Celebrating the Third Anniversary of the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library

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

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

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