the Smithsonian bicycle collection at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. Upon Birchmore's return to Athens, Georgia, he began work as an attorney, served in World War II and was active in sports and community activities. He married Willa Deane and the couple went on to have four children.
This collection contains postcards, photographs, correspondence, and one book which detail Fred A. Birchmore's trek around the world on his bicycle from 1935-1936. The postcards and photographs are from 1935-1936 and were written by and taken of Birchmore during his journey. Birchmore sent the postcards to his family in Athens, Georgia with descriptions of his current location and brief anecdotes of his adventures. Also included, are letters from 1937-1938 written to Birchmore from people he met and became friendly with during his global adventure. In 1939, Birchmore published a book entitled, Around the World on a Bicycle. This book describes his journey around the world on his bicycle, Bucephalus, with descriptions and reflections of the places he visited, the people he met, and the cultures he encountered. This copy of Around the World on a Bicycle is signed by Birchmore.