Voices from the Historic Russell School: Panel Discussion and Multimedia Exhibits Highlighting the History and Influence of Rosenwald Schools in Durham and Across North Carolina

Date/Time
Date(s) - 17/02/2024
9:30 am - 12:00 pm

Location
DH Hill Library

Categories

• NC Chapter Events

(Photo of the Russell School courtesy of Maria Miracoli via Wikimedia)

Background: The Rosenwald Schools program was a joint effort between Black communities in the American South led by Booker T. Washington and the CEO of Sears Roebuck Julius Rosenwald, who contributed funds to help build schools for Black children (late 1910s to early 1930s) during the Jim Crow era of racial segregation. North Carolina had more than 800 Rosenwald-funded projects, more than any other state, and historic preservation surveys reveal around 125 buildings are still standing across the state.

Event: This event will include a panel discussion with board and community members as well as alumni associated with the Russell Rosenwald School in Durham County. Also, participants will be invited to spend time exploring three multimedia exhibits to learn more about the Russell School and broader Rosenwald Schools movement across the state:
1. Visualization Gallery, 360-degree immersive environment showcasing photos from the Russell School and interview footage with community members and school alumni;
2. VR Studio, headsets projecting 360-degree video from the Russell School providing for a virtual tour with audio commentary from community members;
3. Innovation Studio, interactive table tops showcasing historic Rosenwald School photographs from the state archives, historic documents, and web-based collections reflective of the broader Rosenwald Schools movement.

Who: Open to the public, all are welcome.

When: Saturday, February 17
• 9:30am-12:30pm, Coffee/Tea and Refreshments Available with Networking
• 10:00am, Panel Discussion
• 10:45am-12:30pm, Exhibits Open for Exploration

Where: NC State University, DH Hill Library, Tower Section, Visualization Gallery
Library Address: 2 W Broughton Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695

Parking: Free weekend parking along Hillsborough Street, OR in the two parking lots behind the Hillsborough Building at 2620 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607

Registration: Free, but capped at 60 guests, please pre-register at: http://tinyurl.com/russellvoices

Co-Sponsors: NC State University College of Education (Kevin Oliver, Angela Wiseman, Franziska Bickel), Libraries (Shaun Bennett, Adam Rogers, Colin Keenan), and Digital Education and Learning Technology Applications (Michael Cuales); Friends of Russell Rosenwald School (Phyllis Mack); and NC Chapter of the Fulbright Association