Thursday, September 20, 2018

Gathering Museum treasures



I am often asked, "Where do you get all that 'stuff' for your museum project?  The answer is lots of places.  I have been a collector for many years of a wide variety of items.  When I began this project I borrowed items I owned to enhance lessons that I shared with my school community.  Once the project took off I then began collecting things separately that could be used to educate students that they could view up close and some they could  actually touch.  The collection quickly became obsession, passion, and mission all rolled into one. So back to the 'Where', I shop- in Thrift shops, Antique Malls, Flea markets, and garage sales both in the St. Louis area and when I travel.  When vacationing, I try to find  African American history in the area and collect pamphlets, take pictures and visit museum gift shops. Over the years fellow collectors have gifted me items they feel could be used within my collection rather than their own; I love this.  That way my community is growing the collection with me, they are taking an active part in helping me to educate children and adults with hands on materials.   Some collecting is random but many times I am looking for items that tell a story or can be connected to a story.  I've recently rediscovered some items I bought and thought it might be fun to feature some of the museum collection in the museum blog, on Facebook as well as Instagram.
Here's an example-  I found this book on the March on Washington.


  I was able to purchase a picture on line from the March. 
In ,papers from my Mother's work with the church I added these items to the collection:



The U.S. Postal service released this collection of stamps commemorating the March on Washington.

This collection, along with several story books, and just like that a collection of artifacts compliment one another and are perfect for teaching about the March on Washington.  

Monday, February 26, 2018

An Honor to be Guest Speaker

 
"From the cowardice that dares not face new truth,
From the laziness that is contented with half-truth, 
From the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth, 
Good Lord, deliver me.  Amen"

I have talked about Black History so much that I have become that history.  I was asked to be the guest speaker at Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis to close out the month long celebration of activities for Black History Month.  This was indeed a great honor.  As always in my teaching and speaking I encouraged the congregation to think of Black History as the history of ALL of us.  Learning a more inclusive history helps us to know more about one another and enter into relationship and examine where our lives intersect.  Black History month is a beginning.

"Speak the names of those African Americans that have gone before, for the roll call is great:
Zora Neale Hurston-Novelist 
Romare Bearden- Artist 
Marie Daly-Chemist 

Sarah Goode-Inventor
Hiram Revels- politician and Minister "

Edit (3/22/2018)-
Here is a link to the sermon at Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

St. Louis connected Entertainers

 We took the show on the road!  First we planned and identified four African American performers that were born in St. Louis or had St. Louis connections.  We came up with Eva Taylor, Lonnie Johnson, W.C. Handy and Josephine Baker.  I prepared framed collage posters for each performer/musician and talked to students about each one's contributions.  T.J. brought a variety of instruments that would have been used in early Jazz and Blues performances. (banjo, trombone, tuba, guitar, trumpet, clarinet and drums) Accompanied by Christian on the piano, the duo played while T.J. demonstrated each instrument.   Christian talked about the popular dances of the day and highlighted his presentation with film clips of partner dancing and a dance performance.  He demonstrated and got students and staff on their feet to practice their best Charleston.  The finale was a rousing rendition of W.C. Handy's St. Louis Blues.  Students clapped along, asked questions, giggled and enjoyed the live music and dance performance.  What a great way to teach the next generation about the Jazz era, through music and dance and the accomplishments of these famous African Americans.   
Thank you to T.J. Muller and Christian Frommelt. 


Christian making morning announcements
      



 Christian Frommelt is one of the founders of the St. Louis Jitterbugs in St. Louis, Missouri. 
T.J. Muller is a musician and bandleader of The Gaslight Squares and The Arcadia Dance Orchestra in St. Louis, Missouri. 








Monday, February 19, 2018

Jet Magazine

 John Harold Johnson January 19,1918-August 8, 2005
John H. Johnson was a businessman and publisher.  He was the founder of the Johnson publishing company.  Johnson founded Ebony magazine in 1945 and Jet magazine in  1951.  
Johnson's first publication, NEGRO DIGEST, debuted in 1942.  
An article taken from Jet magazine stated, "Just as important as the news it provided, the magazine quenched Black America's "thirst for recognition and respect."  In 1942 Johnson sent our $2
 pre-publication subscription letters to 20,000 people; 3,000 responded sending $6000.  Within eight months, NEGRO DIGEST had increased its circulation to 50,000 copies a month nationally. In  October 1943 a cover story by first lady Eleanor Roosevelt on what she would do if she were Black almost doubled the circulation overnight.  Anchored on the success of NEGRO DIGEST, EBONY was launched three years later in 1945.  A picture magazine that unlike NEGRO DIGEST brought readers "face to face with the multicolored possibilities of man and woman,"with dazzling photographs that highlighted Black achievements, role models and positive lifestyles.  Like NEGRO DIGEST, it too gave readers respect.  
JET magazine debuted in 1951.  Since that time it's been the magazine of record for the Black community. 
Founded by the Johnson publishing company Ebony was sold to a private firm after 71 years.
JET is notable for its role in chronicling the Civil Rights Movement from its earliest years, including coverage of the Emmett Till murder, the Montgomery bus boycott, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Johnson Publishing Company published the final print issue of JET, June 23, 2014, continuing solely as a digital magazine app. 






