Greetings, Please see the following press release regarding these upcoming programs and exhibit celebrating the rich history of African Americans in Fort Worth. The Fort Worth Library will host an African American Doctors Photo Exhibit, Lecture, and the Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society's 35th Gala. We are thrilled to share this with you. We hope you all will have a chance to enjoy these events with us. Please note that tickets will be required in order to attend the gala event, This Journey Was Not By Accident. Visit http://www.tarrantcountyblackhistory.org or call (817)332-6049 for ticketing information. Sincerely, Suzanne Fritz, Librarian ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CELEBRATING THE RICH HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN FORT WORTH The Fort Worth Library Hosts African American Doctors Photo Exhibit, Lecturer, and The Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society's 35th Gala What: The Fort Worth Library will be celebrating the rich history and significant contributions of African Americans in North Texas at the Central Library. A collection of photos of early African American physicians who overcame Jim Crow laws and other discriminatory practices to improve the lives of their families, patients, and communities will be displayed in the West Wing. This exhibit, Hidden in History: African American Doctors in Fort Worth, shares the story of Dr. Riley Ransom, Dr. C. W. Flint, Dr. George Munchus, Dr. Elisha P. Murchinson, and many others that paved the way for so many African American doctors. As an extension of this exhibit, well-known genealogist Shirley Apley will discuss the challenges these doctors faced working in a segregated Fort Worth during a special speaker series. While this exhibit is on display, the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society will host its 35th Anniversary Gala, This Journey Was Not by Accident, at the library. The gala is a ticketed event with special keynote speaker Tarrant County College Chancellor, Erma Johnson Hadley. The Society's collection of artifacts and records are on permanent loan to the Fort Worth Library's Local History, Archives and Genealogy unit. For more information on this event please visit www.tarrantcountyblackhistory.org<http://www.tarrantcountyblackhistory.org> Where and When: * Hidden in History: African American Doctors in Fort Worth - April 21-June 25. Central Library's West Wing. * Speaker: Shirley Apley - Saturday, May 5. 10:30 a.m.-Noon. Central Library's Tandy Lecture Hall * This Journey Was Not By Accident- Saturday, April 28 at 6-9 p.m. Central Library's Gallery (ticketed event) About: Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society is a nonprofit public service organization founded in April 1977 by 21 charter members. The society's mission is to locate, collect, analyze, organize and preserve African-American historical contributions used to educate, empower and interpret African-American history in Tarrant County. Brenda Sanders-Wise is the executive director of this organization. The society's historical collection of artifacts and records is on permanent loan to the Fort Worth Library's Local History, Archives and Genealogy unit. For more information on this event please visit www.tarrantcountyblackhistory.org<http://www.tarrantcountyblackhistory.org> Hidden in History: African American Doctors in Fort Worth Exhibit features photographs provided by descendants of several African American doctors in the Fort Worth area. This exhibit is researched by Jabari Jones of Fort Worth Library's Local History, Archives and Genealogy unit and Tom Kellam from Tarrant County College Records Management/Archives. Speaker: Shirley Apley will offer an in-depth survey of where African American doctors' offices were located, what organizations they joined, newspaper reports about their activities, and the challenges they faced working in segregated Fort Worth. Ms. Apley left the Local History, Archives and Genealogy unit of the Fort Worth Public Library in 2011 after 17 years of service and is currently the director of the Huron South Dakota Public Library.