By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—An exhibit celebrating Black History Month will be opening Sunday at the Paris-Henry County Heritage Center and will be on display through March 2. Called “Reflecting on the Past, While Embracing the Future”, the exhibit is an original exhibit created, organized and curated from within the local community.
A committee headed by Gail Tharpe and which includes Susie Williams, Barbara Jean Byars, Barbara Gray, Georg Todd, Lynette Travis, and Dorothy Cook, has been busy putting the exhibit together.
Tharpe said it will focus on several areas in the local African-American community: music, church, education, politics, fashion and the military.
“I may be the chairman of the committee, but we work as a team”, Tharpe said.
The exhibit will include photos of all the county schools, lists of faculty and students at the schools, photos of the local churches, photos of city and county leaders, nurses, doctors and dentists, and more. An interactive display will focus on hats donated for the exhibit by both men and women and Tharpe said, “People who come can try on the hats, too”.
The military careers of William Milam, Georg Todd, Dorothy Cook and others will be featured, along with a display featuring Lima Jean Palmer, who was the first female and first African-American county commissioner in Henry County.
An opening reception will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 4.
And, a “Taste of Soul”, featuring dishes from local churches, will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, February 25, also at the Heritage Center.
The exhibit will be on display from Feb. 4-March 2. Hours: Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays, 1-4.
The Heritage Center is located at 614 N. Poplar St., Paris.
Photo: From left, Gail Tharpe, Susie Williams, and Barbara Jean Byars look over items for their exhibits. (Shannon McFarlin photo).
Tharpe said it will focus on several areas in the local African-American community: music, church, education, politics, fashion and the military.
“I may be the chairman of the committee, but we work as a team”, Tharpe said.
The exhibit will include photos of all the county schools, lists of faculty and students at the schools, photos of the local churches, photos of city and county leaders, nurses, doctors and dentists, and more. An interactive display will focus on hats donated for the exhibit by both men and women and Tharpe said, “People who come can try on the hats, too”.
The military careers of William Milam, Georg Todd, Dorothy Cook and others will be featured, along with a display featuring Lima Jean Palmer, who was the first female and first African-American county commissioner in Henry County.
An opening reception will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 4.
And, a “Taste of Soul”, featuring dishes from local churches, will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, February 25, also at the Heritage Center.
The exhibit will be on display from Feb. 4-March 2. Hours: Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays, 1-4.
The Heritage Center is located at 614 N. Poplar St., Paris.
Photo: From left, Gail Tharpe, Susie Williams, and Barbara Jean Byars look over items for their exhibits. (Shannon McFarlin photo).