Thursday, February 15, 2018

The Black Panther

Print created by Anthony Leon
Anthony Leon studio

Black Panther

Earlier this week I was invited to a sneak preview of Black Panther by a dear friend.  (Thank you MKB!)  I had high hopes, I love the idea of a Black superhero.  I was not disappointed.  Remembering that this is a comic book story, I was delighted to see every hue of black and brown skin tone represented.  I loved the natural hair of the women and even the women with bald heads, a challenge for some and new view of what beauty looks like. (has always looked like for many) There are smart, strong female characters that male characters fight side by side with in battle.  Each scene is painted with mud cloth, head pieces, robes, African fabric and jewelry of African royalty.  Not just visually stimulating, there are lots of messages throughout about reaching back to help others and sharing wealth.  The Marvel Universe committed to welcoming Black Panther and did so on a grand scale.  I love that little brown and black children (and yes all children)  will be thrilled with this new Superhero as he takes his place among other characters that have made their way to the big screen.  Marvel fans, go and see for yourselves.  Let me know what you think. 


print by Anthony Leon studio



Wednesday, February 14, 2018

This is what Love looks like

Taken from the museum collection of vintage African American photographs.  Appropriate for Valentine's Day.  This is what LOVE looks like.  

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Absalom Jones



I was invited to an annual Absalom Jones celebration and created a book to share with the children attending.  Absalom Jones had a fascinating life.  If you're not familiar with his story....
Absalom Jones was born into slavery on November 7, 1746.  He learned to read and write and had some schooling.  He earned money to purchase his wife's freedom first and several years later his own.  In 1787 Absalom Jones and Richard Allen formed the Free African Society, a social, political ad humanitarian organization.  Absalom and Richard were life long friends and lay preachers at St. George's Methodist Episcopal church in Philadelphia, PA.  The evangelistic efforts of Jones and Allen resulted in the growth of the church by ten times.  As a result of racial tensions in the congregation Jones and Allen led an historic walk out from St. George's in 1792.  Under the leadership of Jones and Allen "The African Church" was organized as a direct outgrowth of the Free African Society.  The African Church became the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas.  Absalom Jones was later ordained as the first African American Episcopal Priest.  Absalom Jones died February 13, 1818. He is remembered as a servant leader, abolitionist, and community organizer who believed in dignity and freedom for all. 

Pictured below are children and the young at heart from the Absalom Jones celebration  making candle holders before singing "This little light of mine."











Monday, February 12, 2018

Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln

Negro History Week was created in 1926  by  historian Carter G. Woodson.  Woodson, along with the Association for the study of Negro Life and History, claimed the second week of February to be "Negro History Week."  The week was chosen because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, on February 12th and the chosen birthday of Frederick Douglass, February 14th.  Born into slavery Frederick Douglass did not have records of his actual birthday. 
Douglass first met President Lincoln on July of 1863, at the White House.  It was the first of many meetings.  "I was never more quickly or more completely put at ease in the presence of a great man than in that of Abraham Lincoln," wrote Frederick Douglass.  The purpose of Douglass' visit was, among other things, to request that Black soldiers receive the same wages as whites, to assure them the same protection if taken prisoner and to include them in prisoner exchanges.  Lincoln promised to do what he could on each request. 

Friday, February 9, 2018

Snapshots of our history


 Unidentified pictures of African Americans give glimpses into our history.  These found photos were gifted to me to add to the museum's ever growing collection of African American photography.  I will share, during the month photos recently collected.  Stay tuned!
 

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Thomas Greene Bethune

Thomas Greene Wiggins Bethune (1849-1908)

Thomas Greene Wiggins Bethune, known as "Blind Tom" was a musical prodigy.  He was born mentally challenged and without sight in Columbus, Georgia in 1849.  He possessed absolute pitch and a marvelous memory. By the age of 10 he was both  piano prodigy and composer.  He was said to have a repertoire of 7,000 pieces, which he learned by having them played to him.  He traveled extensively and created a stir in America and in Europe.  Thomas was believed to have been the first African American to perform at the White house when he played for president James Buchanan in 1860. 

