By Jo Ann McClellan
MAURY COUNTY — In 2023, the African American Heritage Society of Maury County shared some aspect of African American history with the public each month.
Some projects were sponsored by the Society and others were collaborations with other institutions, such as Fisk University, the History Department at Columbia State Community College, Maury County Archives, Maury County Public Library, Smithsonian Institution, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and the Tennessee State Museum.
Because the Society was selected to host the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street Exhibit, “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,” this theme was selected for the quarterly lecture series; and “Voices of Maury County” was the theme of the 2023 African American history calendar which included African American of Maury County who promoted democracy.
“Education in Maury County: The African American Experience” exhibit was displayed at the Maury County Library. (Left) Latoya Davis and Jackie Burkee tour the exhibit in Columbia, TN..
Our year started the release of the 2023 calendar and the Quarterly Lecture Series with Thomas Price, Director of the Maury County Archives, followed by Zacharie Kinslow, Executive Director of the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum, and Lea Williams, Professor of History at Tennessee State University in April, and July, respectively.
In October, the last lecture in this series, a panel of former educators, Dr. Rose McClain, Ms. Anntonette Angus-Hardison, Ms. Verlene Jones; and a former member of the Maury County School Board, Rev. Barry Cox, discussed their experiences in the Maury County School System before and after integration.
The Society participated in several community outreach projects. In addition to participating in Black History Programs, the Society’s new exhibition, “Education in Maury County: The African American Experience” was on display at the Maury County Public Library in February and March.
In May, as a part of the Whitsunday celebration, the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church hosted a luncheon fundraiser for the Society. In November, the Society participated in the marker dedication ceremony at the historic Mt. Nebo Methodist Church Cemetery on Brown Hollow Road.
“Voices and Votes: Citizens of Maury County” exhibit was displayed at Fisk University.
In June, we participated the Juneteenth Celebration at the Tennessee State Museum.
Also in June, the “Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools” exhibition opened at the Tennessee State Museum.
The “Middle Tennessee” section of the exhibition featured Maury County’s Rosenwald Schools and included information provided by the Society, including a photograph of John H. Kelly, the principal of the first public school for African Americans in Maury County. This exhibition opened in June and will close in February.
In September, the Society participated in the “Rosenwald Schools of Tennessee Symposium” at the Tennessee State Museum.
Former students of Rosenwald Schools from across were invited to attend. The Rosenwald School project built more than 5,000 schools, shops, and teacher homes in the United States primarily for the education of African-American children in the South during the early 20th century.
