Press Release Press Release

For more info contact: Oldham Co. History Center/502-222-0826

Celebrating Oldham County's African American Heritage

Summer Exhibits and Programs

Sponsored by the Oldham County Public Library and the Oldham County History Center

Exhibits and programs are planned from June 19 th through Labor Day that celebrate Oldham County's African American Heritage. This is a part of a summer series that will feature a particular culture of Oldham County for the next 6 years.

On Junteenth Day, Saturday,June 19th special activities are planned to kick-off the African American Heritage festivities followed by a week of activities and events. These activities for June 19th include: A Special Proclamation by Judge Kinser and local officials, History of Juneteenth by Mahdee Numan, special gospel music from local African American churches, a free food sample of African American specialities and guest lecturer, Andrew Baskins to talk about the history of Lincoln Institute.

Other activities following the week of Juneteenth :

Read Round the World Summer Reading Program that emphasizes special stories and crafts of Africa at our public libraries during this week:

June 22, Tuesday: South Oldham Library

Preschool, 10:45-11:30 am

Summer Activity: 2-3:30pm

June 23, Wednesday: Duerson Library

Preschool, 10:45-11:30 am

Summer Activity: 2-3:30

June 25, Friday: Mahan Library

Preschool, 10:45-11:30 am

Summer Activity: 2-3:30 pm

June 26, Saturday: 10 to Noon

Kick-off of The Children's African American Heritage Workshops Saturdays from 10 to Noon at the Oldham County History Center

NOON to 1: Special African American Picnic on the History Center grounds

1:00 PM African Storyteller Mama Yaa will present a family program featuring authentic African stories and music

June 24, Thursday: 7:00pm at the Oldham County History Center Genealogy Workshop for African Americans by John T. Logan, co-founder of the African-American Genealogy Group of Philadelphia. A Kentucky native, John will help guide people of African-American descent on ways to uncover their records and history of their ancestors.

Other Events for the Summer for Celebrating Oldham County's African American Heritage:

August 18, Wednesday at 6 p.m., Westport General Store , historian and speaker from the Kentucky Humanities Council Speaker Diane P. Coon, will highlight slave and abolitionist, Henry Bibb's story of his life in Henry, Oldham and Trimble County. Bibb's slave narratives are some of the most famous in U.S. history. In addition, Ms. Coon will talk about the sites in Westport and surrounding areas of Underground Railroad workers and their secret systems of communication of the Ohio River. Sponsored by the Oldham County Public Library and Oldham County History

The Children's African American Heritage Workshops
2004 Summer Series
Oldham County History Center
Saturday mornings: 10 am to Noon
Free admission

June 26: Keepsakes and Treasures of our Lives, Children's Scrapbooks: children will learn about the narratives and stories that describe African American life in Oldham County and create their own scrapbooks and diaries.

July 10: Honoring Our Achievements: Children will select a famous African American as a role model to emulate and represent for the Oldham County Day Parade.

They will design and create their own costumes for the parade. learn about the narratives and stories that describe African American life in Oldham County and create their own scrapbooks and diaries

July 17: Oldham County Day Parade: Children will dress-up as their African American role model and represent them in the parade.

July 24: Children will learn about the "quilt code". Slaves would incorporate these codes into quilt pieces that could be used for directions to the underground railroad. Children will then create their own quilt pieces that depict the code.

August 7: Children will explore ways to search their genealogy and create charts and family trees. Special emphasis on the technique of gathering oral histories and information about their relatives.

August 21: A celebration of African American music. Children will learn about the different types of music that represent the African American culture.

August 28: Double Jeopardy: We wrap up the summer series with games that emphasize all of the special history and culture that make-up our Oldham Counties African American culture.

(Contact for more information: Nancy Theiss, 502-222-0826

The Oldham County History Center, 106 N. Second Ave.

LaGrange , KY 40031 502-222-0826/FAX 502-222-7115

http://oldhamcountyhistoricalsociety.org

email: ochstryctr@aol.com

Museum Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 10 am to 4 pm

Closed Sunday and Monday