Exhibits
Primitive Baptist Church
This Exhibit traces the origin of the Black Primitive Baptist in Bulloch County, Georgia during the era of Slavery beginning at the White Nevils' Creek Primitive Baptist Church which was founded in 1790 to the founding of Banks Creeks, the first Black Primitive Baptist Church organized in 1879. This exhibit also chronicles the formation of the Mount Pleasant Association of Black Primitive Baptist which included Bulloch and surrounding Counties.
The Primitive Baptist Church History Exhibits also focuses on the lives of great slave leaders in the Primitive Baptist Churches such as Elders Aaron Munlin, Washington Hodges, Abraham Jackson and Daniel Cook and the churches they founded. This exhibit includes artifacts, photographs, minutes, books and a Quilt Mural illustrating Black Primitive Baptist Church History.
Statesboro High and Industrial School and William James High School Exhibit
This exhibit focuses on Professor William James and the school he created. William James, a Morehouse graduate and a contemporary of the John D. Rockefeller Family, came to Bulloch County, Statesboro, Georgia around 1907 and organized the City Colored School. In 1910, he added an industrial lab and the name of the school was changed to City Colored Industrial School. By 1924 it’s name had become Statesboro High and Industrial School, one of the few Negro accredited high schools in the state of Georgia. In 1948, thirteen years after the death of Professor William James, the Statesboro High and Industrial School was renamed the William James High School in his honor.
This exhibit includes a photo history of Professor William James' Family, and principals, teachers and students of the Statesboro High and Industrial School and the William James High School. The collection also contains yearbooks, class photographs, class reunion photographs, diplomas, and newspaper articles.
DigNubia Exhibit
DigNubia Exhibit allow visitors to explore an archaeological dig while uncovering an ancient culture in a part of Africa historically called Nubia, now a part of Sudan and Southern Egypt. This exciting and interactive exhibition geared toward middle school children is a great experience for children of all ages and their parents.
DigNubia allows you to explore a fictional tomb with skeletal remains and the chapel of a Nubian queen as you learn how archaeologist live and work. The exhibit also gives an inside look at the tools and techniques that archaeologist use to reconstruct the ancient past from clues available. The exhibit also include a 30 minute documentary film that introduces audiences to Nubian archaeology today
1988 National History Day: "A Dream not to be Forgotten- The History of a Black School Willow Hill 1874 - Present"
This 1988 National History Day Exhibit which tell the history of the Willow Hill School won first place in the Junior Division at the National History Day Competition in Washington, D.C. Nkenge Jackson, then a 13 year old student at Monroe Middle School in Columbus, Ohio became the first student from Franklin County, to win first place in the Junior Division. This project was also recognized by the Ohio Historical Society and the Ohio and National Association of Museums.
Her Project, " A Dream Not to Be forgotten- The History of a Black School, Willow Hill 1874 to the Present traces the history of Willow Hill School using school models, photographs, maps and oral recordings.
Bennet Grove School Exhibit
This eight panel exhibit tells the story of Bennett Grove School, the last standing one room African- American School in Bulloch County, Georgia. Founded in 1918 by former slave Benjamin Bennett, this exhibit tells the story of the Bennett Grove School during the era of Jim Crow through the lives of the teachers and students Bennett Grove served students in grades one through seven and was a feeder school for Willow Hill which went to the tenth grade. This exhibit also takes a look at Bennett Grove School unique architectural features.
The Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center is currently involved in a campaign and Fundraiser to save The Bennett Grove School. Your support through our web site would be greatly appreciated.
To read "The Bennett Grove School: Bulloch County ’s Last One Room African American Schoolhouse" By Inger Wood, visit here.
Willow Hill School Exhibit
This exhibit on the Willow Hill School located in the school library is the first exhibit of The Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center. This exhibit studies the history of Willow Hill School in the context of American History from the Era of Slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow to the Civil Rights Era and Integration. It also looks at Plessy vs. Ferguson, the separate but equal doctrine, to Brown vs. Board of Education, Equalization Schools and beyond.
The exhibit focuses on the founding families of Willow Hill School, as well as the principals, teachers, students and the Jeanes Supervisors of Bulloch County, Georgia.
Photograph Archives
A collection of African American families and photos over the year from the early 1900s to the present.
Family Reunion Booklet Collection
This collection of family reunion booklets cover a span of twenty years of families who originated from Bulloch County, Georgia.
Obituary Archives
This collection include an extensive archive of obituaries of African-Americans in Bulloch and surrounding Counties from the 1930's to the present. This is one of the largest African-American obituary collection in the state of Georgia. You can read them here!
Collections of Histories of African-American Churches of Bulloch County, Georgia.
This collection of Church Histories covers a span of over 150 years beginning with Antioch Baptist Church, the first African Church in Bulloch County, founded during slavery in 1863, until the present day.