Skyla S. Hearn: Exhibit Opening Program (Public Program)



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I arrived at work this morning the same as I had earlier this week---ready to embrace whatever come what may. I walked through the doors of the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature and peered to the right into the Exhibit Gallery to check that the lights had been positioned, looked up and around to meet the eyes of Michael Flug. Michael beat me into the Harsh by ten minutes and was checking the amount of “missing” label texts. I assured him that the label texts were not missing and inquired if he’d read my previous email from the day before. He hadn’t. I hurried to the break room, removed my coat and dropped my bag then took a quick trip to the stacks and retrieved the clam shell (acid free archival storage box) with the remaining label text. I joined Michael in the exhibition space where he and I affixed the remaining label texts. We looked one another over, exchanged compliments---we both were clad and dapper in our “Sunday’s Best”---and congratulated one another on a job well done.

Beverly Cook joined us in the exhibition space and completed the last display case by rearranging the items to incorporate the last of the label texts. Beverly designed all four display cases, which perfectly complimented the photographs and other items on exhibit. I then affixed the guest book and pen to the podium. By 9:30am we were ready to receive guests for the opening program, which was due to begin at 1:00pm.

By noon, three camera men and photographers were setting up their equipment, the piano had arrived and awaited assembly and sound check, the caterers were setting up the refreshments and drinks, rows of seats were marked ‘reserved’ for our guest speakers, elderly guests and Wyatt family members. All of our hard work was about to come to fruition and I couldn’t have been more excited, nervous and ready. Marcia Walker, Ph.D. arrived to complete the team. Over the last months, Michael, Marcia and I worked closely to conceptualize, design, coordinate and finally install the opening exhibition. The opening program and exhibit was supervised and orchestrated in a manner that allowed the three of us to work as an intricately designed puzzle.

Guests began to arrive shortly after noon. We greeted them as they gathered throughout the exhibition space and filed into the auditorium. I was overwhelmed with pride and joy that this event was happening and that I’d played such a vital role in its execution. When in the midst of the day-to-day grind and stressors: image selection and manipulation---instructing “hard-headed vendors” to produce missing images, installation--pushing and turning stubborn screws into jute-covered back boards, exhibit design---patiently awaiting the tangible deliverance or physical manifestation of the design and lay out of the exhibition to be released from someone else’s creative mind, etc. you don’t think about the moment when it all comes together. Church members, family, friends, and activists I’d met over the last seven months and formed relationships with as a result of conducting the photo id sessions, meetings, ‘wellness’ phone calls and house visits were all thankful to us for such a job well done. I awaited their responses to the opening program in hopes they would be just as pleased as they were with the exhibition.

Once the auditorium was filled Michael took the stage to introduce the Master of Ceremony, Reverend Calvin Morris, and from there the program began. Rev. Morris charismatically engaged the audience and introduced speakers while drawing on his professional and personal connections with Rev. Addie and Claude Wyatt and some of the speakers. During the event, we were graced with the presence of Rev. Willie Taplin Barrow, best friend and soul sister of Rev. Addie Wyatt. Although she did not speak, her presence was felt and well received by the audience. How remarkable to be in the presence of such greatness from Rev. Willie T. Barrow to Natiera Robinson, a Chicago Academy High School Senior! Natiera Robinson’s presentation on the life and work of Rev. Addie L. Wyatt won her first place in the 2012 Chicago Metro History Fair competition. Although Natiera never met Rev. Wyatt, she was inspired to share Rev. Wyatt’s story of labor union activism in a power point presentation that incorporated clips of Rev. Wyatt’s interviews, a series of short interviews she conducted with Katie Jordan, Marcia Walker and others and photographs.

