I am very thankful to be a gatekeeper of ancestral material culture, and the exhibit highlights the poise and pride of Black Americans during the Victorian Era and early 20th century. Original daguerreotypes, tintypes, cabinet cards, real photo postcards, ceremonial fraternal badges, and antique jewelry from my personal collection (Tanzy A. Ward Antique Photo Collection) are featured in the Ancestral Garden Exhibit. Each ancestral item on display tells a significant story that is deeply rooted in the fabric of America. Updating the narrative and image of Black Americana is directly connected to ensuring that our Black ancestors ' material culture remains preserved and protected.
Antique Edwardian Era RPPC “real photo postcard” of an unidentified Black man and his son dressed in suits, ties, and a top hat. Circa 1910-1918. This is one of the antique photos featured in the exhibit. Tanzy A. Ward Antique Photo Collection.
Antique Victorian Era Tintype of an unidentified Black woman dressed in a printed dress with satin trimming bow and jewelry. Montezuma, GA. Circa 1870s.
One of my goals and aspirations for the exhibit is to motivate descendants to be dedicated gatekeepers of their personal ancestral photos. When each generation assumes the honorable responsibility of preserving our familial material culture, we nourish the history, present, and future of who we are. May we all continue to uplift, celebrate, and cherish our "ancestral gardens. "
”Our Ancestral Garden: Honoring Black Victorian Material Culture & Accurate Black Americana” is currently available to see at the historic APEX Museum in Atlanta, GA from December the 9th, 2024 until January the 25th, 2025.