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Thank You for the Celebration

2011-12-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

The staff of the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library would like to thank the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, the Friends of the Bannker-Douglass Museum, the Banneker-Douglass Museum Foundation, the staff of the Banneker-Douglass Museum, C.R. Gibbs, Dwyane Lee, Cheryl Elliott, and the attendees of the event for helping to make the fourth anniversary celebration of the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library a joyous occasion. To find out what happened during the anniversary celebration, please click on this link: http://bannekerdouglassmuseum.blogspot.com/ and type Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library fourth anniversary in the search box.

Pictured from left to right: Chairman Ted Mack, BDMF Board Member Linda Simms, and Commissioner Dr. Clara Small

The Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library Will Celebrate It's Fourth Anniversary!

2011-11-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

Runners: Maryland Fugitives from Slavery: A Lecture by Historian C.R. Gibbs

Saturday, November 19, 2011
10:30a.m.-12:30pm
Location: Bates Legacy Center, 1101 Smithville St., Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Free, Open to the public
Registration encouraged
To register, call 410.216.6181 or email BDMPrograms@goci.state.md.us by November 16th

Join the Banneker-Douglass Museum in celebrating the fourth aniversary of the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library. Historian and author C.R. Gibbs will discuss historic figures such as Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass and their escape from slavery.

This program is sponsored by the Banneker-Douglass Museum and the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center.

Baltimore County Author Donates Four Books

2011-10-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

Author Louis Diggs donated four books, From the Meadows to the Point, Since the Beginning, Our Struggles, and North County, to the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library. The staff of the library thanks Mr. Diggs for his generosity.

Introducting Steve Carioti

2011-06-23T07:25:00.000-07:00

I am a native of Prince George's County, Maryland, where I currently reside with my fiance Bobi Sofou and her daughter Anna. I am the middle child of five boys. My parents also live in Prince George's County.

I am a full time student at Prince George's Community College (PGCC) in Largo, Maryland. I plan to complete my studies at PGCC in the spring of 2012 and then transfer to Bowie State University where I will pursue a Bachelor's degree in History.

I've lived in Maryland for most of my life, except for a seven year period where I lived in Los Angeles, California. I worked as a production and writer's assistant at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California on ER, Hanging with Mr. Cooper, The West Wing, as well as several other television shows.

I love playing most sports, however, hockey is my favorite. I also enjoy reading historically significant books typically regarding the American Revolutionary period.

I recently started a stamp collection and vintage toy car collection. I enjoy visiting museums. The National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. is my favorite museum to visit.

My longtime goals are to secure a position working in the field of history and to further my education once I've completed my studies at Bowie State University.

Introducing Michelle Angeli

2011-06-09T08:05:00.000-07:00

I grew up and live in Gambrills, Maryland, north of Annapolis. At a young age, I experienced the local history. Many school trips were to Annapolis and many other local historical places. So now it's exciting to be working in the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library. I have many interests since I was little. I'm an avid reader, I sing and play the violin. Right now I sing in my church choir and Praise Band "Whatever". I've been singing most of my life, but I was also interested in dance for 13 years, even performing in the Nutcracker annually. Finally, I've always had an interest in History. My love for History started in the elementary school. My teachers and later my professors always taught history with so much enthusiasm that I wanted to learn more.

After graduating from South River High School in 2003, I continued my education at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) where I continued Music and History courses. I performed with the AACC Orchestra and the Choir. I did well academically with being on the Dean's List from 2004-2005 and became a Phi Theta Kappa member. I then transferred to University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) with an AA degree in general studies. At UMBC, I started to concentrate on a major and realized I was taking enough history classes to go for a BA in History. While I was there, I was lucky enough to get a chance to study abroad in Ireland for a one year at UCC (University College Cork) from 2006-2007, where I learned the history of the Early Christians, Women in Irish Society, Marriage, Vikings and the Ancient Celts. I continued to sing and learn the fiddle there. I received an award as runner up in RAG Idol (singing event at School) in 2006. When I came home, I took many European and Asian history classes that I could. It was required to take US History courses at UMBC so I took I wide range of classes from Native American history, early American, the founding fathers, Women in European Society, Japanese history through film, and Western Civilizations. Finally in December 2008, I graduated from UMBC with a BA in History.

My history lessons did not end there. I've been able to travel to places I learned about in school and church. I went to Vienna, Salzburg, Prague and Budapest in 2006 with a Bachelor Laureate Music Delegation program. We learned about the history of the cities and the history about the Cathedrals', Opera theaters and music schools. In 2008, with the Ecumenical church choir (POP ETC), we went to Germany where we sang in the Cathedrals' of Leipzeig, Halle, Dresden, Wittenburg, Munich and Frankfurt. I had the opportunity to sing a solo over Bach's grave. Awesome Musical History! In January 2010, I went to Egypt with my parents and in May 2011 we went to Turkey. We plan to go to Peru in October 2011. I loved the travelling experience and learning it's history. I plan to have many more of these experiences.

The Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library Celebrates It's Third Anniversary

2011-02-28T12:35:00.000-08:00

On November 6, 2010, the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library celebrated it's anniversary by hosting a screening of the film, My Mother's Journey. The film discusses the civil rights activities of Elizabeth Hampton. After viewing the documentary, the filmmaker, Sam Hampton, took the audience on a behind the scenes tour of the film through an interactive question and answer period. In addition, he talked with the audience members one-on-one, and signed autographs as well.

Pictured: Dr. Sam Hampton & Ms. Sylvia Wade

Celebrating the Third Anniversary of the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library

2010-10-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, November 6th at 10:30am, the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library will celebrate its third anniversary by screening a film: My Mother's Journey. The film focuses on the life and work of Elizabeth Hampton (1937-1999). In the film, Sam Hampton, the filmmaker, interviews family, friends, and activists who discuss Mrs. Hampton's civil rights activitism in Rochester, New York. In addition to Hampton, the film also discusses Frederick Douglass, a famed son of Maryland, who also used Rochester as a base for his activism, publishing the North Star in that city. Following the film, Hampton will engage the audience in a lively discussion regarding the impact of Mrs. Hampton's work, Frederick Douglass' activism in Rochester, or whatever topic the audience decides to discuss. Come and celebrate with us: http://www.bdmuseum.com/bdm-events.html

Pictured: Elizabeth Hampton

Unlocking the Treasures

2010-09-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

On August 27, 2010, Lela Johnson Sewell-Williams, in the presence of Commissioner Powell and Commissioner Coates, gave a presentation explaining, in laymans terms, how she processed the Banneker-Douglass Museum Archives. At the beginning of the presentation, she talked about how she organized the files. Then, she displayed some of the treasures that one can find within the Banneker-Douglass Museum Archives. She highlighted a picture of Dr. Aris T. Allen, the famed Maryland lawmaker, at the unveiling of the portait of Harriet Tubman by Hughie Lee-Smith, for instance. In addition, she cast a spotlight on an article by Carroll Greene, Jr., the museum's first director, titled: A Black Pictorial History of Anne Arundel County. She capped off the event by suggesting several ways patrons can use the archives.

Pictured: Lela Johnson Sewell-Williams speaking at Unlocking the Treasures of the Banneker-Douglass Museum Archives.

Lela's Last Day

2010-09-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

The staff of the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library wishes to thank Mrs. Lela Johnson Sewell-Williams for all of her hard work this summer in processing the Banneker-Douglass Museum Archives. To tangibly thank her for her service to the library and the museum, the staff took her out to lunch at Stan and Joe's restaurant. We celebrated her service to the libray and the museum by giving her several gifts, a Banneker-Douglass Museum t-shirt as well as a copy Kaiso!: Writings by and about Katherine Dunham, Lela's favorite dancer. As you can see from the photograph, a good time was had by all!

Pictured clockwise: Amelia Harris, Dr. Joni Jones, Lela Johnson Sewell-Williams, and Lynn Waller

Happy Birthday Mrs. Garrison!

2010-08-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

The staff of the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library wishes a very happy birthday to Mrs. Garrison, the library's namesake! We hope you enjoy your special day! May you have many more!

Pictured from left to right: Mrs. Garrison and Lynn Waller, archivist of the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library.

Introducing Lela J. Sewell-Williams

2010-07-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

Before I formally introduce myself, let me begin by stating that I am very excited about blogging on the Sylvette Online! This is my inaugural blog and it could not be more appropriate for me to introduce myself utilizing this technology as we as keepers of the culture textual and otherwise continue to create opportunities to engage community in historical content by "What Every Means Necessary."

With that I say greetings, I am Lela J. Sewell -Williams. I am a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I completed my undergraduate matriculation at South Carolina State University, located in Organgeburg, South Carolina, receiving a Bachelors of Arts in American History with a minor in Black Studies. I furthered my studies at Duquesene University, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, completing my Masters of Arts degree in History with a concentration in Archives, Museums and Historical Editing. Driven by the goal of preserving the African Diasporic experience, I have had the privilege of working in various institutions whose mission is the preservation of culture and history. These institutions include South Carolina State University Historical Collection (serving as the University's first Archivist), Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Manuscripts Librarian), Moorland Spingarn Research Center at Howard University, Washington , DC (Assistant Curator) and currently as the Dance Archivist/Adjunct Professor within the Dance Major Program at Howard University.

