The Heritage Foundation’s Next Virtual Warwick Lecture Series April 22
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Steve Citerin
(M) 216.272.0511
sciterin@williamsonheritage.org
The Heritage Foundation’s Next Virtual Warwick Lecture Series April 22
Event to feature speaker Dr. Ashley Bouknight-Claybrooks of the American Association for State and Local History
FRANKLIN, TN (April 14, 2020) – The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN is excited to announce the continuation of the 2021 Warwick Lecture Series, named in honor of county historian Rick Warwick. The second installment of the quarterly, free event will be held online on Thursday, April 22 at 6 p.m.
The featured guest speaker for the event will be Dr. Ashley Bouknight-Claybrooks, senior manager for the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Bouknight-Claybrooks will present on Interpreting American Slavery at Historic Sites.
Prior to her role at the AASLH, Dr. Bouknight-Claybrooks was the senior curator at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. Before arriving in Nashville, she served as a community educator and museum consultant for various museums, historic sites, and neighborhood history projects in the southeast. She received her Master of Arts in Public History and a Certificate in Museum Management from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Arts in Historic Preservation and Community Planning from the College of Charleston. She received a Ph.D. in Public History Program from Middle Tennessee State University. Her research focuses on collections management theory, intersectionality and inclusivity in museums, and community outreach.
“Choosing to create an inclusive interpretation of slavery at historic sites addresses the difficult questions and how preservation of our past informs the interpretation of our collective story,” said Rachael Harrell Finch, Heritage Foundation senior director of preservation and education.
“It may seem more comfortable to ignore or soften the retelling of slavery’s difficult history and its significant impacts on the lives of African Americans at historic sites, but through archaeology, available primary sources, and oral histories, sites have an opportunity to shed light on the human experience of slavery and encourage engagement with descendant communities to help tell these impactful stories.”
Devised as an outreach initiative of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN, the Warwick Lecture Series was created to educate community members about history, architecture, preservation and authors. With the participation of Dr. Bouknight-Claybrooks, the tradition of esteemed guest lecturers who are willing to share their expertise with friends of the Heritage Foundation and beyond continues.
This Warwick Series Lecture event will be held virtually online and is free to anyone who registers. Details on how to join the meeting will be sent to all registered attendees prior to the event. To register, visit www.williamsonheritage.org/events.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR STATE AND LOCAL HISTORY
The American Association for State and Local History is a national membership association dedicated to helping the history community thrive. For the better part of a century, AASLH has provided leadership and resources to its members who preserve and interpret state and local history to make the past more meaningful to all people. AASLH is the professional association for history-doers. Visit www.aaslh.org for more information.
ABOUT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY
Since 1967, the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County has been dedicated to preserving Williamson County’s architectural, geographic and cultural heritage as well as promoting the ongoing revitalization of downtown Franklin in the context of historic preservation. Notable projects include The Franklin Theatre, Roper’s Knob, parts of the Franklin battlefield and the Old, Old Jail. The Foundation brings county history to about 3,000 school children each year through the Heritage Classroom program as well as walking tours of downtown Franklin. Events and festivals produced by the Heritage Foundation such as Main Street Festival, the Heritage Ball, Pumpkinfest and Dickens of a Christmas bring hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors to downtown Franklin each year. The Heritage Foundation owns and operates The Franklin Theatre, the Downtown Franklin Association, and the organization’s newest division and current restoration project, Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens. For more information about the Heritage Foundation, visit www.williamsonheritage.org.