Stark County Business News: McKinley Presidential Library & Museum to Host Welcome Event for New Curator of Black History

 

McKinley Presidential Library & Museum to Host Welcome Event for New Curator of Black History Canton, Ohio… The McKinley Presidential Library & Museum will host “Welcoming Our Curator of Black History: A Special Community Event” on Wednesday February 5 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The event is free but space is limited. Reservations can be made online at www.McKinleyMuseum.org or by calling 330-455-7043.  The event will feature a meet and greet with the Museum’s new Curator of Black History, Dr. Tameka Ellington. Guests attending the event will enjoy light refreshments, an African inspired performance, and the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion with Dr. Ellington, as well as the driving force behind the upcoming exhibitions, the Committee to Preserve Stark County’s Black History. Catering from Sister’s Soul Food will delight guests with southern soul food cuisine: mac and cheese, shrimp and grits, and vegetarian greens, along with banana pudding and strawberry shortcake for dessert.

About Dr. Ellington After a nationwide search, Dr. Ellington joined the staff of the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum in December 2024. She has significant experience in curating exhibitions that have positively impacted the organizations with whom she has worked. In 2021 she curated the critically acclaimed exhibition Textures: The History and Art of Black Hair at the Kent State University Museum, which included more than 130 artifacts that explored this often overlooked topic. She also curated Retold: African American Art and Folklore at the Akron Museum of Art and Home Again: The Embodiment of African through Art and Fabric at the Massillon Museum.  “In the first few months in the role as Curator of Black History, the theme will be listen and learn,” Tameka said. “Connecting with the museum staff to learn the systems and the inner workings of the museum is critical to starting off on the right path. I plan to have several listening sessions with the Committee to Preserve Stark County’s Black History. From these meetings I'll be developing a list of community members and locations that I will visit to get a clearer picture of the larger story of Stark County Black History.” Her work at the Museum will focus on collecting the rich history of Stark County’s Black community for the future Stark County Black History Museum, a “museum within a museum” that will be part of a future expansion project. The Museum has also planned a “preview” of what this new space could look like for the Keller Gallery from June to November 2026. The Museum received a grant from America-250 Ohio for this exhibition, which is part of the national celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday. In addition to her museum work, Dr. Ellington is a professional speaker, specializing in empowerment keynotes, and leadership and diversity training for schools, universities, and corporate offices. She served as the Assistant Dean of Graduate Admissions & Research, Director of DEI Initiatives, and Associate Professor of Fashion at Kent State University. Tameka is also a prolific author who has penned five books, including the award-winning Textures: The History and Art of Black Hair.