I am very excited about serving as the Archive Assistant within the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library. I fully recognize this opportunity as a privilege and blessing.

We Want You Back

2010-06-25T06:01:00.000-07:00

A year ago today, Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, died, ironically, during Black Music Month. I, much like many people my age, grew up listening to Jackson's music. In fact, whenever he debuted a new music video, I went to my friend's house, and we watched it together. It was like going to a premier of a blockbuster movie.

Lately, after reading Rodney Reynolds' column on the famed entertainer, I have been listening to Jackson's music. He was a brilliant singer, even at twelve years of age. His brilliance rises to unheard of hights when he hits that incredibly high note at the end of Who's Lovin' You. He was truly a great singer, a great dancer, and a great enterntainer. With the countless tributes to Jackson that are occurring around the world, I believe people are saying: We want you back.

Surveying the Hill

2010-05-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

A portion of Dr. Walter B. Hill, Jr.'s voluminous library was donated to the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library. Dr. Walter B. Hill, Jr. was a commissioner of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture; the Senior Archivist in Afro-American History at the National Archivies and Record Administration in College Park, Maryland; a member of the Executive Council of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History; the Chief Historian for the African American Civil War Memorial; and the director of the Modern Archives Institute. He authored: Federal Records Relating to Civil Rights in the Post World War II Era and edited: The Book of Names.

The Walter Hill Collection consists of approximately 500 books and serials. The collection is eclectic and diasporic, containing information concerning people of African descent who live in Africa, the Carribean, Britain, and Latin America. The bulk of the collection, however, focuses on African American history and culuture.

Some of the items in the collection have high historic value for the library: The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr., The Book of Names, which includes Robert Jones, an African American who fought in the Civil War whose historic papers the library owns, Federal Records Relating to Civil Rights in the Post-World War II Era, a book signed by Dr. Hill, David Levering Lewis' Pulitzer Prize winning work: W.E.B. Dubois, 1868-1919: Biography of a Race, Shades of Freedom, which was signed by A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., From Slavery to Freedom, signed by the legendary John Hope Franklin, and Dreams of My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, President Barack Obama's first book.

Remembering the Poet of Remembrance

2010-03-10T08:48:00.000-08:00

After I was exposed to poetry in high school, I became a fan of the art form. Like most people, I enjoyed the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance. Consequently, I read the work of Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Claude McKay. In addition, I also read the poetry of the Black Arts Movement. As my interest in the art form grew, not only did I read poetry, I also listened to poets recite it.

While browsing in the stacks of the New Carrollton Public Library in Prince George's County, Maryland, I stumbled upon a tape series titled: Language of Life: A Festival of Poets. As a result, I checked the tape series out of the library and began to listen to the poets on those tapes. One of the poets I listened to was Lucille Clifton. I enjoyed hearing her read her poetry, especially Fury, a powerful poem about her mother's reaction to her father's refusal to allow her mother to publish a book of poetry, and At the Cemetery, Walnut Grove Plantation, South Carolina, 1989, a poem concerning the need to remember our ancestors who wre buried in unmarked graves. I also liked her interview with famed journalist, Bill Moyers, where she explained her poetry. After hearing her recite her poetry and expound upon it, I was repeatedly compelled to hear her section of the tape. I thoroughly enjoyed her orality. From that moment on, I was hooked on her art. Clifton was simply a wonderful poet who will be missed.

Photo by Rachel Eliza Griffiths

A Child is Born!

2010-03-10T08:27:00.000-08:00

On Monday, March 8, 2010 at 4:21pm, my wife and I welcomed our third child into the world. Julian Luke Waller arrived weighting 6 pounds even with a height of 19 1/2 inches and all of his fingers and toes. After the delivery, I had the nurse put his footprints on my "doctor clothes," as she did her work in the delivery room. As an archivist, you know I am going to place these clothes in an archivally safe box for the viewing pleasure of future generations.

Robert Jones: An American Patriot

2010-02-04T07:09:00.000-08:00

The Manuscript Collection of the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library at the Banneker-Douglass Museum contains letters, rare documents, and ephemera which elucidates Maryland's African American history and culture. For Black History Month, we are featuring a rare document concerning Robert Jones, an African American Civil War veteran.

Heeding the call of Frederick Douglass, Robert Jones enlisted in the United States Colored Troops on November 5th, 1863 in Somerset County, Maryland. After Jones helped save the Union, Maryland paid his owner, Robert Patterson, $100 for allowing him to fight in the war. Maryland freed Jones when the State changed its constitution in 1864, leading the effort to extend freedom to all Americans.

