8 The Hampton Roads Messenger
Volume 8 Number 5
New Portsmouth Museum Documents Library’s Segregated Past
By Steve Milner Four days before Christmas 2013, some
200 persons took a step back in time when they heard how a tiny, relatively bare bones library brought hope to the then segregated Portsmouth, Virginia, black community. And despite what it lacked in its limited physical facility and literary resource materials, it was a golden pathway to learning for many persons who didn’t have access to local whites-only public libraries due to the separate and unequal tenants of Jim Crow life.
Those who heard about these bygone days
attended a gala preceding the grand opening of that city’s formerly Colored Community Library the following day. They heard Norfolk State University history professor Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander tell how this library served the segregated black community from 1945 to 1962, when it became part of the Portsmouth Library System.
The 900-square-foot library was relocated
twice from its previous sites and is now located at 904 Elm Ave. It formally became a museum on Dec. 22. 2013.
The African American Historical Society
of Portsmouth sponsored this gala, which was held at the Edmonds Center. And this community group has worked for 10 years to convert this library into a museum, as Dr. Newby-Alexander said, as a commitment to preserve history.
Virginia U.S. Congressman Bobby
Scott attended the museum’s gala, along with Portsmouth Mayor Kenny Wright, and Council members Marlene Randall and
Bill Moody. Also attending were
Portsmouth City Manager, John Rowe, and Deputy City Manager, Brannon Godfrey.
Horace Savage, the former longtime
Portsmouth teacher and school administration official, was the gala’s master of ceremonies.
Iva Foust, assisted by her co-chair, Vivian
White, spent a year planning the gala, visiting numerous community groups and soliciting sponsors for it. Foust is the First Vice President of the African American Historical Society of Portsmouth.
Mae Breckenridge-Haywood was a driving
force in convincing Portsmouth officials to move the former library to its present location, and to help in what she termed “so many other ways.” The longtime librarian at I.C. Norcom High School, is president of the city’s African American Historical Society, which had led the creation of this unique museum.
She said a center piece exhibit in the new
museum is titled, “Forever Free: Portsmouth stories of African American Strivings and Successes.” Breckenridge-Haywood said this title was inspired by civil rights activist Frederick Douglass, who visited Portsmouth in 1867. He said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”
January 2014
Gala planner Iva Foust pauses at this event with U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott, right, and Portsmouth City Councilman Bill Moody.
Photos by Steve Milner
Portsmouth City Manager John Rowe, and his wife, Carol, attended the Museum’s gala. At right is U.S. Congressman
Bobby Scott. Photos by Steve Milner
The museum displays the desk of its first librarian, Bertha Winborne Edwards, who served in this capacity from its opening in 1945 to 1962, when it merged with the
Portsmouth City Library in System in 1962. Photos by Steve Milner
dig-Yatrufsky. Photos by Steve Milner OPPONENT
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OPPONENT
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Charis Prep Wilson, NC Charis Prep Wilson, NC
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Museum docent Geroldine DeBerry-Moon, discusses the “colored sink” display to Portsmouth resident Mark Gedul-
DATE / TIME Nov 1 at 5p Nov 2 at 3p Nov 9 at 3p Nov 12 at 6p Nov 15 at 7p Nov 16 at 4p
DATE / TIME Nov 1 at 5p Nov 2 at 3p Nov 9 at 3p Nov 12 at 6p Nov 15 at 7p Nov 16 at 4p
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Tidewater Community College Louisburg College Louisburg, NC CCBC-Dundalk
Mt. Zion Christian Academy Durham, NC Mt. Zion Christian Academy Durham, NC
Tidewater Community College Louisburg College Louisb rg, NC CCBC-Dundalk
Lenoir Community College Kinston, NC Nov 23 at 3p Vance Granville Comm College Thomas Nelson Comm Coll Hampton Pitt Community College Winterville, NC
Nov 25 at 7p Nov 25 at 7p
Dec 1 at 4p Dec 7at 3p
Southside Comm Coll Lawrenceville, NC Dec 14 at 2p Brunswick Comm College Bolivia, NC Tidewater Comm College - Chesapeake Mt. Zion Christian Academy Southside Community College Northern VA Comm Coll Annandale Sandhills Comm College Pinehills, NC Thomas Nelson Comm College Pitt Community College Charis Prep
12 Team Tournament -Myrtle Beach, SC March 6 - 8 12 Team Tournament - Myrtle Beach, SC March 6 - 8
Jan 5 at 3p Jan 11 at 5p Jan 16 at 7:30p Jan 18 at 1p Jan 22 at 6p Jan 29 at 7p Feb 1 at 4p Feb 2 at 2p Feb 7 at 7p Feb 12 at 7p Feb 15 at 3p Feb 22 at 4p Feb 25 at 7p
Jan 5 at 3p Jan 11 at 5p Jan 16 at 7:30p Jan 18 at 1p Jan 22 at 6p Jan 29 at 7p Feb 1 at 4p Feb 2 at 2p Feb 7 at 7p Feb 12 at 7p Feb 15 at 3p Feb 22 at 4p Feb 25 at 7p
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