1st Harriet Tubman Day  2007

The Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center/Museum, 3700 Blue Parkway, KCMO,  hosted  its first annual  Harriet Tubman Day Celebration on March 10, 2007, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. This event was sponsored by Oglesby’s Communications and Consulting Agency founded by Mrs. Shirley E.  Oglesby Smith Johnson.  This event highlighted achievements of many American heroes in addition to our special hero of the day, Harriet Tubman. More than 100 schools were invited.

The hallway, beautifully decorated the night before with a huge display stamp of Harriet Tubman at the entrance was donated by Mr. Harry Reeves of Creative Mind Art Center. The tables were decorated with yellow, blue, pink and white tablecloths with lace center pieces. A special Harriet Tubman table, all pink, featuring her “tea with butter” (sample cups) and a special pink cake—adorned with beautiful red, juicy, strawberries—was quite special. A picture of Harriet Tubman stood nearby on a golden tripod. 

Displayed also, were beautiful student art pieces in the hallway of the exquisitely decorated Bruce R. Watkins Museum, painted and drawn by students from The Paseo Academy and Lincoln College Preparatory Academy.

Many attractively dressed citizens from the community began filing in at about 12:00 Noon. J.S. Chick School students and their chaperone were the first to arrive.  The J.S. Chick dancers found a space in the Northeast corner to continue practicing their routine until it was time to file into the beautifully decorated auditorium. The dancers, dressed in black, wore beautifully adorned scarves around their perfectly coiffure hair. 

During intermission, many children and adults visited the magnificently showcased hat display, created by the director/curator, Mrs. Terry Beavers - also an artist. Some of our guests used intermission times to gather at the refreshment tables to sip coffee, punch, eat refreshments, and meet new people. 

Our hostess, and publicist, Shanna Summers dressed in a beautiful beige and brown 1820’s outfit (designed by Liz Smith,) beckoned all participants and guests inside the auditorium when it was time to begin.  There were no empty seats.

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