Do you desire to learn more about Robert Jones and many other African Americans like him? Then make it a point to stop by the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library and the Banneker-Douglass Museum.

SGGL’s New Volunteer: Tola Ajay Lends His Writing & Production Skills to Two Major BDM Projects

2008-12-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

The SGGL is excited to have Ahmed “Tola” Ajayi volunteering for a three-to-six month stint. The grandson of Friends of the Banneker-Douglas Museum member, Dr. Mary Hunt, Tola is working part- time while honing his skills in writing,
photography, and filmmaking.

This graduate of Broadneck Senior High School and Morgan State University (Economics) is planning for a career in audio visual production. Fittingly then, he is working on both preserving and registering the Banneker-Douglass Museum Photo Archives and writing portions of the Banneker-Douglass Museum Foundation’s 25th Anniversary souvenir booklet.

Want to work on a project that matches your interests or goals? Contact BDM Volunteer Coordinator at BDMlib@goci.state.md.us.

Holiday Greetings

2008-11-24T05:27:00.000-08:00

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. I'm sure all of us have a lot to be grateful for, even as we face the challenges of life in a weakened economy. One thing you should know is that admission to the Banneker/Douglass is free, so kept that in mind when planning family activities. And, if you like to be charitable but just can't afford a cash donation to your favorite cause, please know that the greatest gift you can give is your time. Any organization would be thrilled to have a staff of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers, and the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library is no exception. Dr. Jones is eager to put you to work, so if you have a few hours, or if you have more than a few hours, please contact her. The library needs help with shelving and with sorting and identifying photographs, and with any number of other projects. Please call 410-216-6187 for details, and have a wonderful holiday.

Robert Walsh
Friend of the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library

2008-11-07T11:25:00.000-08:00

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for giving up a few hours of a glorious Saturday afternoon to attend the SGGL’s first anniversary celebration. A crowd of about 85 was on hand-- a figure that exceeded our expectations. I would also like to extend a special thank you to all our performers, which--as it turned out--was everyone. Mrs. Betty Henry read a poem in the call-and-response tradition, and it was especially gratifying to see all of you stand and participate. Gratifying too was that so many took the time to fill out our event evaluation forms. A number of you seem to want this to be an annual event, and I appreciate that response and the affirmation behind it. A lot of planning goes into an event like this, but a receptive audience makes it all worth it. Thank you to all of you, and especially to those who put money into the donation box.

I would be remiss at this point if I didn’t say something about the election. As the librarian-archivist in an African American museum, we saw history made, as I did when I was in Chicago to see President-Elect Obama accept the nomination for the Democratic Party. I was at home in Maryland last night, so I was not able to rub elbows with a teary eyed Oprah Winfrey or an equally emotional Jesse Jackson. But even from the remove of several hundred miles, this was a special night, one that is the culmination of so many dreams and aspirations. His victory is shining evidence that the American Dream is alive and well, that all boys and girls can grow up to become President. I couldn’t be prouder to be an American than I am this afternoon.

--Pictured: Sylvia Gaither Garrison and Joni Jones

Make Your Voice Heard

2008-10-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already done so -and if you live in Maryland you have not- don't forget to vote on Tuesday, November 4th. Turnout is expected to be at record high levels -I have heard the figure 130 million bandied about- so expect a line. But be patient, your vote really does matter. As we saw in both 2000 and 2004, a ballot here and a ballot there may well decide who our next President will be.

Also, as a final reminder, please be sure to attend the library's first anniversary party on Saturday November 1st. The Navy football game isn't until 3:30, so getting into the city for the event shouldn't be too difficult. But if you are concerned, why not come early and tour the museum before the event begins at 1? See you there!

Robert Walsh
Friend of the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library

A Reminder

2008-10-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

Saturday, November 1st is the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library’s first anniversary party, so mark your calendars and come enjoy the festivities! Do you like poetry? Betty Henry, Cynthia Crowner, Betty Coleman and Ida Mae Henson will share selections with you. Do you like music? There will be performances from John W. Baer, Atlay Washington, and Juan Brown and the JB Singers. And if you like what you hear you can visit the sales desk to find items by the artists on our bill.

This is the library’s opportunity to raise awareness about its holdings, so please take the time to browse through our stacks. There you will find resources that document and elucidate Maryland’s African American Heritage, a veritable treasure trove of books and pamphlets and other materials that bring that rich history into clear focus.

As always, Dr. Joni Jones will be on hand to answer any questions you might have about the library or its founder. She can also help you if you are pursuing information for a research project, because the Banneker Douglass Museum is the state’s repository for all things relating to Maryland’s African American material culture. And should you have items that you would like to donate to the library, she is always eager to make those materials available to the citizens of Maryland and to visitors to our fair state.
So please clear your schedule, pack up the kids, tell your friends, and come join the party! The events will begin at 1 p.m., and continue for two hours. See you there!

