roma★
Mike Driver
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
@theartofmadeline
⁂
❣ Chile in a Photography ❣
Not today Justin
if i look back, i am lost
trying on a metaphor
Kaledo Art
Xuebing Du
𓃗
titsay
shark vs the universe
sheepfilms
untitled
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
Cosimo Galluzzi
Noah Kahan
occasionally subtle
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from Türkiye
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Switzerland
seen from Norway
seen from Malaysia
seen from Spain
seen from Australia
seen from United States
seen from Switzerland
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Russia
seen from Germany
seen from Norway
seen from Russia
seen from United States
@herndonhomemuseum
What better way to celebrate the month of African-American achievement than to take a tour of the Herndon Home Museum? Even if you've visited before, share the unforgettable experience with a friend and family! For February, group tours are available Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Individual tours, Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Call 404-581-9813 for reservations
John Hope, born to a white merchant and a free black woman in Augusta, Georgia, became the first black president of Morehouse College in 1906. He would later become the first black president of Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta) more than two decades later in 1929.
For a time in the late 19th century, Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta) operated as the only integrated institution of higher learning in the Deep South. Like all of the historically black universities of Atlanta, with the exception of Morris Brown, Atlanta University was founded and initially taught exclusively by white faculty members. But unlike other schools, the children of Atlanta University staff could attend classes alongside black students when the University declared that it offered education “to all of either sex without regard to sect, color, race, or nationality.” Unfortunately, the state of Georgia put an end to this early attempt at integration by threatening to discontinue its annual allocation of $8,000 to the school, on which it relied heavily. Despite this, Atlanta University would remain the forerunner in black higher education for several years, awarding the state of Georgia’s first Bachelor of Arts degrees to blacks in 1876.
Adrienne Herndon's (front row, standing right) integrated graduating class of 1890.
By 1895 Atlanta University had slowly begun to integrate its staff. In the photo above we see university faculty and friends c.1905. Adrienne Herndon (seated farthest left), W.E.B. Du Bois, (last row, standing farthest right) George Towns (third row, standing farthest right) were the first black teachers at the university.
Elocution teacher Adrienne Herndon (front row center) with her students c.1895
The Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895
Today we came across this gem in our archives! A souvenir photo album of the main attractions at the Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895. The exposition was held in what is now Piedmont Park, and was intended to promote trade between southern states and South American nations, as well as to showcase southern products, facilities, and accomplishments to the world. The exhibition drew a crowd of over 800,000 during its three month tenure.
While the exposition featured the latest innovations in technology, art and sculpture, agriculture, mining, transportation, and other fields, it is best remembered for Booker T. Washington's "Atlanta Compromise" speech, which promoted racial segregation and cooperation.
On September 18, 1895 the exposition opened with speeches from prominent political, business, community leaders, including Washington. Washington's address was well received by white attendees, but was met with less enthusiasm by African Americans. The speech echoed his longstanding "accommodationist" strategy in response to southern racial tensions and the poor socio-economic conditions of African Americans. Washington upheld racial segregation and urged African Americans to shift their focus from political and social equality to becoming more proficient agricultural, industrial, and domestic laborers.
His speech was met with sharp criticism from W.E.B. Du Bois, a close friend of Alonzo Herndon and fellow faculty member of Adrienne's. Du Bois advocated for immediate social, political, and economic integration, and saw Washington's ideas of gradualism as a tool for Southern Whites to maintain their status of superiority over Southern African Americans. Said Du Bois, "Mr. Washington represents in Negro thought the old attitude of adjustment and submission.... [His] programme practically accepts the alleged inferiority of the Negro races."
Despite the negative criticism, Washington's address was an important contribution to racial discourse, and it remains one of the most influential speeches in American history.
January 15th 1929: Martin Luther King Jr. born On this day in 1929, the future civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Born as Martin King, he and his father changed their names in honour of Protestant reformer Martin Luther. King entered the ministry in his twenties and first came to national attention for his leadership of the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. This event is considered by many the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement, which saw a national fight against discrimination suffered by African-Americans. King was one of many leaders, but became the face of the movement for his nonviolent tactics and powerful oratory. In 1963, during the March on Washington, King delivered the crowning speech of the struggle - the ‘I have a dream’ speech. Beyond his role in combating racial inequality, King also focused on tackling poverty and advocating peace, especially during the Vietnam War. On April 4th 1968, King was shot and killed by James Earl Ray in Memphis, Tennessee. He lived to see the legislative achievements of the movement - the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act - but tragically was unable to continue the push for full equality. The movement King set in motion continues to be fought today; the United States is still not a completely equal society and systemic discrimination persists. However thanks to Martin Luther King, America is closer to fulfilling King’s dream of a truly free and equal society. Since 1986, a national Martin Luther King Day is celebrated on the third Monday of January. Today would have been his 86th birthday
Where in the world are the Herndons?!
The Herndons were known for their extensive travels, most of which was well documented by their vast souvenir collection. The family kept everything from restaurant menus and magazines to postcards and travel brochures from destinations all over the world!
