Events

Past Exhibitions and Events at the Sallie Ellis Davis House

american hypocrisy: the great migration and racism

a legacy of hate: jim crow from minstrel to law

This exhibit explores how the racial hierarchy was cemented in the new south, starting with the origins of Jim Crow in minstrelsy and exploring how false racial stereotypes displayed on stage influenced social perceptions and led to the codifying of segregation with the name “Jim Crow.”

Health hazard: RAcism in u.s. medicine

This exhibit examines how African Americans were and are underserved in the American Healthcare system throughout history. The exhibit begins with the creation of the Freedmen’s Bureau hospitals and continues into the mid-twentieth century and ends with current day health care disparities in America. On this holiday that supports health as a human right it is important to acknowledge how that right can be abused and withheld from others unjustly.

Complicating Colonization: A History of African American Removal from the US

This exhibit explores the removal of African Americans from the United States throughout the 19th-century, known as the colonization period. Colonization was both a tool for abolition and a way for slave owners to preserve control over free African Americans in the states. The exhibit uses the creation of the colony (later country of Libera) on Africa's west coast as a case study and examines the governmental and presidential support the process of colonization had, particularly during the Civil War.

Stolen Rights: A history of Voter suppression in the Nation

This exhibit chronicles the systemic disenfranchisement of African American citizens. The exhibit starts during Reconstruction, when African American men gained voting rights and actively participated in the government. At the end of Reconstruction, those gains were removed as whites regained control of Southern states and created a system designed to lock African Americans out of voting. This system affected the entire voter turnout of the southern region, as was dominant through the Jim Crow Era, until it was widely challenged by Civil Rights Activists. The exhibit then examines how voter suppression works today, in the era after the Civil Rights movement.

 

A Tale of Two Schools: An Exhibit Series 

Carver: An Enduring Legacy 

The second installment in the Tale of Two Schools exhibit series, Carver: An Enduring Legacy highlights another historic school in Milledgeville that served the African American community. The exhibit explores the history Carver through original documents and oral history testimonies. 

 

The Eddy School: The Foundations of a Community

An exhibit on one of the most historic schools in Milledgeville to serve the African American community. This exhibit explores the entire history of the Eddy School, from when it started in Flagg Chapel to when it closed in 1947 due to a fire.

 

The Honorable Floyd L. Griffin Jr.: Legacy to Legend 

February 3 to April 27, 2018

An exhibit celebrating the life and many accomplishments of The Honorable Floyd L. Griffin Jr. from the past to the present and beyond.

Join us on opening day, Saturday, February 3 for a free opening reception from 1-3 p.m. at The Davis House. The Davis House will be open that day from 12 - 4 p.m. for drop in tours.

 

Sallie Ellis Davis House Reenactment : Meet the Education Hero of Milledgeville’s Past 

Feb. 13-15, 2018 at 7:30 p.m and 8:30 p.m.

By Clarissa Bacon
This is a free event. There will be two tours/performances each evening, the first at 7:30 and the second at 8:30. 

 

Exploring Race: A Student Exposition 

October 26 - December 6, 2017

Exploring Race: A Student Exposition is an art exhibit of ceramics and drawings produced by students of Georgia College. This exhibit addresses society’s most relevant topic of race in America. Through art, The Davis House hopes the community can explore race and spark a conversation in a safe space. This exhibit is made possible by the mini grant from the Office of ENGAGE at Georgia College. This exhibit is FREE to attend.

 

NEA Changing America Exhibition 

July 12 - August 25, 2017
Tours: Wednesday and Friday 1-4pm

Changing America was created to commemorate The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington, two pivotal achievements, on their 150th and 50th anniversaries. It explores their historical context, their accomplishments and limitations, and their impact on the generations that followed. This traveling exhibit is presented by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of American History in collaboration with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The tour of the traveling exhibition is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor. This exhibition will travel to fifty venues across the nation, accompanied by public programming that will help audiences understand and discuss the relationship between these two great people's movements.

 

The Strip: Milledgeville's Black Business District 

February 8, 2017 - May 17, 2017

This exhibit explores the history of the once prominent African American business district of Milledgeville. 

 

Racing Forward: A History of Education

November - December 2016

This exhibition approaches the controversial elements within the American educational system such as race and changes within the classroom. This exhibit will also address Georgia College’s history as a teaching institution.  This exhibit was curated by Professor Carlos Herrera and the students of Georgia College.   

 

 

A Place for all People: Introducing the National Museum of African American History and Culture 

This exhibit discusses the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture that opens this fall in Washington D.C. This exhibit is part of our relationship with the Smithsonian Affiliations. 

 

“Legacy of Soul: Black Music in Georgia”

This exhibit features the life and history of five artists, including luminaries like James Brown and Ray Charles.  This exhibit is a traveling exhibit from The Tubman Museum in Macon, GA.  

 

Corey Barksdale: Painting Progress

February 12 - March 31

Corey Barksdale: Painting Progress was a community event that featured the artwork of Atlanta-based artist Corey Barksdale.   His works often feature vibrant colors and fluid movement applied in layers onto the canvas.  He is inspired by modern artists like Jasper Johns, Clifford Still, John Biggers, and Aaron Douglas among others.  Barksdale's influences, though, truly come from everywhere.   From jazz music of the 1940s and 50s to current events, Barksdale uses his canvas to express his feelings.

