VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 9/21/10)—The American Baptist Historical Society will premiere a rare 1949 black & white short film about Mather School for Girls, Friday, September 24 at 7 p.m. at the Atlanta Administration & Conference Center of Mercer University, 2930 Flowers Rd South, Atlanta. The event is free and open to the public.
Founded in 1867 in Beaufort, SC, by Rachel Crane Mather, the school provided black women and girls a quality education. Students boarded at the school, which trained generations of black women leaders.
The film Good News follows the school life and trials of Willie Mae Jackson, who comes to Mather from work in the cotton fields and hopes to gain the education necessary for a better life. Because of its historic importance, ABHS was awarded a grant to preserve the film by the National Film Preservation Foundation, San Francisco, CA.
After the short film, there will be a panel discussion, exhibits and a reception, co-sponsored by Mercer University.
Panelists invited to provide context for the film include:
• Ms. Heidi Holmstrom, Motion Picture Preservation Specialist at the National Archives (DC/MD),
• Dr. Lawrence Carter, Dean of the Martin Luther King Jr Chapel at Morehouse College,
• Dr. David Laubach, Associate Higher Education for the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, and
• Dr Randall Burkett, Curator of the African American Collections, Emory University.
• Panel moderator will be Dr. Adam Bond, Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University.
Founded in 1853, the American Baptist Historical Society cares for the largest and most diverse collection of Baptist materials in the world. Included is the largest collection of African American Baptist church records from the 19th and early 20th century, including records of institutions founded by Baptists of all varieties.
For further information call 678-547-6680. Directions are available at www.abhsarchives.org.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.