HOPKINSVILLE, KY – The Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County invites the community to experience the Pennyroyal Area Museum in a new way! “Voices of Hoptown” is an addition to the permanent exhibit that incorporates audio from oral history interviews to enhance guests’ understanding of local history.
For Black History Month, we are featuring 12 memories from local African Americans who have shared their stories with us. From the importance of church to the pains of school desegregation, these voices bring new depth to the museum space. The exhibit includes memories from Darryl Banks, Nannie Croney, Mamie Dillard, Wendell Lynch, Gwenda Motley, Levi Peterson, Jr., and Valeria Watkins.
These valuable audio clips have been possible through a partnership with Salt.Light.Love and with grant funding received from the Kentucky Oral History Commission.
“Voices of Hoptown” opens Thursday, Feb. 6 and will be in place through the end of the month. Full oral history interviews are available as a podcast also named “Voices of Hoptown: In Their Own Words.” Episodes are available on Spotify.
Oral histories add to our historical record by providing personal stories about local history that may not be found in written sources. The Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County currently partners with the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History in the University of Kentucky Libraries as we expand our oral history interview collections.
If you are interested in recording your story, please contact Alissa Keller at akeller@museumsofhopkinsville.org. For more information, visit their website or give them a call at 270-887-4270. The Pennyroyal Area Museum is located at 217 East Ninth Street and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
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