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