May 2012
Issue No 4.
NotesandNotables
Greetings!

The Transylvania Heritage Museum has been buzzing with activities this spring!

 

The 4-H Club has visited the Children's Garden for a second time, and a variety of herbs, flowers and vegetables are growing like wild! 

 

Excellent programming has accompanied a very powerful exhibit "Perseverance, Strength and Faith: The African American Experience in Transylvania County." If you have not visited this exhibit, please do so! 

 

For those of you with a June Membership expiration date, watch the mail this month for the renewal notice, and consider renewing at an increased level. Without the support of our members, partners, sponsors and volunteers, we could not continue to connect community, history and life in the many ways that we do!

 
Sincerely - Rebecca Suddeth, Executive Director
Presentation
Charlie Whitmire and Keith Norman sing "When something is wrong with my baby." at the first Gallery Walk of 2012

The Legacy
of African American Music

 

The Transylvania Heritage Museum program, "From Africa to America -The Legacy of African American Music" was a very special program indeed. 

 

Held on the first Gallery Walk of 2012, over 40 visitors packed the museum to learn about the African American Culture and how its musical traditions had become a part of the American music scene. Edith Darity of the Transylvania Community Improvement Organization led the discussion, and special guest Keith Norman demonstrated a variety of musical styles. 

 

The hit of the night was when TAMS member Charlie Whitmire joined with Norman singing "When Something's Wrong With My Baby."   

 

It was truly an evening to remember. The program was funded in part by funding from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide non-profit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

"Understanding Black History as American History."
May 19th at 1 pm at the Library

 

African Americans have played an integral role in the creation and development of the United States from the colonial period to the present. Since 1619 when the first twenty Africans were brought to the shores of the Chesapeake to the election of the nation's first black president, black men and women have contributed to the economic, political, and cultural growth of the U.S. Much of how U. S. history is taught, however, marginalizes the African American narrative. 

 

Omar Ali, Historian, Associate Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies at UNC Greensboro, will present a program entitled "Understanding Black History as American History." This presentation will engage audiences in an exploration of how the contributions of men and women of African descent in shaping America's narrative. The program will be May 19th at 1 pm in the Transylvania County Library Rogow Room. This program is sponsored by the North Carolina Humanities Council, the Transylvania Heritage Museum and the Transylvania County Library North Carolina History Room.   This event is free to the public.

 
Rail Car
Rail Car I. The small child in front, being held by his grandfather Eben Campbell, is the young Eben "Dick" Shaffer, born in Transylvania County in about 1912. The small boy in the back is his older brother, Tom.
Special Collections Update

 

The Transylvania Heritage Museum is always seeking new historical documents, photos and artifacts in our efforts to preserve the history of our county. 

 

Last year, Director Rebecca Suddeth researched a little known business venture of the early 20th century known as the Shaffer Lumber Company. After over a year, our efforts to locate surviving family members have been rewarded. Richard Bohmer, the the widow of Eugene Shaffer's grand-daughter Ann Shaffer Bohmer, has graciously allowed our Special Collections Committee to digitize family photos that relate to the time the Shaffer family lived in Transylvania County. Some of the photographs taken in Brevard will be used in the upcoming exhibit "Roads, Rails and Trails" that will open in July.  

 

In This Issue
Frist Gallery Walk
May 19th Presentation
Special Collections Update
Calendar of Events
Calendar Items

Saturday, May 19
at 1 p.m.

Transylvania County Library Rogow Room. Special speaker Omar Ali will present a program entitled "Understanding Black History as American History."

 

Wednesday, May 23
at 3pm

"How to Use Computers for Genealogy" class, 3pm at the TGS Research Room upstairs at the Museum . Sessions will be:  1) Basics and Introduction, 2) Pick Your Computer Program, 3) Document!, 4) Scanning Old Photos, 5) Sharing Your Family.  

$5 per session for non-members; free for TGS members.  Class size limited so call Linda to register, 862-8228, as soon as possible.

 

Thursday
May 24 at 3:30pm

Children's Garden Planting Day

 

Friday, May 25

Gallery Walk

Live Music by the East Fork Gals

 

 Saturday, May 26

10:30am

"Town within a town: Exploring Brevard's Black History" Walking Tour. Tour leaves from the Transylvania Heritage Museum. The guided tour will travel down Oaklawn, Carver Street and Mills Avenue. Call for reservations by Friday, May 25th. Tour is $10 per person. 884-2347 

 

Saturday-Sunday
May 26-27

White Squirrel Festival

Join us at our booth 

downtown.

 

Wednesday, May 30
at 3pm
"How to Use Computers for Genealogy" class, 3pm at the TGS Research Room upstairs at the Museum  

 

GroWNC  

Wednesday, May 30

4pm-7pm
GroWNC Community Road Trip. Learn more at

www.gro-wnc.org or click here or on the image above to download the flyer!

 

 

Now Through June 30

Perseverance, Strength and Faith: The African Amercian Experience in Transylvania County.Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. On display now through June 30th.

"From Africa to America -The Legacy of African American Music." Friday, April 27 6:00-7:00pm.