Feb 10

Feb 10 Black History Month: Museum aims to share the stories of local African Americans

Signs that were used during racial justice demonstrations last summer will now be used in various exhibits at the museum. {Contributed photo/Davidson County Historical Museum}

The Davidson County Historical Museum is in the process of a new collection campaign. Entitled the “African American Heritage Project,” it will spotlight the life of African American residents, before and after segregation, in Davidson County.

Birthed from a conversation citizens had with museum Curator Caitlin Williams-Cole last summer, where they expressed “an interest in increasing the representation of black history in museum exhibits,” the inquiry came at an ideal time as the museum was in the process of planning for the county’s bicentennial celebration this year.

“The museum was looking for ways to tell Davidson County’s story in a way that represented our diverse community today and filled in some of the gaps that have existed in our historical narrative for decades…centuries even. The African American Heritage Project was conceived as a means of building the museum’s permanent artifact collection to better represent the lives and culture of the local African American community, to identify and address any gaps in our historic records pertaining to black history and collect materials and information that could in turn be used to create more inclusive and informed museum exhibits, programs and research files.”

*A quilt made by home economics students at Dunbar School is on display in an exhibit entitled “A History of Education in Davidson County.” {Antionette Kerr/Davidson Local}*

Noting they have over 30,000 artifacts and archival materials, Williams-Cole shared “there are areas in our county’s history that are less represented within it, for example, material culture that represents the lives and unique experiences of the local African American community.” To combat this lack of information, the museum has put out a call for oral histories and artifacts. A link has been created detailing their desires.

For the oral histories, anyone can be interviewed. There is a pre-interview form to complete that includes informing the museum of the topic to be covered. The project’s special areas of interest include but aren’t limited to segregation, integration, the civil rights movement, manufacturing, the Chitlin’ Circuit, Black communities and neighborhoods, Dunbar and other African American schools and Black-owned and operated businesses in Davidson County. Those interested can submit a form on behalf of a consenting participant.

Since the project is still in the promotion phase, the museum hasn’t been contacted by anyone wanting to donate artifacts. Objects of interest include photographs, records, written correspondence, family heirlooms and items relating to racial relations and events, local historic African American schools, churches, civic and social groups. Over the years, they’ve received donations related to local African American history.

“Most recent donations include a 1966 Thomasville City Schools letter to parents announcing racial integration of schools and, in more recent history, dozens of posters used in local racial justice demonstrations. Just because we use the word ‘artifact’ does not mean an object is too young, old or insignificant to be donated. Even everyday objects might be used to help tell a story. For example, if someone you knew owned a barber shop, a small tool from the shop would be the perfect artifact to represent that story.”

*The Thomasville City Schools letter announcing racial integration in 1966. {Contributed photo/Davidson County Historical Museum}*

Overall, the mission “is to collect, preserve and interpret material culture and oral histories reflecting the lives and culture of the African American community in Davidson County.”

So why is preservation, in this form, necessary? Williams-Cole offered, “Preservation is our process of collecting and sharing our history and heritage with our community and the world. Artifacts provide us a glimpse into the lives of the people who used them and help us connect with history in ways that are educational, engaging and personal within museum exhibits. Oral histories contain a wealth of information that may not be recorded and accessible elsewhere. It is crucial we collect what is available to us now before it is gone forever. Because this project is ongoing, there is no grand reveal or announcement of an exhibit yet. We are not planning a Black History “section” in our museum as a result of this project. We are taking an integrated and long-term approach where the information and material we collect as a result of this project will help to inform and create many rotating exhibits and programs of the future and also as important, the information and material will be preserved as part of the museum’s permanent collection, documented, and available for research for generations to come.”

Assisting Williams-Cole with the curation is the project team consisting of museum staff and community leaders: Donald Holt, Tonya Lanier, Alan Suber, Stephen Harris and Andrea Cole. Interested in being part of the team? Contact a member or the museum.

Content collected will have multiple uses. To stay abreast on the latest information regarding updates, visit the museum’s website or its Facebook, Instagram and/or YouTube accounts.

For more information, visit its website or contact the museum at (336)242-2035.