 In addition to the exhibition we had several community events - lectures and a community art show designed to pique the interests of people from a wide range of backgrounds.  Lectures covered topics like improvisation, performance art, and current issues in the African American society today.  A student art exhibit also showcased the work of Baldwin County students and community members.  Inspired by the works of Barksdale, student works feature imagery from their surroundings.  

Please see all videos of the live art demonstration, lectures, and art show here.  

Opening Reception:
February 12: Live Art Demonstration, Old Governor’s Mansion Education Building, 3:00 p.m.
Artist Talk and opening reception, Sallie Ellis Davis House, 5:30 p.m.

Lecture Series:
February 17: “African American Art and the Racial Mountain,” Dr. Mark Huddle, Davis House, 5:30 p.m.
March 2: “A Space for Sound,” Dr. Ernesto R. Gómez, Davis House, 5:30 p.m.
March 30: “Play, Improvisation and the Creative Process,” Dr. Cliff Towner, Davis House, 5:30 p.m.

Student Art Show:
March 5: Centennial Center, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, grant number 36608. The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Oral Memory Project: 

The Davis House, in partnership with Georgia College 360, a student-run news program, is conducting a memory collecting project. We are interviewing anyone who remembers Ms. Davis in order to better understand not only her life, but her impact on the people around her. Interviews are recorded and will be used for archival purposes and for future exhibitions. If you are interested in participating or know someone who might be interested please don't hesitate to contact The Sallie Ellis Davis House at 478-445-4545.

Listen to the interview that Molly Randolph, Davis House curator, conducted on Georgia College's NPR station, WRGC (podcast).

View the first full length interview (video) produced by Georgia College.

February 4, 2014 - Georgia's Women of Achievement featured the life story of Sallie Ellis Davis in their most recent video. 

Historic Reads Book Club:

The Old Governor’s Mansion and Sallie Ellis Davis House are pleased to present Historic Reads, a book club designed for campus and community to enjoy. Each month a staff member will lead a discussion of a historic fiction novel at either the Sallie Ellis Davis House or the Old Governor’s Mansion’s Education Room.  If you would like to see something like this in the future please don't hesitate to let us know. 

Fall 2015

"A Most Remarkable Man" Wilkes Flagg: Slave, Blacksmith, and Preacher:

This exhibit explores the life of the Reverend Wilkes Flagg, who was an important African-American leader in Milledgeville in the 19th century. He began his life as a slave and ended it as a respected preacher and land owner. He was a champion for the slave and for the freedman – someone who relentlessly pursued what was right. He was widely viewed as trustworthy and honest, and because of this he had the ability to communicate with both racial groups in Milledgeville – black and white. This exhibition is available for rental.  

Spring 2015:  Sallie Ellis Davis Workshops:

This spring the Davis House presented the two workshops listed below.  We hope to have more in the future! These workshops were designed to engage and challenge anyone who took them. 

Crochet for Beginners:

Ms. Davis loved to crochet and she used the pieces she made to decorate her home. The Davis House would like to share the art of crocheting with a new audience. Georgia College’s own Julia Metzker taught this class. 

Class details: Saturday, February 7 from 2:00pm to 3:30pm at the Sallie Ellis Davis House. Class fee: $15 - this includes all materials. 

African Dance:

This fun class focused on the basics of African dance and was open to all levels of dancers (adults and teens). It was conducted by Kali Dance Studio (http://www.kalidancestudio.com/) here on Georgia College’s campus at the Miller Dance Studio. The class included a demonstration by Kali Dance Studio and then instruction.

Class Details: Saturday, February 28 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at The Miller Dance Studio. Class fee: $20. 

September and October 2014:

Black Women: Achievement Against the Odds

This exhibit was put on in conjunction with Allied Arts.  It showcased the landmark contributions that African American women have made in all fields - such as business, medicine, science, theater, and entertainment among others.  

April 2014

"Prominent Black Educators" This exhibit was put on in partnership with Allied Arts.

February 2014

"Mate Masie: What I Hear I Keep" - This exhibit was presented in partnership with the Harriet Tubman Museum in Macon, Georgia. 

October 2013

"Out to Change the World: The Life and Works of John Oliver Killens" - This exhibit was presented in partnership with the Harriet Tubman Museum in Macon, Georgia.

June 2013

Film Discussion Series -  A series of four films that look at the problems and portrayals of African Americans at work: No Way Our (1950), Bright Road (1953), Imitation of Life (1959) and Nothing but a Man (1964). 

April 2013

Gourd Art Class - Carol Babb of Folks Art Gallery conducted this session.

Poetic Notions Conference – Poems as Primary Sources: Teaching History Through Literature.

Georgia Trust Preservation Conference

March 2013:

“Meaning of American Freedom: The Emancipation Proclamation at 150” - Lecture by Dr. Mark Huddle

“Irish Immigrants in the American South”- Lecture by Mauriel Joslyn

“What do Tweets and Likes Have to do with Poetry?” - Lecture by Christopher K.P. Brown.

February 2013:

“Showing the Way: National Black Leaders from Macon, 1824-1933” - A traveling exhibition in partnership with The Tubman Museum in Macon, Georgia.

Stories Through Art  - A Workshop in association with Digital Bridges.

The Making of Lye Soap, a Southern Tradition - A demonstration workshop about the process of creating lye soap and the soap’s many uses.