Today in our archives we found a guide booklet for Madame Tussaud's wax museum, a Pictorial guide to St. Paul's Cathedral, and a memory booklet complete with scenic views of London.
These items were most likely purchased by Norris Herndon during the English leg of his 1955 European tour.
Alonzo Herndon was born on on this date, July 21, in 1858. He was an African American businessman.
Born in Walton, Georgia on a farm near Social Circle, to Sophenie Herndon, a slave. His father was Frank Herndon, a white farmer to who owned his mother. The young Herndon was one of 25 slaves owned by his father, who never acknowledged paternity. He also had a younger brother, Thomas, as well as a number of half-brothers and half-sisters born to other slave women on his father’s farm. Herndon was a quick study academically. With one year of formal education he learned barbering in Jonesboro, Georgia, where in 1878 he opened his first barbershop.
Arriving in Atlanta in 1882, he worked his way to the top of the city’s barbering trade owning and operating three barbershops. The Crystal Palace on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta was considered one of the finest barbershops in Atlanta. In 1893, he married a young woman from Atlanta’s old black elite; Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil. She was a graduate and a faculty member of Atlanta University, teaching elocution and drama. He invested his barbering income in real estate, becoming by the early 1900’s the largest black property owner in Atlanta. [Continue reading at the African American Registry.]
Postcard featuring the cruise liner that took Alonzo, Jessie, and Norris Herndon on their European tour in 1912. Interesting fact: their voyage was several hours delayed due to the ship's prior rescue of Titanic survivors. The Carpathia was the only ship that came to Titanic's aid.
Norris Herndon on board the Carpathia
Happy New Years from the Herndon Home!
To celebrate, here's a photo of the Herndon family and friends standing in front of their first home c. 1905.
Left to right: Alonzo Hernon, unidentified man, Clara Simkins, unidentified woman, Norris Herndon, Adrienne Herndon, John Henry Bailey, and Thomas Herndon
Merry Christmas to all from the Herndon Home! To celebrate we share with you the Music Room, graciously decorated by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority!
The Herndon Home Countdown to Christmas!
Only a few more days until Christmas, so here's a few more Herndon Home trees!
(our offices!)
Left to right: Adrienne Herndon, her grandmother, Harriet Hankerson, her son, Norris Herndon, and her mother, Martha Fleming McNeil, early 1900's
Both Martha and Harriet were house slaves fathered by white men. Martha's father and Harriet's owner was William R. Fleming, a prominent white merchant of Augusta and Savannah, Georgia. Fleming also fathered Martha's brother and Adrienne's uncle, Thomas, who cut ties with his black family and passed for white. William Fleming never acknowledged or claimed his children with Harriet, and Adrienne would never know her grandfather.
Adrienne's father, a light-skinned black man, also forsook his family to pass for white, leaving Martha when Adrienne was just two years old.
Adrienne's mother, Martha Fleming c.1868
Thomas Fleming, Adrienne's maternal uncle who passed for white
Adrienne with her half sister, Jenny Olive and half brother, Willie c. 1885
Adrienne's considerable white ancestry thus explains why she had such fair skin. Though she engaged in situational passing in order to gain access to and further her education, Adrienne neither denied nor rejected her race, using her white education to aid and better the black community of Atlanta.
Adrienne and her grandmother, Harriet Hankerson c.1908
Where in the World are the Herndons?!
Digging through the Herndon's travel archives this morning led us to an amazing accumulation of travel documents, pamphlets, train tickets, hotel room keys, and other souvenirs that the family brought back from abroad!
One of our favorite finds was a travel pamphlet, aptly titled Distinction, left by Norris Herndon highlighting the most elegant hotels in New York, c. 1922
Before radio ads, television commercials, or Yelp reviews, businesses had to rely on word of mouth along with pamphlets like this in order to draw in new clientele. With no shortage of wealth, we can assume that Norris regularly visited some of the hotels advertised in Distinction, such as The Commodore shown above!
Alonzo Herndon's incredible life has been re-imagined as a children's book! "The Story of Alonzo Herndon: Who Says a Slave Can't Be a Millionaire?" makes the perfect educational gift for your kids this Christmas!
10 more days until Christmas! Let's celebrate with two more trees!
This tree is in what was once Norris Herndon's bedroom. He slept in this room until his death in 1977, hence the very "modern" television set!
Donors Day at the Herndon Home
Today the Herndon Home we celebrated our annual Donors Day with a Christmas party! Visitors were welcome to mingle, tour the Home, and munch on delicious holiday treats!
In attendance was Alonzo Herndon's oldest living relative and great nephew, Norris Connally!
Connally formerly served as senior vice president of Atlanta Life, the insurance company founded by Alonzo Herndon in 1906 which remains the only African-American owned and privately held stock company in the country. Connally is pictured below (far right) at a board meeting in 1981.
And finally we must give a shout out to our amazing interns who put so much energy into cleaning, decorating, and hosting this event with us!
First Tour of the Day!
Remember, during the month of December the Herndon Home is open for tours every Saturday from 10am-4pm. Stop by today and enjoy the beautiful holiday decorations!
