Exhibit and Public Reception Slated for Black History Month

The Franklin Center of Beaver County will commemorate the 150^th year of President Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the Emancipation Proclamation with a Black History exhibition for the public. The exhibit will consist of historical artifacts from western Africa to the transatlantic slave trade to modern times that will be chronologically displayed to convey the story of the African American experience and the contributions made by African Americans in the advancement of our nation.  One of many notable artifacts will be authentic slave shackles from the private collection of Pittsburgher Keith Murray. The exhibit will also highlight the achievements of African Americans from Beaver County and the Pittsburgh region, and will include a display of baseball artifacts from the estate of Josh Gibson, the famed Negro National League catcher and power hitter who is considered by baseball historians to be one of the most prodigious home run hitters in the history of American professional baseball. The Emancipation Proclamation consists of two executive orders issued by President Lincoln during the Civil War. The second, that took effect on January 1863, freed Black Americans enslaved in Confederate states.  Slavery was abolished in the nation two years later on December 18, 1865 with the passage of the 13^th Amendment to the Constitution. “The aim of the exhibit is to educate the public about the struggles, triumphs and contributions of America’s African-descended citizens while setting a stage for constructive dialogs about race and reconciliation in America” said Jonathan Pettis, Executive Director of the Franklin Center. The dates for the exhibit are February 21 and February 22, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Franklin Center’s multi-purpose facility, The Broadcast Street Café, located at 464 Franklin Avenue in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. An evening reception open to the public is slated for Thursday, February 21, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the same location.  In the case of inclement weather, February 27 and February 28 have been slated as alternative dates for the event.  Admission into both the exhibit and the reception is free. The Franklin Center of Beaver County is a 29-year old non-profit organization that provides human services and supplemental education to residents of BeaverCounty.  For more information about the exhibit and reception or about the FranklinCenter of BeaverCounty, please contact us at (724) 378-2882 or by email at  agilliam@franklincenter.org.