This time last year we were working very hard to make the Hannibal AfricanAmerican Life and History Project (HAALHP) a reality. Our September 10th Grand Opening was a tremendous success; we were able to shine a spotlight on the long overduehistory of Hannibal’s African American community. The Exhibit has been enjoyedby hundreds of visitors whocommented on the historical significance of the African American community toHannibal’s past which inspire us to look for ways to make this Exhibit apermanent part of Hannibal’s cultural experience.
We plan to expand the Exhibit and to integrate many prominent African American characters from Samuel Clemens’ writings with Hannibal’s history, particularly Jim in Huckleberry Finn. We hope to explore the role literature played in the fight against racism and the place humor and satire can play in the movement for social justice. We will examine the post emancipation journey of Jimmy, Daniel Quarles, John Louis, George Guinn and others who went into the creation of Jim.
As with many of Hannibal’s slaves - Daniel Quarles' life and the life of his children and grandchildren can easily be documented and explored. We learned that he was emancipated in 1855and from 1873 until his death in 1894 – he lived in Hannibal - their Family Home at 2120 Gordon Street still stands.
Please celebrate this milestone with us and show your support for its future with your financial donation, donations are tax deductible as our 501(c)3 partner the Northeast Missouri Community Foundation will provide tax letters. Your gift will make it possible for tourists, visitors and residents to continue to experience the contributions of Hannibal’s AfricanAmerican legacy to “America’s Hometown.”
Many thanks to you for your support - feel free to call me at 217-617-1507 with your questions.
Celebrate Juneteenth -- June 19, 2012
LET'S HAVE A HANNIBAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION!!!
What better way to celebrate African American freedom and family than with a community-wide Juneteenth celebration! Events are planned throughout the week, culminating with an old-fashioned family picnic on Saturday, June 23, 2012 featuring music, barbeque, soul food favorites and activities for all ages. Vendor spaces are available for food service, music or other entertainment, and retail/souvenir tents (small donation fee for space, bring your own tent).
FIRST Planning Meeting
Saturday, March 3rd at 3:00pm
Hannibal History Museum
217 N. Main Street, downtown Hannibal
For more information, stop by the Museum or call Faye Dant at (217) 617-1507.
Come one!! Come All!!
Our First HAALHP Fundraiser
The first annual HAALHP Holiday Gospel Concert was held on December 17, 2011 at the Roland Fine Arts Center, Hannibal-LaGrange University. The concert was a great success with more than 15 performances and 150+ attendees. Ticket sales and silent auction baskets raised money for the HAALHP and door prizes were also drawn.
September 10, 2011 -- America's Hometown Opens Hannibal African American History Exhibit
What a great day! There were nearly 200 visitors to see this new Exhibit at the Hannibal History Museum. There was food and drink and local entertainment present for the Grand Opening on Saturday, September 10th.
Also present was Reverend Wesley Foster of 8th and Center Street Baptist Church to bless the Exhibit as well as Missouri Representative Lindell Shumake to offer his good wishes.
There were representatives from other civic and community organizations -- too many to mention.
Receiving a grant from the Missouri Humanities Council made it possible to document the seldom seen and often forgotten part of the history of Hannibal. The Hannibal African American Life and History Project board of directors was present and it was obvious that a tremendous amount of work went into creating the exhibit depicting the life and history of African Americans in Hannibal from slavery to the early 1960s -- all on loan or donated by residents and former residents of the community.
As people poured into the Museum, they were introduced to Ken and Lisa Marks, who as curators of the Hannibal History Museum had invited HAALHP to use part of their facility for this exhibit.
There were representatives from other civic and community organizations -- too many to mention.
Receiving a grant from the Missouri Humanities Council made it possible to document the seldom seen and often forgotten part of the history of Hannibal. The Hannibal African American Life and History Project board of directors was present and it was obvious that a tremendous amount of work went into creating the exhibit depicting the life and history of African Americans in Hannibal from slavery to the early 1960s -- all on loan or donated by residents and former residents of the community.
As people poured into the Museum, they were introduced to Ken and Lisa Marks, who as curators of the Hannibal History Museum had invited HAALHP to use part of their facility for this exhibit.
August, 2011
In August of 2011, Faye Dant and the board of directors of the Hannibal African American Life and History Project launched the construction of the HAALHP exhibit at the Hannibal History Museum. With the donation of space by Ken and Lisa Marks, curators of the Hannibal History Museum, and a grant from the Missouri Humanities Council, the exhibit was prepared for its scheduled September, 2011 opening.
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