Community leaders and supporters gathered on October 7 to honor Dr. Opal Lee, the civil rights activist known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” on her 100th birthday and celebrate a major milestone for the future National Juneteenth Museum.
As part of the event, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that it has committed $3 million toward construction of the National Juneteenth Museum and the creation of a Genealogy Center within the museum.
See all media mentions of event below photo:
When completed, the museum’s Genealogy Center will provide visitors with a dedicated space to explore FamilySearch’s digital genealogical collections that are available only through a FamilySearch center or its affiliate library network. The FamilySearch-powered experiences will enable museum visitors to access the world’s largest online repository of African American historical records, discover ancestor profiles, and view digital images of genealogical documents from around the world, free of charge.
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More coverage by:
AP News: Opal Lee’s birthday kicks off construction, church donates genealogy center
Fort Worth Report: Creation of a Genealogy Center
Fort Worth Biz Journal: New Genealogy Center for Museum
Dallas Morning News: Mentions church donation & food donation
Fort Worth Star-Telegram: FamilySearch center mentioned
CBS Texas – aired entire Clearing the Way program
KSL TV – Church Donates $3 Million for National Juneteenth Museum
Deseret News: ‘Act of healing’: Church’s donation to help Grandmother of Juneteenth amplify Black voices
Deseret News Opinion: A generous gift to the Juneteenth Museum shows what love in action looks like