By Floyd Ingram
Press Register
A community’s history is typically gone after three generations as those who know the facts are no longer around to tell them.
Clarksdale and Coahoma County are seeking to preserve their history with a National Endowment for the Humanities “Common Heritage” program that supports digitization and outreach events aimed at increasing public awareness and stewardship of artifacts and history held by the public.
“Clarksdale has done a good job of digging into the history of the Blues, but really doesn’t have a lot of formal history or way to catalog and access that history,” said Dr. Clay Motley, director of Florida Gulf Coast University’s Honors College, and music historian. “What we want is to compile your history in a digitalized library and catalog letter, items and artifacts that tell the story of this community.”
Motley said he hopes people will bring their artifacts, documents and to the Clarksdale Library for entry into the system.
“Pictures, letters, stories and of course any items related to those stories, eras and events are what we are looking for,” said Motley. “I’ve always been amazed at what a community digs up once they start hunting through their history.
The group that gathered last week at the Cutrer Mansion to learn the details of preserving Clarksdale and Coahoma County’s history. It is hoped the meeting will be the first of many quarterly meetings aimed at forming some type of historical society for the community.
Motley said while this particular grant is coming to an end he hopes the effort will lead to more people sharing more of their history with the community.
Last week’s meeting saw three historic presentations:
• Jen Waller told of the history of her grandfather who died in WWII flying bombers in Burma.
• Olando Paden told of the history of his fraternity, Alpha Psi Alpha and local members’ contribution to the community.
• Paul Pearson presented his Coahoma County Postcard collection depicting many long-gone buildings and locations in Clarksdale.
“With this project you not only preserve what is known, but there is a real joy in sharing it with others,” said Motley. “This project is not focused on any particular era or history, but rather a broader search and request to the community to bring us your information and artifacts.”
Motley said those wanting to have their information and artifacts assessed and cataloged and then carry them back home are welcome to do so. He also said those wanting to donate those artifacts to the local library are urged to do so.
“It’s your history and you are the ones who must preserve it,” said Motley. “This is hopefully the start of something bigger for the community.”
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