The Gettysburg Black History Museum has been a multi-faceted and long-term project since the idea of its establishment was originally conceived over 20 years ago. The idea of a museum honoring the contributions of Gettysburg’s Black residents was the brainchild of the mother of the current Gettysburg Black History Museum Board President, Jane Nutter and sister, honorary Board member and Founder, Mary Alice Nutter. As children they were told, ‘Lookie here, you all. You need to do something about the black history in this Gettysburg area.’ Mary Alice would take these words to heart and embark on a decades long effort to create the museum. Along the way, she has been aided by many community members, several who currently serve alongside her on the board. The endeavor would become the love child of Anne Jones Lipscomb and Jean Watts Jones Odom, sisters who spoke passionately about the strong need for this museum to become a reality. These women understood that the mission must always be to tell the story of Gettysburg’s Black residents, in their own words. These stories would serve to preserve, educate, and inspire current and future generations. Mission accomplished.
The history shared in the Gettysburg Black History Preservation Project exhibit is a fraction of the full story of Gettysburg’s Black community. Preservation is an ongoing project. We will continue to capture and tell “our” stories as we listen to the descendants of some of Gettysburg’s oldest Black families. Join us.