Robert Walsh
Friend of the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library

SGGL 1st Anniversary: You Are Invited

2008-10-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

I would like to take this opportunity to invite all of you to help the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library celebrate its first birthday. We have a wonderful program lined up; full of very talented poets and musical performers, and it all takes place here on November 1 between the hours of 1 and 3 pm.

It hardly seems possible that a year has passed already, but as I look around me, I see the progress that we have made. Our holdings are cataloged now and available digitally. We have begun a very exciting oral history project. We have hosted events in coordination with the One Maryland One Book initiative. And we have bid a tearful farewell to two wonderful interns.

As you may know, Sylvia Gaither Garrison is my mentor and my role model. The dedication of the library in her name is merely the culmination of a distinguished career as a scholar, an educator, a church leader, a community activist, and yes, a librarian. She was the driving force behind the establishment of the Banneker-Douglass Museum’s library, and so it could not have a more fitting name. We only hope that we can live up to such a lofty designation. I believe that we are well on our way.
--Joni Jones

Sara Smith: Intern Extraordinaire

2008-10-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

On October 3, 2008, I bid a fond farewell to IMPART intern extraordinaire, Sara Smith. Sara is a highly talented and tireless worker, who is truly dedicated to the library and its mission. She is irreplaceable.

Sara was the very first IMPART intern for the SGGL. After only a few months on the job, I felt comfortable assigning her a key role in the rededication ceremony on Oct. 27, 2007. In the year to follow, Sara greatly surpassed my expectations. She became our cataloger (cataloging well over one thousand books using a software she taught herself) the IT trouble shooter (oh, the stories she could tell), the designer of our electronic vertical file, and the creator of this very blog. She was also invaluable as we prepared for our two OMOB events (and you can read her impressions of that weekend--and offer your own reflections here--if you wish).

So taken were we with Sara’s skills that she became the only IMPART intern given supervisory authority. Clearly, her job assignments far exceeded those of a typical intern, but that was just it: Sara was no typical intern. She's all-around outstanding (Did I mention that she's a black belt and fluent in German?). The BDM staff and I gave Sara a nice sendoff at a local sushi restaurant, which is where the picture above was taken. The smiles of that afternoon are tears today however; and I am very nearly inconsolable (chocolate helps, but not enough). Thank you, Sara, for your distinguished service.

--Joni Jones, SGGL Librarian-Archivist

Book Discussion: A Hope in the Unseen

2008-09-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

Two Saturdays ago, many of us gathered here at the Banneker-Douglass museum to discuss A Hope in the Unseen... by Ron Suskind. Currently this book is being discussed throughout Maryland, as part of the One Maryland One Book program (you can read more about it here ). We continued this discussion by inviting several speakers to join our panel and share their own experiences.

Our panelists, Kelsey Bush and Kimberley White, contributed to the conversation by telling their stories--as did the moderator, our Librarian Archivist, Joni Jones. They compared their experiences to that of Cedric Jennings, the main character in the book. Although many of the experiences were similar--identifying with the cultural divide between inner city and higher-education culture--other parts of their own narratives reflected a different experience of growing up African American, such as Busch who, raised in the military, grew up in a diverse environment. Encouraging audience participation, we were then able to engage the conversation by relating our own experiences and raise our own questions, particularly as it related to education and raising children in a society which today is very different, yet very much the same.

The conversation continued over lunch, as the panelists joined the crowd in an informal discussion, continuing to work through and process the various issues presented and how they apply to daily life.

While the event itself was very successful and enjoyed by the many participants, it is hoped that the conversation does not end behind these walls. Indeed, the conversation continued the next day at the Bates Legacy Center and through programs throughout Maryland. Interested to see if there is an event in your area? Click here to see what is coming up in the next few weeks. Cannot attend? Leave a comment on our blog!

Attending AAAM's 30th while Obama Makes History

2008-09-04T09:14:00.001-07:00

Last week, I, along with Tonya Hardy, the Executive Director for the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, had the distinct privilege of representing the Banneker Douglass Museum at the Association of African American Museums (AAAM) National Conference. For thirty years, the AAAM has been the professional nexus for those working in the African American museum niche of the American museum industry.

We were afforded visits to many of the city's diverse cultural institutions, including the McCormick Freedom Museum, the National Museum of Mexican Art, and the Harold Washington Library Center. Impressive places all and, under normal circumstances, I might fill this entry with tales of these sites, their holdings, and their exhibits. But on August 28, 2008, Barack Obama, the United States Senator from Illinois--a man whose father is a black man from Kenya and whose mother was a white woman from Wichita Kansas--delivered his speech in Denver, officially accepting his nomination as the Democratic Party's candidate for US president.

