There are pivotal moments in a person's life when they have to make a decision, which might influence the remainder of their life. For Reverend Addie L. Wyatt, one of those moments was when she was being exploited in her workplace. She knew she needed to earn a living to support her family but did not want to continue to work in unfavorable conditions. Her decision to join the union, stand in solidarity with co-workers and rally against injustices was the catalyst that began in her reign as a champion for fair treatment and equal rights for workers, women and other underrepresented groups (minorities). Reverend Wyatt continues to serve as an example and inspiration as I continue to perservere through this journey.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
I returned to the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library for Day 2 of Chicago Metro History Fair coaching. It was a slow, snowy day. Last week, eleven students showed up and before I knew it our time was up. This week, a fellow librarian (remember I'm technically a librarian and an archivist) showed up to help with the CMHF coaching. We were equally excited to learn that we were librarians and not teachers. Most of the CHMF coaches are college students and teachers. We worked together with a high school student from Mount Caramel High School on his project on the Pullman Porter Strike of 1894.
Friday, February 1, 2013
I completed the evaluation summary for the Okoro Harold Johnson interview. I was moved by his stories of triumph over racism during his years of working in the Arts. He shared how he fought for Black representation in television and theater. He was one of the first Blacks to direct a television show intended for the Black audience, the show "Bird of the Iron Feathers" was the first Black soap opera. Okoro was a dramatist, educator and co-founder of the eta Creative Arts Foundation. [ETA, Creative Arts Foundation. Dates: 1983-1997. Size: 1.5 linear feet; videotapes. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, Chicago Theater Collection. Founded in 1969 by Abena Joan Brown and Okoro Harold Johnson. Produces dramas and musicals by local and national playwrights and features “Playwrights Speak,” a readers’ theater for new playwrights. [Processed]]
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Continued working on the text panels and photo selection for the Wyatt Photograph Exhibit with Mr. Flug, Director of the Harsh Archival Processing Project. I also continued with the deaccessioning of the Era Bell Thompson collection. Ms. Thompson's collection is housed at the Harsh and will be available soon complete with an online finding aid. There is truly never a dull moment in the Harsh Research Center.
[Thompson, Era Bell Papers. Dates: 1930-1987. Size: 99 linear feet. Accession #1987/01. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Era Bell Thompson, author of American Daughter and Africa, Land of My Fathers, was a pioneering photojournalist for Ebony and international editor for Johnson Publishing Company for more than 30 years. She was also an important figure in the Chicago Renaissance; her ties to the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature span nearly 50 years. Thompson’s papers include correspondence, diaries, financial records, audio and videotapes, monographs, journals, subject clipping files, photographs and memorabilia. [Processed]]
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Processing, processing, processing...continued processing the Wyatt photographs. I also attended a webinar on funding sources for libraries and museums hosted by the Illinois State Museum.
Monday, Janurary 28, 2013
I spent the day reviewing the many labeled envelopes in the Wyatt Photograph archival collection. Typically, I'm alone on Mondays but thanks to one of the H.A.P.P. members, Jeanie, I had company while I worked my way through the remaining unprocessed photographs.
No comments:
Post a Comment