In Memoriam

William Anthony Grehan 

The Memphis Cotton Exchange and Cotton Museum recently lost a dear friend. William Anthony Grehan, 89, died Tuesday, October 2, 2012. A lifelong Memphian, Mr. Grehan was a part of the vibrant community of local cotton merchants, working as a partner with Barnwell and Hays Cotton Company and later as owner of Grehan Cotton Company. Additionally, he volunteered his time and served on the Board of the Memphis Cotton Exchange. Mr. Grehan also proudly served his country and was awarded two Bronze Stars after flying 55 missions in the Pacific Theater during WWII; he flew as a tail gunner on a B24 Liberator with the 90th Heavy Bombardment Group of the Army Air Corps.

Mr. Grehan is survived by his wife, Eleanor (Jenny) Powell Grehan; his sons Richard Anthony Grehan of Winthrop, WA and Geoffrey Allen Grehan (Gable) of Brooklyn, NY; and his stepdaughter Katherine Lucas Hall (Richard) of Greenville, S.C. The Cotton Museum accepts memorials in honor or memory of family or friends. If you would like to make a memorial donation to support the work of the Cotton Museum, contact us at 901-531-7826.

Jess Smith & Sons Cotton Partners  

with the Cotton Museum

The Cotton Museum is proud to announce that Jess Smith & Sons Cotton has renewed their support of the museum's programming as a Contributing Partner. "We are so grateful for the generous support of Jess Smith & Sons," says Anna Mullins, the Museum's Executive Director. "Partnerships like this help us continue to share the dynamic story of this industry." The support of Jess Smith & Sons will specifically help to continue the development of the Oral History Project. This unique program creates and preserves a more complete record of the cotton industry through the voices of those involved.

Jess Smith & Sons Cotton was founded in 1943. Under the leadership of the Schroeder family since the 1970s, it has grown from a local brokerage in the Far West to an international merchant handling all growths of U.S. cotton. By focusing on the needs of both growers and mills, they have expanded into a leader in the U.S. cotton industry, building trust from mills worldwide and from growers coast to coast.

"While history can be read, the Memphis Cotton Museum actually brings cotton history alive," says President and CEO Ernie Schroeder, Jr. "Jess Smith & Sons Cotton - having its own proud history - is happy to support this program where people can experience cotton as it changed from the development of the gin to the global marketplace."

View an interview with Mr. Ernst Schroeder, Sr., who became the President of Jess Smith & Sons Cotton in 1976. Mr. Schroeder, Sr. shares his unique experience in the industry and details the challenges and rewards of growing a local cotton brokerage operation into a major cotton merchandising firm.

 View Video  

Attention teachers! 

The Cotton Museum is partnering with The Memphis Rock n' Soul Museum to launch a collaborative educational experience for area students, "Cotton to Concerts." This new program traces the historical connections between the cotton industry and Memphis music traditions. "Cotton to Concerts" is made possible through a generous Arts Education and Outreach grant from ArtsMemphis.

ArtsMemphis' Arts Education & Outreach grant program provides quality arts education and outreach programs to a broad segment of people in the greater Memphis community. The program aims to increase awareness of, access to and appreciation of the arts; to encourage nonprofit organizations to be collaborative, innovative and inclusive in their education and outreach programs; and to work together to make a collective impact in our community. The ArtsMemphis Arts Education & Outreach program is made possible through a lead gift from the Assisi Foundation of Memphis, Inc, and generous donations from Gerber Taylor Capital Advisors, Inc., Hyde Family Foundations, Regions Financial Corporation and Schadt Foundation.