Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives – Photo exhibit on notable African-Americans in Waco

Opening on Thursday, August 18, Baylor University presents a new African-American photo exhibit, “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives.” The exhibit will be on display in Carroll Library from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, through December, 2016. Carroll Library can be found at 1429 S. 5th St., Waco, Texas.

The exhibit featurea 28 black-and-white photographs taken between 1894 and 1975 by noted photographers Fred Gildersleeve, Fred Marlar and Russell Lee. The photos highlight men and women from a variety of fields, including education, athletics, agriculture, entertainment, industry, business, politics, medicine and law. The earliest photo shows seven men graduating from medical school, and the most recent photo is a silver gelatin print of Oscar DuConge, Waco’s first black mayor.

“Everyone, regardless of age, loves a story,” said John Wilson, associate dean for special libraries and director of the Texas Collection. “These incredible photographs taken from several of our archival collections are a brief moment in the lives of African-Americans in Texas. Their stories are rich and inspiring. These images illustrate the depth and diversity of African-American culture in Texas. These men and women were professionals and laborers all trying to make better lives for themselves and their families.”

For more information, visit www.baylor.edu/lib/index.php?id=934648