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The Lucy Craft Laney Museum: o
the preservation of an historical landmark
The Lucy Craft Laney Museum,
located at 1116 Phillips Street, was
the home of Lucy Craft Laney, who
dedicated her life to providing educa
tional opportunities for Black youth in
the Augusta area. Miss Laney started
the first kindergarten education for
Black children in Augusta as well as
the first private school for nurses. She
was the founder of the Haines
Normal and Industrial Institute,
which was located on the present site
of the Lucy Craft Laney .
Comprehensive High School. %
The school was named in her -
honor, as well as Laney-
Walker Boulevard (formerly
Gwinnett Street) and the
Laney-Walker North
Historic District. Now,
through the rehabilitation of
her home by Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, Inc. and
Delta House, Inc., another
important cultural institution
has been dedicated in her
memory. :
The two story
Craftsman style house was
built in the second decade of
the twentieth century and
served as the family home.
Miss Laney shared this
home with student boarders
from Haines Normal and
Industrial Institute, as well as
her niece, Miss Margaret
Louise Laney. Miss Lucy
Laney died in 1933, after a
long productive life. The
house continued to serve as
the family home.
One day in late 1986,
the fire department was called to
respond to a fire in the Lucy Craft
Laney home. When the firemen
arrived, the home was consumed by
smoke. Miss Margaret Louise Laney
died in the home after the fire started.
One of the firemen that responded to .
the call said that, “Miss Lariey made it
down to the second step bcjore she
was overcome by smoke and collapsed
to her tragic death.” It was later deter
mined that the fire started as a result
of a poor electrical system. As a result
the house was heavily damaged.
~ In 1987, Delta House, Inc.
restored the home as a museum in her
honor. Further, it was.named The
Lucy Craft Laney Museum.of Black-..
History & Conference Center. Under
the capable leadership of Mrs. Theresa
White, the board established its pur
pose. Further, the board began to
develop ways of acquiring funding for
the restoration of the building. First,
they looked at the internal structure of
the organization. Four members paid
SI,OOO each for a lifetime member
ship in the opportunity. In addition,
each other member was assessed S2OO
to help pay for the property. Through
those contributions and fund-raising
efforts, the board was able to pay for
the property on January 16, 1988.
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The Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History and Conference Center e
The Board of Directors had
applied for and obtained a fagade
grant from the city to start the
restoration. The fagade was complet
ed, and on January 1988 the Ground
Breaking Ceremony was held.
Subsequently, enough funds were
acquired from the state, the
Governor’s Discretionary Fund, the
city, fund-raisers and member dona
tions to do the necessary restoration.
The restoration was completed in
March of 1991 and the museum offi
cially opened in June of 1991. At that
time, the board had an obligation bal
ance of $15,000. From that time until
the spring of 1994, the members held
fund-~raisers and-made.individual - - - <
develop their leadership skills.
* The conference room is often
rented to community groups for a
nominal fee, for related activities and
storytelling in their summer curricula.
. Visitors also come on a daily basis.
The basement has been renovated
to allow appropriate space for chil
dren’s art classes, storytelling, library, |
computer work site, storage for per
manent exhibitions and art supplies.
The dining room of the museum
houses the exhibition of Miss Laney’s
" artifacts and'items that represent her
achievements. The living room serves
as space for the Pilgrim Life and
Health Insurance Company :
.Qjmmm.y-. SO MR TR RS E ]
donations to defray the cost of opera
tion and paid the remaining debt.
The museum has a large confer
ence room that will accommodate 100
people comfortably. This room is used
for rotating exhibitions (6-8 weeks),
primarily, but not limited to, Georgia
artists. Some of the exhibitions are
famous doll collectors, handmade
quilt collectors, pottery and basket
weaving as well as various state and
local artists. A youth leadership pro
gram is a vital part of the monthly
schedule and it includes teaching
middle and high school students to
On the second floor, there is the
Augusta Ebony Legacy room, which
houses artifacts and objects represent
ing the lives and contributions of out
standing Augustans.
The second room upstairs houses
the Alice Davis Collection. Mrs.
Davis was an artist and professor at
Paine College. The third room houses
the history and artifacts of the Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority. There is also a
small office upstairs and a completely
equipped kitchen downstairs that
allows caterers to work and prepare
fqr small reception type events. i
The museum hasa
handicap ramp on the
entrance side of the build
ing to accommodate hand
icapped persons and all
bathrooms are handicap
accessible. In addition
there is a limited access
elevator to be used prima
rily by handicapped indi
viduals.
During the past fiscal
year, the facility has served
thousands of visitors and
clients. They have come
primarily from schools in
Richmond, Columbia,
Burke, McDuffie, and
Aiken Counties. There
were many church groups,
community groups and
civic groups who use the
conference room. The gift
ed as well as artistic are
able to share the experi
ences offered, because
activities are adapted to
g meet their needs.
Handicapped children and adults are
also welcomed and accommodated.
The Laney Museum is a non- .
.profit organization committed to pro
moting the legacy of Lucy Craft
‘ Laney-through history and art.
r Delta House, Inc. has received
many awards and recognition for the
work done to restore the Lucy Laney
: Home. The recognitions include a
Historic Augusta Logo Award (1993),
and a Resolution from the General
Assembly (1993).
. The museum is open every day
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday
through Friday, Saturday from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. and Sunday from2to 5
SIPIRI I I T IIFFITIIIFIIREE ST
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