Like many of you, I was glued to the television screen. But that screen happened to be housed in the DuSable Museum of African American History, an institution founded in 1961 to document and disseminate black history and culture. This was the first museum of its kind in the United States, and it is a place where candidate Obama has made appearances.

Approximately 200 AAAM attendees were treated to a lavish meal and saw a spectacular performance by some very talented African drummers and dancers. But all this was only window dressing for the main event--the one unfolding about 1000 miles away. The 80,000 or so lucky souls at Invesco Field can rightly claim to have been on hand for history in the making, but I wouldn't have traded my experience for theirs. We whopped and hollered, and laughed and cried, and we saw that dreams really can come true in America. Being there in Chicago, the city the candidate calls home, at the DuSable, clapping and cheering among the assembled representatives of America's African American museum community, that is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and I too felt as if I were part of an historic moment.

We have seen gifted black orators countless times before in this country, but those speakers, even when they were running for president, were always outsiders demanding their rightful place at the table. This time though, by popular acclaim and consent, the black orator in question will be seated at the table's head. It is his party to lead.

Barack Obama may not win the election in November--and some of us may well support his opponent--but one can't help but swell with pride at the accomplishments of the man and at how far we have come as a country. I wish you could have been there with me.

--Dr. Joni Jones, Librarian-Archivist, SGGL

Image: The DuSable Museum of African American History; source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/The_DuSable_Museum.jpg/800px-The_DuSable_Museum.jpg

From current Hodson Intern J. Caity Swanson: Farewell!

2008-08-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

With the end of August comes the end of my internship here at the Banneker-Douglass Museum! Beginning in September, I will be returning to my life as a student at St. John's, armed with the solid work experience I have gathered here. I may not be going very far (it's a 7 minute walk), but finding myself at the end of this experience still provides a bittersweet moment for reflection.

There have been several projects that I have worked on during my internship, such as my time spent organizing and cataloging the museum's photo collection. During the first part of my internship I dedicated my afternoons to sorting through hundreds of photographs and putting them into some semblance of organization. The next step was to set up a classification hierarchy (an organizational system) that could be used to classify all of the photographs in our collection and allow for the addition of future photographs. Finally I cataloged a select group of our photographs dating from the museum's early years. This cataloging resulted in nine binders of photographs containing almost 500 pictures that are searchable, protected, and organized.

Each step in this process had its own challenges and rewards, but the best part is the project does not end with me. My work may be coming to a close, but the system I organized and implemented can and will continue to be used in the museum's efforts to be an accesible resource for Maryland's African American history. The system will be used to catalog all the photos currently in our collection, in addition to those we acquire in the future. Also, it can be used as a finding aid for researchers and individuals seeking for information about African American or Banneker-Douglass Museum history, exhibit designers, and educators.

In every way my internship has been a great experience. It has given me the opportunity to learn about the museum industry, the Banneker-Douglass Museum, and Annapolis' African American history. I have nothing but praise for my experience as an intern. If you are interested in getting involved in the work here, I highly recommend joining the Banneker-Douglass Museum as an intern, volunteer, or supporter. From my own experience, I have discovered working for a museum or library allows you to engage your mind and the minds of others in a way that is unique from other educational experiences I have encountered. This experience has certainly influenced my own thoughts and decisions regarding my own career path, and I look forward to continuing relations with the Banneker-Douglass museum as I continue my education nearby and there after.

What's Going on in the Museum?

2008-08-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

February 24, 2009 will mark the Banneker-Douglass Museum's 25th anniversary. This is a huge achievement for a building that was almost razed and turned into a parking lot. We've come a long way from those days, but it's still important to remember how we got here. Throughout the museum's history there have been many people who have worked tirelessly on its behalf. Now, with so much change in the air and such a great milestone upon us, it is the ideal time to hear the history of the museum from those who lived it. With this in mind, the museum has decided to launch an oral history program. This program will be focused both on gathering histories having to do with our mission of preserving Maryland African American history and serving as a resource for those who want to record oral histories for themselves. Of course, with our own history knocking on our door, our first project will be to interview those who helped the museum get to where it is today. From those who fought for Mt. Moriah in the 70's to those who work here now, everyone has an important perspective on our history and stories that need to be told.

