Edward Waters College News March 29, 2012 Susie E. Tolbert House Grand Opening Scheduled for April 10 Edward Waters College will host a grand opening of an African-American artifacts museum in its newly-renovated Susie E. Tolbert House on April 10 to mark the conclusion of a multi-phase restoration initiative. The museum, which will eventually be open to the public, will contain over 100 historical pieces, including art, passed down from Jacksonville icons such as A. Philip Randolph and Susie E. Tolbert, and other artifacts. The initial interest to renovate the Tolbert house was made by Edward Waters College when it became the recipient of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Grant for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Since then the College also secured funds from a Historic Preservation and Historical Museums Special Category Grant, and $150,000 from the City of Jacksonville to complete the renovations. The house, which was purchased by EWC in the 1990s, is a late nineteenth-century plat that reflects both Colonial Revival and Queen Anne style architecture. Tolbert and her husband lived in the house from the 1920s until 1942 and used it as a hub for community activities. The house also served as a community distribution and resource center for the homeless and veterans during the Great Depression. Decades ago, EWC students routinely interacted with Tolbert, as she hosted numerous events and social gatherings for faculty and students. She also taught EWC students music and applied social etiquette. After her death in 1942, the Duval County School Board named an elementary school after Tolbert in 1951. "This museum will be a great resource for the community," said Blake Hacht, a college spokesperson. "It will not only serve as a window to our city's past, but it will also help to memorialize the lives of some of our city's greatest icons." The grand opening of the museum will take place on campus at 1665 Pearce Street at 10 a.m. The event is open to the public. After the grand opening, school and church groups will be able to register for tours throughout the year. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.