Sean Michaels
2023-01-16
Howard, Jenny & "Maxwell": The Emancipated Workers at Flower Hill
Howard, Jenny & "Maxwell": The Emancipated Workers at Flower Hill
(Left to right) Willis Maxwell, called "Maxwell," poses for the camera, circa 1915. Jenny Moore, poses for camera circa 1915. No known photographs of Howard White exist. Images Courtesy of the Flower Hill Foundation
On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Flower Hill Foundation acknowledges the contribution of African Americans to the United States. As we look to elevate the history of all Austinites, we wish to incorporate the under-interpreted history of the Black Emancipated workers who labored at Flower Hill between roughly 1890 and 1930 in the broader Flower Hill story.
Howard White, Jenny Moore, and Willis Maxwell, "Maxwell" as he was called, remind us that merely having a presence in history does not mean one's story is told. Please stay tuned for more information regarding Flower Hill's forthcoming program this spring in which we explore the history of Emancipated workers and potential strategies to tell a more complete history of Austin.
As we consider the interpretive potential of Flower Hill, please consider attending the Community Open House at the museum on Saturday, January 28th. We welcome ideas from the community as to how Flower Hill charts its future course for its 150th anniversary, including ideas around the representation of Black history. We look forward to having you as a part of the conversation!
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Sincerely,
Daniel Ronan
Executive Director