Families Who Nurture, Individuals Who Serve, circa 1995

Black and white pamphlet bears full title, Familes Who Nurture, Individuals Who Serve: The Role of American Americans in Community Service in St. Paul. An excerpt reads:

From the beginning, African American families have been under enormous pressure to find unique and enduring ways to preserve their unions in the face of slavery, personal violation, and systemic discrimination.

This exhibit, co-sponsored by the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, Inc. and Family Service, Inc., St. Paul with the support of the Minnesota Historical Society, aims to provide perspective on the evolution of the Black family, community service and the role of the church by illuminating the stories of three outstanding African American families in St. Paul. Through photographs, newspaper clippings and quotes from family members we transmit the enduring legacy of all African American familes.

The exhibit focused on the five following themes/concepts: Stability in the face of migration; A strong spiritual connection to a higher power; Rigorous discipline of children by parents and community; Sustaining a positive outlook on life; and Interlocking institutions that served the community. The pamphlet also includes a list of referenced books and other materials used in the creation of the exhibit.

The three families which this exhibit focused on were: The Charles Williams Family, The Carroll Minges Vassar Family; and the Fielding Combs Family. The nominated families were: The Rev. Robert T. Hickman family; the Bell family; the T.J. Starks Family; J.B. Johnson Family; William V. Howard family; the Zachary family; the S.E. Hall family; the Griffin family; and the Charles Jackson family.

Members of the project advisory board are: Fred Williams; Ron Reed; Dorothea Burns; Janabelle Taylor; Joanne A. England; Richard M. Mann; John W. Garner; John L. Sims; and Pamela J. Russel.