Today concludes our weeklong tribute to one of Thomasville’s “Unsung Heroes,” Mr. Jack Hadley. In 1995, Mr. Hadley and his family made the decision to incorporate his collection as a non-profit organization to enable the organization to receive public support for the continued growth of his collection. In January of 2006, he began renovating 5617 square feet of space at the Frederick Douglass Complex to house his then 2000 piece Black Memorabilia collection. Thomasville’s first Black History Museum opened on December 3, 2006 with the goal of being open year-round for the public and for students.
In 2016, the Jack Hadley Black History Museum received a grant from the Institute of Museums and Library Services that helps museums across the country continue to provide educational support for those looking to educate students on African American history. The grant also allowed Mr. Hadley to hire Jamarcus Underwood as his Museum Educator. In 2017, The Jack Hadley Black History Museum kicked off their first year of its education pilot program, visiting local schools with the Museum’s collections as a resource for both teachers and students.