International Civil Rights Center and Museum
Encyclopedia
The International Civil Rights Center and Museum is located in Greensboro, North Carolina
. The museum building is the former location of the Woolworth's
in which the Greensboro sit-ins
took place, beginning February 1, 1960. The museum's aim is to memorialize the actions of four students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
(NC A&T), those who joined them in the daily Woolworth's sit-ins, and others around the country who took part in sit-in
s and the civil rights movement. The museum opened February 1, 2010, on the 50th anniversary of the original sit-in, with a ribbon cutting and opening ceremonies.
store that had existed since 1939 closed, with the company announcing plans to tear down the building. Greensboro radio station 102 JAMZ, (WJMH), began a petition drive to save the location, with morning personality Dr. Michael Lynn broadcasting in front of the closed store day and night in an effort to save the historic building. 18,000 signatures were gathered on a petition, including that of Jesse Jackson, Jr.
, who visited the location, endorsed the effort, and joined the live broadcast. After three days, F.W. Woolworth company announced an agreement to maintain the location while financing could be arranged to buy the store.
County Commissioner
Melvin "Skip" Alston and City Councilman Earl Jones proposed buying the site and turning it into a museum. The two founded Sit-in Movement, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to realizing this dream. The group succeeded in purchasing the property and renovating it.
In 2001, Sit-in Movement Inc. and NC A&T announced a partnership in an attempt to facilitate the museum's becoming a reality.
Despite millions of dollars in donations including more than $1 million from the State of North Carolina
, a contribution from the Bryan Foundation, more than $200,000 each from the City of Greensboro and Guilford County, $148,152 from the U.S. Department of Interior through the National Park Service Agency's Save America's Treasures program in 2005 and others, the museum project suffered financial difficulties for a number of years.
In Fall 2007, Sit-in Movement, Inc. requested an additional $1.5 million from the City of Greensboro, a request that was rejected. Greensboro residents twice voted down bond referenda
to provide money for the project. Questions over transparency in the handling of public and private contributions were widely viewed as relevant to the electoral defeats.
As the 50th anniversary of the sit-ins grew closer, efforts increased to complete the project. Over 9 million dollars in donations and grants were raised. In addition, the museum qualified for historic preservation tax credits, which were sold for 14 million dollars. Work on the project proceeded, and was completed in time for the 50th anniversary opening.
style. Completed in 1929, the building in the 100 South block of Elm Street was then known as the Whelan Building because Whelan Drug Co. rented most of the space. Woolworth moved into the site in 1939.
The International Civil Rights Center and Museum includes 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²) of exhibit space on two floors. Office space fills the third floor. The structure serves as a contributing building to the Downtown Greensboro Historic District.
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
. The museum building is the former location of the Woolworth's
F. W. Woolworth Company
The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...
in which the Greensboro sit-ins
Greensboro sit-ins
The Greensboro sit-ins were a series of nonviolent protests which led to the Woolworth's department store chain reversing its policy of racial segregation in the Southern United States....
took place, beginning February 1, 1960. The museum's aim is to memorialize the actions of four students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a land-grant university located in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest publicly funded historically black college in the state of North Carolina.NC A&T is a constituent institution of the University of North...
(NC A&T), those who joined them in the daily Woolworth's sit-ins, and others around the country who took part in sit-in
Sit-in
A sit-in or sit-down is a form of protest that involves occupying seats or sitting down on the floor of an establishment.-Process:In a sit-in, protesters remain until they are evicted, usually by force, or arrested, or until their requests have been met...
s and the civil rights movement. The museum opened February 1, 2010, on the 50th anniversary of the original sit-in, with a ribbon cutting and opening ceremonies.
History of Organization
In 1993, the Woolworth'sF. W. Woolworth Company
The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...
store that had existed since 1939 closed, with the company announcing plans to tear down the building. Greensboro radio station 102 JAMZ, (WJMH), began a petition drive to save the location, with morning personality Dr. Michael Lynn broadcasting in front of the closed store day and night in an effort to save the historic building. 18,000 signatures were gathered on a petition, including that of Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Jesse Louis Jackson, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since the special election in 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, who visited the location, endorsed the effort, and joined the live broadcast. After three days, F.W. Woolworth company announced an agreement to maintain the location while financing could be arranged to buy the store.
County Commissioner
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
Melvin "Skip" Alston and City Councilman Earl Jones proposed buying the site and turning it into a museum. The two founded Sit-in Movement, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to realizing this dream. The group succeeded in purchasing the property and renovating it.
In 2001, Sit-in Movement Inc. and NC A&T announced a partnership in an attempt to facilitate the museum's becoming a reality.
Financial difficulties
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, a contribution from the Bryan Foundation, more than $200,000 each from the City of Greensboro and Guilford County, $148,152 from the U.S. Department of Interior through the National Park Service Agency's Save America's Treasures program in 2005 and others, the museum project suffered financial difficulties for a number of years.
In Fall 2007, Sit-in Movement, Inc. requested an additional $1.5 million from the City of Greensboro, a request that was rejected. Greensboro residents twice voted down bond referenda
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
to provide money for the project. Questions over transparency in the handling of public and private contributions were widely viewed as relevant to the electoral defeats.
As the 50th anniversary of the sit-ins grew closer, efforts increased to complete the project. Over 9 million dollars in donations and grants were raised. In addition, the museum qualified for historic preservation tax credits, which were sold for 14 million dollars. Work on the project proceeded, and was completed in time for the 50th anniversary opening.
Architecture
Architect Charles Hartmann designed the building in an art decoArt Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style. Completed in 1929, the building in the 100 South block of Elm Street was then known as the Whelan Building because Whelan Drug Co. rented most of the space. Woolworth moved into the site in 1939.
The International Civil Rights Center and Museum includes 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²) of exhibit space on two floors. Office space fills the third floor. The structure serves as a contributing building to the Downtown Greensboro Historic District.
See also
- F. W. Woolworth Building (Lexington, Kentucky)F. W. Woolworth Building (Lexington, Kentucky)The Woolworth, F.W., Building was a historic department store building located in Lexington, Kentucky, that served as a retail location for the F. W. Woolworth Company from 1946 to 1990. It was designed by Frederick W...
- 1960 Nashville sit-insNashville sit-insThe Nashville sit-ins, which lasted from February 13 to May 10, 1960, were part of a nonviolent direct action campaign to end racial segregation at lunch counters in downtown Nashville, Tennessee...
- 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-insClara LuperClara Shepard Luper was a civic leader, retired schoolteacher, and a pioneering leader in the American Civil Rights Movement...
- State of Iowa v. KatzState of Iowa v. KatzState of Iowa v. Katz was a landmark civil rights victory involving the Katz Drug Store in downtown Des Moines, Iowa.-Case synopsis:...
- Timeline of the African-American Civil Rights Movement