Already we're taking the initial steps to make this program a reality. On July 21, museum staff and community members took part in an oral history workshop led by Laura Croghan Kamoie from the Naval Academy. Dr. Kamoie covered everything from the definition of oral history to the process of interviewing an individual. Everything she covered made the process seem simple and approachable. After learning the basics we're ready to do the work. Currently we're trying to acquire the equipment necessary to record our interviews and decide on the format on which to save our interviews. We are also continuing and intensifying the ongoing task of researching our past so that when the time comes we will be able to ask informed and meaningful questions. This is a new and exciting project, which will hopefully allow us to reconnect with our past and better serve our community. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment.

Posted by J. Caity Swanson, Hodson Intern

JOIN OUR DISCUSSION

2008-07-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

As you may be aware, the Maryland Humanities Council’s Center for the Book has launched an initiative called “One Maryland One Book,” a statewide community reading program. What this means is that Marylanders of every age, ethnicity, gender, and background are being encouraged to read the book A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League by Ron Suskind. This book tells the story of Cedric Jennings, who went from one of Washington DC's poorest neighborhoods (and its most neglected school) to success at Brown University, one of the most storied institutions in the nation. It is ultimately a tale of inspiration, since there are many roadblocks and obstacles along the way for Cedric.

Of particular interest to this discussion is the prevalent attitude among his peers that academic success is somehow a betrayal of his race and his community. In one early scene, Cedric literally hides as the student body is called to assembly because he knows that there will be payback for his being honored as an outstanding student. And Suskind tells of how administrators try to trick the kids into being recognized for academic achievement. The kids fear reprisals, and the administrators know this, but they also need some symbols of hope and possibility in an otherwise bleak and forsaken place.

What we would like is for all of you, Marylanders and also out-of-staters who happened upon this blog, to, of course, read the book. But we also encourage you to post your impressions of the book on these pages, and to tell us about your own school days. You might also tell us what success, especially in an academic sense, means to you.

Is Cedric "acting white" to get ahead in the world? What does racial authenticity mean to you? And what of re-segregation? Cedric attends a nearly all black school. Are things different in a more diverse student body, or are the African American students still very much marginalized? The Banneker-Douglass Museum will be hosting two events (see our Calendar of Events--September) in conjunction with the initiative. The book is available at local bookstores, and at your neighborhood library. We look forward to hearing from you.

--Joni Jones, Librarian-Archivist, SGGL

Breaking News - We have a online catalog!!!!

2008-07-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

After nearly a year of anticipation, hopes, dreams, dedicated cataloging, and persistence - our catalog is now online and available! You can search it by clicking on the above link, or you can click here.

Although we still have a few kinks to work out, you can browse through our collection and search our materials, all from the comfort of your own home! This is a great step forward for the library, and holds much potential. We are ecstatic!

Stay tuned as we add more records to the database! And if you think of a book that we should have in our collection, let us know!

Happy searching :o)

Blog post by Sara Smith, IMPART intern

You're Invited: One Maryland One Book (OMOB)

2008-07-03T07:24:00.000-07:00

Who: Everyone
What: A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League by Ron Suskind
When: Reading this summer followed by community based programs this fall
Where: All over Maryland

Imagine if all of Maryland were reading the same book at the same time, if all of us were engaging in constructive discussion, sharing from personal experiences, and connecting as a community. Well this summer that dream is becoming a reality through the One Maryland One Book (OMOB) program! Launched by The Maryland Center for the Book, a division of the Maryland Humanities Council and hosted by Katie O’Malley, The First Lady of Maryland, this program is being supported by groups across the state, including the Banneker-Douglass Museum. The plan is to read the book and discuss it both as individuals and small groups over the summer. Early fall community partners will host events to engage community discussion and thoughtful reflection about the book and the topics it raises. This program will encourage us all to read, communicate, relate, and explore the themes raised through this and other materials. If you want more information about the program you can go to its website at http://www.onemarylandonebook.org/ where you’ll find information about the program and the book, the community partners, and up-coming events.

The book chosen for this year is A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League by Ron Suskind. It follows the life of Cedric Lavar Jennings, beginning with his junior year in one of the worst Washington, DC, high schools up through his time at Brown University. Having read about eighty pages, I can’t wait to read more. The book is hard to put down. The subjects it addresses, such as race, the influence of society, the claws in the education system, and the importance of family, guarantee no shortage of topics to think about and discuss.

While we all are reading and anxiously waiting for our community programs to start the Maryland Humanities Council has provided a Readers Guide with resources to both excite readers and help them engage the reading. With biographies of both Cedric Jennings and Ron Suskind and discussion questions both for the general reader and specifically for teens, the Readers Guide is a great resource for everyone interested in reading this book alone or with others. Also included in the Guide are lists of other resources, including books ranging from fiction, nonfiction, teen, and Maryland based stories, and even some movies that might appeal to those who enjoyed A Hope in the Unseen.

