This post is from Bonnie Gurewitsch, curator of Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges, on view through February 21.
The exhibition, Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow, is based partly on initial research of Gabrielle Edgcomb, who wrote a book entitled, From Swastika to Jim Crow: Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges, which was later made into a very moving film. As we researched and developed the exhibition, we keenly felt the absence of the author who had passed away, for it was she who discovered this story. But because of the initiative of her daughter, Julie, we recently hosted a large family reunion for about 40 members of the Edgcomb clan, who came to the Museum on December 29 to see the exhibition and to celebrate their family.
The family members came to the Museum from all over the United States. Young and old, representing three generations, some had never met before, and others had not seen each other for 30-40 years. Bringing family trees and photographs of ancestors, they happily exchanged family news and figured out relationships as the group gathered in two classrooms on the first floor.
I welcomed the group to the Museum and described the genesis of the exhibition and introduced Steve Fischler and Joe Sucher, of Pacific Street Films, who made the film based on the book and proposed the exhibition idea to the Museum, and who also made the two new exhibition films. The group then went up to the exhibition gallery, where I guided them through the exhibition. They were joined by Ilona Moradof, associate curator, who took photographs and and answered questions.
The Edgcomb family was touched and moved to see Gabrielle's work brought to life so respectfully and vividly. They were delighted to hear that the exhibition will travel to other venues in the country, and we promised to keep them informed of the travel schedule so they can visit in other locations. Julie Edgcomb wrote in her thank you note to me: “ [I] think my mother would have loved the exhibit - it was just excellent. Many of us had never met each other, and the opportunity you all gave us to connect as a family was unique and extraordinarily meaningful to us… we were cherishing the opportunity to actually see each other."
The family members came to the Museum from all over the United States. Young and old, representing three generations, some had never met before, and others had not seen each other for 30-40 years. Bringing family trees and photographs of ancestors, they happily exchanged family news and figured out relationships as the group gathered in two classrooms on the first floor.
I welcomed the group to the Museum and described the genesis of the exhibition and introduced Steve Fischler and Joe Sucher, of Pacific Street Films, who made the film based on the book and proposed the exhibition idea to the Museum, and who also made the two new exhibition films. The group then went up to the exhibition gallery, where I guided them through the exhibition. They were joined by Ilona Moradof, associate curator, who took photographs and and answered questions.
The Edgcomb family was touched and moved to see Gabrielle's work brought to life so respectfully and vividly. They were delighted to hear that the exhibition will travel to other venues in the country, and we promised to keep them informed of the travel schedule so they can visit in other locations. Julie Edgcomb wrote in her thank you note to me: “ [I] think my mother would have loved the exhibit - it was just excellent. Many of us had never met each other, and the opportunity you all gave us to connect as a family was unique and extraordinarily meaningful to us… we were cherishing the opportunity to actually see each other."
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