Community History Exhibits

2007 - Small Towns, Black Lives, The Photography of Wendel White.

African American Communities in New Jersey,” an exhibit by photographer Wendel A. White. A visual journal of discovery, memory, and recognition consisting of text and photographs of African American communities in Cape May, Whitesboro and other towns in southern New Jersey. Additional text and photographs of the Franklin Street School by the Center for Community Arts Community History Program. The Carriage House Gallery at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Presented in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts.

2006 - A Feeling of Community: Segregation and Education on Cape Island, 1860-1954

An exhibit based on research, oral histories, artifacts and documents collected by the Center for Community Arts (CCA) Community History Program. Using maps, anecdotes and photographs, the exhibit traces the progress of public education from Cape Island’s first public school in the Indian Queen Hotel in 1860, to segregation when a new school was built for the white children later that decade and the blacks were left in the Indian Queen. It continues the story as new facilities were built for white children and African American children were given the older, increasingly deteriorated schools. Lifelong residents and teachers during the period of segregation share their anecdotes and opinions about the time. Their memories include details such as the segregated movie theater on Washington Street that many African Americans boycotted, choosing instead to attend an integrated theater in Wildwood. The exhibit was presented at the Physick Estate January – May, and moved to West Cape May Borough Hall from May – September.

2005 - Two Women, Two Worlds, exploring the lives of upper and working class Victorian women.

2003 - Stompin’ at the Shore: African American Entertainers at the South Jersey Shore, 1900-1950. (section on Cape May/Wildwood scene)

2002 - Somebody to Cheer For: Black Professional Baseball and Africa American
Community Life in New Jersey, 1860-1954. (section on Cape May
Giants)

2001 - Cool Cape May: A Century of Beach Life.

2000 - A Feeling of Community Revisited..

1999 - A Feeling of Community: Cape Island’s African-American Heritage.

1997 - The Franklin Street School: A Preservation Exhibit.