Needed: African American Artifacts

In May, the Westport Historical Society will sponsor an exhibit about African American heritage in history here, and the surrounding region.

It should be educational, inspirational and fascinating.

It won’t happen, though, without actual stuff to show.

There is good material in the archives. But the WHS is seeking more documents and objects. They’re especially interested in original artifacts, from the earliest settlement of town to the present.

If you’ve got anything — letters, artwork, photos, property information, newspaper clippings, video or tape recordings, or anything else — please send an image and brief description to executivedirector@westporthistory.org.

And if you have any contact information for anyone who would know anything about Westport’s African American past, please send that along too.

A photo of the maids at the Laurence family home, around 1880. Part of the Laurence estate later became Longshore. The back of the photo identifies 5 white people who could possibly be in the photo — but does not even attempt to identify the black woman.