MURFREESBORO — Individuals
and groups that want to save important remnants of African-American history now
have a new resource to guide them.
“Preserving African-American Historic Places: Suggestions
and Sources” is an omnibus online site with information on collections care,
museum management, heritage tourism and fundraising. It can be accessed at http://tinyurl.com/zz4jq8x.
“It ties in with our philosophy of working with communities throughout
the state on their preservation needs and interpretive needs,” said Antoinette
Van Zelm, assistant director of MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation.
One example of a site the CHP already has helped to preserve is Griggs
Hall, the first building constructed in 1923 on the campus of Nashville’s
American Baptist College. A free-standing marker erected by the Tennessee
Historical Commission details how the school was an incubator for civil rights
activism during segregation.
Other potential preservation sites include businesses, cemeteries,
churches, farms, homes, neighborhoods and lodges.
Over the years, staff and students have compiled numerous links to
historic structure reports, heritage development plans, nominations to the
National Register of Historic Places, driving and walking tour brochures and
posts from the CHP’s blog “Southern Rambles.”
“We want to make sure that people have access to different projects and
programs that are similar to what they may want to do,” said Van Zelm.
Some organizations tie their preservation of the past to the
enlightenment of future generations by setting aside an area for continuing
education, Van Zelm said.
“For example, some of the African-American schools that no longer exist
after integration … have alumni associations, and they’re interested in
preserving the school or opening up a heritage classroom,” Van Zelm said.
For more information, contact Van Zelm at 615-898-2947 or Antoinette.VanZelm@mtsu.edu.
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