Support for the Project

"The community has been crying out for a project of this nature," says Freeport Public Library Circulation Supervisor Lois, adding local African-American historical information is not readily accessible in the library's Local History Room. Of the photographs in the Untold Stories project, she says: "If you look into their eyes, you can almost see their souls."

Says Arnetta McGee: "I consider this project to be one of the greatest historic compilations of Freeport history. Even if I weren't one of the people Ms. Reese photographed and interviewed, I would still believe this to be true. As a native and one of the earlier African-Americans born in Freeport, our history is very important. Many of us have shared our stories as the griot in African countries, by word of mouth. The oral tradition is very important, and the stories of Freeport's African-American people have now been preserved through voice and photography. Both the photographs and the interviews were excellent. ... So many people involved in the project can be considered icons in this day and age. I appreciate her vision to tell the stories that had not been told. Many people are aware that George Dewey Lipscomb was the first African-American to graduate from Freeport High School, but little was known about the African-American community in Freeport after that. African-Americans were left out of many facets of Freeport's history. Because of the age difference of the participants, each was able to tell their story from a different perspective. Abbie was able to record these stories. This information was not only a reflection about that person, it gave great insight into the community and the culture of African-Americans that had been left out of Freeport's history. This multimedia project was very well received and stimulated many conversations among African-Americans. Another factor of great importance is the Freeport community at-large now has the missing blocks to fill the holes in the recorded history of African-Americans. They now have a better understanding of the why's and the how's of African-Americans in Freeport, Illinois."

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Sponsors of this project include Freeport Community Foundation, Freeport Public Library Foundation, Freeport African-American Ministers United for Change and the Freeport Progressive Ministerial Fellowship Alliance, Anna Belle Nimmo, the Furst-McNess Company, and Charles Hilton. This program is partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the Freeport Arts Center. In-kind support came from FHN, Freeport Public Library and the City of Freeport.

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Contributions are still being accepted to fund this project. Check should be mailed to The Living Library Trust, P.O. Box 14, Mt. Carroll, IL 61053

© 2008, Abbie Reese