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

W.C. Handy



W.C. (William Christopher) Handy was born on November 16, 1873 in Florence, Alabama.  W.C. Handy was a trumpeter, bandleader, and composer.  He was known to many as "the Father of the Blues." Handy had a St. Louis connection having lived in the city for some time.  He tried his luck as a musician but was only able to find temporary work on the riverboats.  It was in St.  Louis that he found inspiration for his most popular composition, St. Louis Blues.  

Did you know.....?

"In 1944, at age seventy, Handy made a triumphant return to St. Louis as the main act of the fifth annual Negro Music Festival, held at Sportsman's Park (at Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street) on July 10, 1944. The event was widely publicized in papers from the South Side Journal to the Argus, which featured a full-page advertisement touting the concert as "American's Greatest Cultural Program!" and "a national demonstration of interracial goodwill."  Proceeds from the festival as well as from related events in Chicago and Detroit were donated to the Army and Navy Relief Society."  (from: The archives at Washington University and the Missouri History MuseumRead more: 

http://omeka.wustl.edu/omeka/exhibits/show/music-segregation/handy 


Monday, February 5, 2018

Fun Frederick Facts

Here are some fun and interesting facts about Frederick Douglass.

#1  As a young man in Baltimore, Douglass learned to play the violin.  It was a hobby he enjoyed the rest of his life.

#2  Douglass met President Abraham Lincoln three times during the Civil War.  After the president died, Mrs. Lincoln gave her husband's favorite walking stick to Douglass.

#3  Douglass became active in the Underground Railroad.  His home in Rochester, New York, was a stopping place.  Runaway slaves could hide there until it was safe to travel to the next stop.  Today, people can visit there.

#4  Douglass was know as a great storyteller.  He often made family, friends, and audiences laugh with his tales.

#5  Douglass wrote three books about his life:  Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, My Bondage and My Freedom, and the Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.

#6  In 1899, four years after Douglass died, a statue of him was built in Rochester, New York.  It was the first time an African American was honored with a statue.

taken from National Geographic Kids "Frederick Douglass" by Barbara Kramer

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Most photographed American of the 19th century

Frederick Douglass was the most photographed American of the nineteenth century.  "To Douglass, photography was the great "demographic art"  that would finally assert black humanity in place of the slave "thing".  Douglass stated, "Every colored house holder in the land should have one of these portraits [of a black leader] in his parlor, and should explain it to his children, as the dividing line between the darkness and despair that overhung our past, and the light and hope that now beam upon our future as a people."  His portrait gallery contains 160 photographs.  

taken from "Picturing Frederick Douglass  An Illustrated Biography of the Nineteenth Century's Most Photographed American " by John Stauffer, Zoe Trodd, and Celeste-Marie Berner  

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Frederick Douglass for Children

There are lots of good books about Frederick Douglass to share with young learners as well as the young at heart.  Books that teach about famous African Americans are wonderful conversation starters.  I have used books with children as young as Kindergarten and had some inspiring lessons.  Choose carefully for the kind of experience you want young learners to have.  Here are a few things I look at when choosing an appropriate book.

For young children illustrations are important.  For non and beginning readers it is important to have good illustrations that help tell the story and spark interest.  For very young children choose books that are not too lengthy and have a clear message about the importance of the figure's life.  If my only choices for books are lengthy ones but the illustrations are good, I may read parts of the book and story tell the rest.  Familiarize yourself with the book ahead of time if this is the case.  




 For children a little older, timelines are helpful in giving children idea of when events happened.  Illustrated timelines add another layer o dfeeper understanding for visual learners. 


 

 Books that offer activities connect children to history and give a hands on approach to learning about the life and times of famous African Americans. 
Books that have a combination of illustrations and actual photographs help children understand that these are real people. 
These are tips I use frequently when working with a variety of Elementary students.  I have had some really engaging lessons when I chose my books carefully. 
Frederick Douglass was a fascinating figure in our country's history and children are never to young to learn about important leaders.  Celebrate Frederick Douglass' 200th birthday with a good book!

Frederick Douglass Coloring Book  by Gary Zaboly   Dover Coloring Book
National Geographic Kids Frederick Douglass  by Barbara Kramer
Frederick Douglass for Kids  His Life and Times with 21 Activities  by Nancy I.  Sanders
Lincoln and Douglass  an American Friendship  by Nikki Giovanni
A Picture Book of Frederick Douglass by David A. Adler
Frederick Douglass The Lion Who Wrote History  by Walter Dean Myers