TUSCUMBIA-The Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation (CCHLF) will hold its Winter Quarterly Meeting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 15, 2015 at the Helen Keller Library Conference Room located at 511 North Main Street, Tuscumbia, AL.
In recognition of Black History Month, Rev. Dr. David E. Gregg will deliver a power-point presentation on “The Genesis of Black Schools and Education in the Shoals Area (Circa 1866).”
This was a topic that was supposed to have been delivered at another historical society venue but was rescheduled due to unexpected family circumstances.
Dr. Gregg’s subject, (representing an aspect of local history that has been relatively obscure for more than a century) comprises a time-line snapshot of history and events covering a couple of cross river institutions: the Burrell Slater School (Florence) and the “Colored School of Tuscumbia” (as it was commonly referred to during the early 1900’s) and subsequently renamed in honor of Professor Dr. George Washington Trenholm.
The Principals of these schools, and others, tasked with launching the African American education experience shortly after the Civil War represent part of a greater story to be further researched and told as source documents both local and out of state surface over time; thus, adding diversity value to the telling of history as collective contributions.
Dr. Gregg is Pastor of the Florence Blvd. Baptist Church in Florence and has researched Civil War history for more than 35 years.
The meeting is free to the public. Refreshments will be served at the meeting’s conclusion.
MEDIA RELEASE/THOMAS MCKNIGHT/CCHLF
