To celebrate Virginia Kiah’s 108th Birthday and kick-off renewed efforts to memorialize her legacy, we are hosting a series of events leading up to June 3rd, Mrs. Kiah’s birthday. The “we” of this are: Friends of the Kiah House Museum, Center for the Study of African and African Diaspora Museums and Communities (CFSAADMC), Historic Cuyler Brownsville Neighborhood Development, Inc., and Savannah Archaeological Alliance. Please feel free to attend all or some of the events. If you can’t attend, consider buying a t-shirt to support the cause. Money from the t-shirts will go towards a Kiah House historical marker.
Caring for Creation: “Art is in Everything”
A Birthday Celebration for Virginia Kiah, Kiah Museum Founder
Caring for Creation Then and Now:
Georgia Black Museum and Black Folk Remedies Exhibition
Friday May 31, 2019 Exhibit Reception, 4-7pm
Savannah State University, Social Sciences Building‘s Social Science Gallery
Exhibit runs June 1- June 30, 2019
About the Exhibition: Savannah State University students from the Introduction to Anthropology class and CFSAADMC members’ research of Georgia Black Museums in partnership with the St. Joseph’s Candler African American Health Center project on Black Folk Remedies present their results in an exhibition featuring the ethnographic fieldwork of students and others to collect the oral history home remedies among African American Families in the Georgia Low Country. Also learn about the proposed Museum Administration Certificate Program.
Exhibition Curator (s): Tina Hicks, Ella Williamson (AAH) Black Folk Remedies, Dr. Deborah Johnson-Simon- SSU Anthropology
Contact(s) Otilia Iancu -Director MPA at SSU, iancuo@savannahstate.edu
Caring for Community Cultural Heritage:
Cuyler-Brownville Living History Walk
Saturday, June 1, 2019, 10:00 AM- 3:00 PM
Join us on a walking tour of Cuyler-Brownville’s historic sites, including Dr. & Mrs. Virginia Jackson Kiah’s home and museum, followed by picnic in Floyd “Pressboy” Adams Park (32nd and Cuyler Streets). The walking tour will begin at 10am at the park and end in the same location. The walk will help show community support for a historical marker.
Contact(s):
Jan Fox – Historic Cuyler Brownsville Neighborhood Development, Inc.
Laura Seifert- Savannah Archaeology Alliance (SAA)
Youth Organizers
Essence Irvin
Shanell Byfield
Caring for Church Religious Heritage:
Worship at Asbury United Methodist Church
Sunday, June 2, 2019 at 11AM
Contact(s): Pastor Debora Shinholster Richards, (912) 236-4792
Organizers: Juanita Tucker, Carolyn Fletcher, Vincent Hamilton
1201 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31401
Come and worship at the home church of Dr. Calvin and Virginia Kiah. A program insert is being prepared with collected birthday wishes a special memories of Mrs. Kiah. Also, a handout of her favorite song that can be taken by those attending the service who want to go with the Friends of the Kiah Museum to wreath-laying at the gravesite. Mr. Vincent Hamilton, former student of Mrs. Kiah and Asbury Lay Leader has been asked to officiate the gravesite ceremony.
The Gravesite Visit and Wreath Ceremony is at Hillcrest Abbey East, 1600 Wheaton St, Savannah, GA, immediately following morning worship.
Caring for Family and Ancestor Knowledge:
Genealogy Research Support Center (GRSC) at the Beach Institute and Cultural Center
Monday, June 3, 2019, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM
Genealogy Workshop
Contact(s): Ron Christopher, 502 Harris St, Savannah, GA 31402
Finding Family – How Hard Can It Be?
Historic Savannah Church Historians and Family Historians, You’re Invited! It’s a time for caring and sharing your family stories and learn about the newest place in town that wants to care for your family stories from Savannah and throughout the African Diaspora. Schedule for the workshop is forthcoming.
Workshop experts include:
Genealogy Specialist- Mrs. Dorothy Tuck, (Celebrated Researcher of Megan Markel Georgia Ancestry) Genealogical Society of Henry and Clayton Counties-The Brown House, McDonough, GA
Amir Jamal Touré, J.D., a professor at Savannah State University (SSU) in the Africana studies program.
Library Specialist – Sharen Lee, Bull Street Library Genealogy Room Savannah, GA
Dr. Alena Pirok– Public Historian GSU-Armstrong Development of Free and Enslaved People of Savannah Database
Savannah Archaeological Alliance 