Penn College News

Traveling museum makes Black History Month stop on campus

Thursday, February 10, 2022

The True Black History Museum, a traveling exhibit that uses rare and authentic artifacts to teach African American history, shed its light on visitors to Penn's Inn on Tuesday afternoon. Later that evening, the Bush Campus Center also hosted Fred Saffold – the museum’s founder and a retired law enforcement professional – as he pulled from his unique background and years of activism to share "What We Didn’t Learn in History Class." Black History Month activities at Penn College include an information table and giveaways on Mondays in the CC lobby, as well as bingo at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 and trivia at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 (both in CC Commons).


– Photos by Alexis M. Burrell, student photographer


A vibrant collar necklace, handbeaded by the Maasai women of Kenya

A vibrant collar necklace, handbeaded by the Maasai women of Kenya

More recent artifacts include photos of President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris.

More recent artifacts include photos of President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Inspiring words from award-winning poet Maya Angelou

Inspiring words from award-winning poet Maya Angelou

A Penn College employee spends time among the display tables.

A Penn College employee spends time among the display tables.

A looping video highlights important inventors and how their creations changed lives.

A looping video highlights important inventors and how their creations changed lives.

Among the items in the museum's eclectic inventory is an autographed 1972 photo of Julian Bond (center), a civil rights leader and former chairman of the NAACP.

Among the items in the museum's eclectic inventory is an autographed 1972 photo of Julian Bond (center), a civil rights leader and former chairman of the NAACP.

An interview with Mae Jemison, the first black woman to travel into space, along with photographs from her historic trip aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour

An interview with Mae Jemison, the first black woman to travel into space, along with photographs from her historic trip aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour

Enlightening exhibits fill Penn's Inn.

Enlightening exhibits fill Penn's Inn.