ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Banneker-Douglass Museum (BDM) is featuring untold stories of HBCU athletes who helped to shape African American college athletics, while also hosting a companion sports exhibit. On February 7, 2015, two exhibitions— “Untold Stories: Athletes of Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities” and “Hometown Teams: How Sports Shaped America” — opened at the Banneker-Douglass Museum.
During Black History Month Maryland athletes who attended four local HBCUs will be featured. The majority of the personal items included in the exhibit belong to notable alum who attended Coppin State University; Morgan State University; Bowie State University; and University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. Items were also borrowed from individual collections of each school.
(Courtesy Photo)
Photographs of Coppin Basketball player Colvin Carter are part of two exhibitions at the Banneker-Douglass Museum in Annapolis during Black History Month.
The Banneker-Douglass Museum, located at 84 Franklin Street in Annapolis, is one of five Maryland sites selected by the Maryland Humanities Council to host “Hometown Teams: How Sports Shaped America.”
The exhibit “Hometown Teams: How Sports Shaped America,” which was launched at BDM will travel to five host sites selected by the Maryland Humanities Council.
Shakia M. Gullette, curator of exhibitions at the Banneker-Douglass Museum explained the composition of both exhibits.
“The BDM exhibition is ‘Untold Stories: Athletes of Maryland’s Four Historically Black Colleges and Universities.’ “Untold Stories” celebrates the stellar achievements of athletes who helped shape African American college athletics. “Untold Stories” infuses both locally and nationally known sports figures who matriculated through the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Maryland. Featured athletes include Hall of Fame offensive tackle, and first African American to coach a professional football team, Art Shell; Maryland’s tennis pioneer, Ann Koger; and two-time Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist, Rochelle Stevens. Artifacts showcased in the exhibition range from a megaphone used by spirit squads in the 1950’s to a commemorative medallion from the 1986 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.”
Gullette also said that over 100 people from various places within the state helped to welcome the newest exhibitions, during an opening reception. The keynote speaker of the event was Dr. Edwin T. Johnson, an adjunct professor of history at the University of Maryland University College.
“A special presentation during the opening reception included a word from Marie Banks, widow of former Denver Bronco and Super Bowl champion, Christopher Warren Banks. On hand that day were the two Super Bowl rings won by Banks in 1998 and 1999,” Gullette said.
“Hometown Teams: How Sports Shaped America” will run at BDM through March 20, 2015. The companion exhibition, “Untold Stories: Athletes of Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities” will run until October 17, 2015. The exhibitions are free and open to the public, Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, about BDM or the exhibits, visit http://bdmuseum.maryland.gov.