Knox County Black History Archives

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Knox County Black History Archives

 

Discovering African American History in Rural Ohio


Knox County, Ohio has been home to Black residents from the earliest days of settlement of the region by non-indigenous persons. As a consequence of their small numbers, the history of Black folks of the area was largely over-looked, if not outright ignored, by the mainstream press, academicians, and local historians. Although living and working closely with their White neighbors, the Black community, forced by custom and convention and inspired by other "colored" people living in communities both large and small, built parallel, albeit segregated, institutions to meet their social, economic, and spiritual needs. The establishment of these archives was intended to open a window into the fascinating world of African American life and experience in rural Ohio as well as advance the reclamation of the proud histories of the invisible people who occupied "the community within."

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    Barbara Peterson ca. 1955

    Barbara Peterson ca. 1955

    Creator: Creator Unknown

    Date(s): ca. 1955

    Description: Photograph of Barbara Peterson from the Mount Vernon High School 1955 Forum Book.

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    Bertha Hammonds and Gregg Shef...

    Bertha Hammonds and Gregg Sheffield, Karen Sheffield

    Creator: Creator Unknown

    Date(s): circa 1951

    Description: Photograph of Bertha Hammonds and two grandchildren, Gregg and Karen Sheffield.

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    Vera Payne and Peggy Sharp, Mo...

    Vera Payne and Peggy Sharp, Mount Vernon Girls Basketball, ca. 1945

    Creator: Creator Unknown

    Date(s): ca. 1945

    Description: Photograph of Vera Payne and Peggy Sharp on the Mount Vernon High School Girls Basketball team in 1945.

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    Mt. Vernon High 1906 Basketbal...

    Mt. Vernon High 1906 Basketball Champions

    Creator: Creator Unknown

    Date(s): circa 1906

    Description: Team photo of the 1906 Mt. Vernon High School basketball team including Willard Simmons

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    "In India" theatrical cast pho...

    "In India" theatrical cast photo

    Creator: Creator Unknown

    Date(s): circa 1921

    Description: Photo of cast of "In India," an operetta performed by the Mt. Vernon Colored Women's Glee Club in 1921

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    Charles Turner shows his night...

    Charles Turner shows his nightblooming cereus

    Creator: Creator Unknown

    Date(s): circa 1951

    Description: Charles Turner displays his night blooming cereus

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    Ryuse Tennis Men

    Ryuse Tennis Men

    Creator: Creator Unknown

    Date(s): circa 1971

    Description: Photo of Mark (Mac) Ryuse, Sr., Mark Ryuse, Jr., and Steve Ryuse holding tennis racquets

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    Viola, George, and Joseph Book...

    Viola, George, and Joseph Booker

    Creator: Creator Unknown

    Date(s): circa 1918

    Description: Photograph of Viola, son George, and Joseph Booker

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    Bertha Hammonds and Night Bloo...

    Bertha Hammonds and Night Blooming Cereus

    Creator: Creator Unknown

    Date(s): circa 1960

    Description: Bertha Hammonds displaying her prized nightblooming cereus

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    Viola Booker, Club Woman

    Viola Booker, Club Woman

    Creator: Creator Unknown

    Date(s): circa 1930

    Description: Photo of Viola Booker that appeared in the printed proceedings of the Ohio District 4 Annual Meeting of the Household of Ruth