McKinley Museum Revives Untold Black History

The McKinley Presidential Library & Museum is hosting a new exhibition titled "A Legacy Revived: Exploring Stark County's Rich Black History." This event, scheduled for June 19, celebrates the area's significant Black heritage. The exhibit features around 50 artifacts and numerous photographs, shedding light on the lives and contributions of Black residents in Stark County.

The exhibition also serves as an important preview for the Stark County Black History Museum, which was launched in 2023. Curator Tameka Ellington emphasized the importance of making this often-unknown history accessible in one location. The collection includes significant donations, such as a double bass from jazz bassist David A. Whitehurst and a historical cement lawn jockey linked to the legend of Jocko Graves.

Further items on display include early church artifacts from Massillon's Shiloh Baptist Church and St. Paul AME Church, alongside a 1872 diploma from Massillon Union School. The museum is also undergoing a $18.5 million expansion, with $4 million dedicated to establishing a permanent space for the Stark County Black History Museum. "A Legacy Revived" will be on display until November 27.