Books are available for purchase at the Banneker-Douglass Museum (BDM) for $12.00. For more information on the program and the events planned by the BDM in relation to OMOB feel free to contact us at (410) 216-6180 or JJones [at] mdp.state.md.us.

Good luck and happy reading!

photo source:
OMOB website http://www.onemarylandonebook.org/
Blog composed by J. Caity Swanson, Hodson Intern

Intern's Corner: Behind the Scenes at SGGL

2008-06-27T07:24:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Intern's Corner, where once a month we'll post about a project currently in process at SGGL! This week's Intern's Corner will be written by Sara Smith, an IMPART intern, who has been hard at work cataloging the collection.

The past few months I have been very busy creating the first database of our collection! This is a very exciting process, making our collection of books searchable and accessible to ourselves and the general public.

When I began this project, I was very new to MARC cataloging and data mapping - which are all part of creating these records for our books. With the guidance of my supervisor Dr. Joni Jones, we have steadily increased our skills and confidence in mastering the system and have entered our first records into the database! Now the process is quite seamless and records are entered into the database on a daily basis, then given their call numbers and re-shelved in our stacks.

We now have about half of our initial book collection entered into our database and the number of these records grows on a daily basis. We can now search our collection by keywords, author, title, subject headings - the list goes on and on! For instance, I just did a quick search for "Maryland" and found more than eighty books about this state, ranging from biographies, such as Fredrick Douglass or Barry Black, to community histories, including Annapolis, Baltimore, and smaller towns such as Brentwood and Easton.

The potential is amazing: as our collection grows through our own acquisitions and the kind generosity of library supporters, so will this database, rendering it more useful and informative for all those looking for information on African American history. If you would like to be part of increasing our collection holdings, feel free to suggest additional resources! For ideas see our "Book Wish List" on the side of this blog (clicking on the book's title will take you directly to amazon.com) or see the suggestions in our newsletter. And if you have any suggestions, just let us know!

We are increasingly on our way to a fully cataloged collection. We will be keeping you up-to-date as progress continues. Thank you for your support and for reading the blog - come by and visit and see for yourself!

photo source:
Appalachian State University Blog www.library.appstate.edu/blog/

SGGL Spotlight: Trails, Tracks, Tarmac: African American Narrative Quilts from Anne Arundel County, Maryland

2008-06-20T10:30:00.001-07:00

Based upon the November 2006-07 Banneker-Douglass Museum exhibit, Trails, Tracks, Tarmac: African American Narrative Quilts from Anne Arundel County, Maryland presents detailed photographs of twenty-five documentary quilts created by African American communities throughout Anne Arundel County. Reflecting their rich and vibrant history, the quilts display the stories of local African American societies, from 1850 to the present. Subjects range from entire communities to the details of a single church or family.

Published by the Northern Arundel Cultural Preservation Society (NACPS), this book presents images and histories of these quilts. Created using a process dubbed “quilting from the soul” the stories are depicted through beads, photo transfers, bright colors, words, and images. The color photographs allow each quilt to speak for itself, demonstrating the new and innovative quilting techniques being used to depict the stories of African American communities. By crafting together recollections of childhood, school pride, church activities and sporting events, these quilts give an intimate account of the African American communities of Anne Arundel County.

Separated into eight sections, each highlighting a different aspect of Anne Arundel County, every quilt is accompanied by a short paragraph describing the history and significance of its story. Included is a foreword by attorney William Dawkins and introductory writings by Isabel Shipley Cunningham, author-historian; Dr. Leslie King-Hammond, Graduate Dean at Maryland Institute College of Art; and Dr. Joan M.E. Gaither, fiber artist and principal quilter. The book also offers a poem titled “‘Twas Quilting Time” by Joyce Carroll Sias and an epilogue by Edward C. Sewell, an NACPS member.

Available for viewing at the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library. For purchasing information please contact NACPS president Betty Mack at: BDelta[at]verizon.net.

Photo Source:
Trails, Tracks, Tarmac: African American Narrative Quilts from Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Northern Arundel Cultural Preservation Society, Inc., 2007.

32 pages
Includes photographs and map of Anne Arundel County
Review by J. Caity Swanson, Hodson Intern

Welcome!

2008-06-16T08:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Sylvette Online!

Here we will be posting all the exciting news happening here at SGGL - from new books in our collection, updates on upcoming events, and insider information on our projects! Keep checking our blog for weekly postings!

To read a previous edition of the Sylvette, please visit http://www.bdmuseum.com/5SylvettaWinter08.pdf, where you can download a PDF file of the newsletter.

We hope you will enjoy your digital visit! Come by the library sometime and visit!