The opening program would not have been complete without music---gospel music. Rev. Wyatt in addition to her many roles was a pianist, vocalist and choir director. We were graced by the performances of soloists Vernon Oliver Price then Sylvia Coleman Lee who were both accompanied by pianist Aaron Cockerham. Once the program ended, we invited guests to peruse the exhibit then to enjoy refreshments catered by C’est Si Bon---but of course, not together! (After all, we are staunch archivists.) To my surprise, I was interviewed by Chris, a Columbia College student, for The Columbia Chronicle and for the Vernon Park Church of God YouTube channel. I can’t promise that either interview is stellar especially since I was shocked into speechlessness by the cameraman from the Vernon Park Church of God---the bright lights, camera and mike literally caused me to respond like a deer caught in headlights. Fortunately, The Columbia Chronicle will appear in print only.

“Faith in the Struggle: Reverend Addie L. Wyatt’s Fight for Labor, Civil Rights and Women’s Right” exhibit opening program was a labor of love, sweat, tears, and hard work but most importantly it was a major success.

 

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Program Back



Skyla S. Hearn: Week 22_23@TheWoodson_Harsh

The statement  "All good collections don't make good exhibits" agitatedly escaped the lips of my self appointed curmudgeonly comrade. I understood what he meant but was somewhat dismayed since I'd spent the last two months or so selecting images, like 139 photographs, that I thought would suffice for the visual representation needed to accompany the text panels used in the exhibit to highlight the great legacy of the life of Reverend Addie L. Wyatt. How narcissistic of me... Photographs are only a part, albeit significant, of an exhibit. Documents, clothing, plaques, awards, and other objects are vital as well in providing a complete account of the story the curator, archivist, historian, and so forth attempt to convey when educating the public about the subject(s) of the exhibit. With this being said, I didn't need to go back "to the drawing board" but to the stacks to find some letters, booklets, programs and so on to accompany the photos and text panels. After many trips up and down the stairs, to and from the stacks, we were able to complete ten of the eleven sections. Throughout the course of the day, I felt nutty but not because my co-worker was driving me batty, which he really wasn't, but because I realized I was working with someone with similar characteristics as myself. Other than the short cereal break around 2pm, we committed ourselves to completing the day's tasks before going home. We accomplished our mission with complete sanity, a few jokes and well wishes for the remaining evening.

 

Shameless Plug: Huge Shout-Out to Aaisha Haykal, University Archivist, at Chicago State University. Aaisha and her team organized the conference "Black Self-Determination through Health Care and Nursing: The Provident Hospital Training School" which took place on CSU's campus, which is located at 9500 S. King Drive, in Chicago. The Conference was sponsored by the Chicago State University Archives and Special Collections and the CSU Library. Aaisha is an inspiration and example of what dedication and hard work can accomplish.  

The half-day conference consisted of two panel discussions, an exhibit of materials from collections of Provident Hospital and the Black Nurse Association archival collections, and a reception. I was able to attend both panel discussions and to view the exhibit. Both discussions were lead by health care professionals, advocates and educators. To name a few, Dr. Berlean Burns, Dr. Annie Lawrence Brown, Dr. Carol Alexander, Professor Conway-Phillips, Mr. Girotti and Mr. Lyons. Another highlight of attending the conference was meeting Mrs. Gillespie, a retired health care professional and current historian for the PLR (Patricia Liddell Researchers). If you recall, I presented to the PLR a few weeks ago at the Harsh Research Center. Mrs. Gillespie remembered me from the presentation. What a small world!

 

Day Off? What is that?! As I've mentioned, I have volunteered to be a Chicago Metro History Fair coach and judge. We, at the Harsh, were contacted by Mrs. Maral, a public school high school teacher, to assist with some of her students currently working on CMHF projects. She informed us that ten of the students wanted to work in the Archives and the rest in another department of the library. I was asked to give an introductory presentation to the students on the Archives and to assist with their projects. I dutifully obliged. The students had some really interesting topics from Idlewild to Abortion. They explored the files, boxes and photographs well over their initial two hour time frame to find some interesting and useful information for their projects. They seemed to really enjoy themselves and their discoveries. I was more than proud of them for not only their ability to conduct research like college students but for embracing the rich histories stored in the archives. It goes without saying even though I will, I was geeked to welcome them into the wonderful world of archives.

 

In a few days, I will be a part of an acquisitions trip to acquire the remainder of one of the archival collections we currently house. I'm super psyched to tell you more so stay tuned!