Jack Hadley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Roosevelt Hadley
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Jack Hadley gives a tour at the Jack Hadley Black History Museum in 2011
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| Born | 1936 (age 88–89) |
| Known for | Founding and curating the Jack Hadley Black History Museum in Thomasville, Georgia |
| Children | 3 |
James Roosevelt Hadley (born 1936) is the founder of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum in Thomasville, Georgia. He also helps manage the museum's collections. Before this, he served in the United States Air Force.
Contents
The Life of James Hadley
Growing Up and Military Service
James Hadley was born in 1936. He grew up near Thomasville, Georgia, at a place called Pebble Hill. This used to be a large cotton farm. When he was born, Pebble Hill was mostly used for hunting. James was one of 15 children, the tenth oldest. His grandfather was a slave who worked at Pebble Hill.
After finishing high school, James joined the United States Air Force. He worked with supplies and how things were moved around. He served for 28 years, traveling to places like Europe, the Middle East, and Vietnam. He retired as a chief master sergeant, which is a very high rank for an enlisted person.
Family and Community Work
James Hadley has been married for over sixty years. He and his wife have three children. After leaving the Air Force, he moved back to Thomasville. He then worked for the United States Postal Service until he retired in 1997.
James is also a Prince Hall Freemason. In 2018, Thomas University gave him an honorary degree. This was to recognize his important work in the Air Force and in his community. In February 2020, he was the special guest, called the grand marshal, in Thomasville's Black History Month parade.
Jack Hadley Black History Museum
How the Museum Started
James Hadley started collecting newspaper articles about the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Later, in the late 1970s, he helped his son with a school project. The project was about black history. This made James even more interested in the topic.
He was later asked to join Black History Month events in Thomasville. He began collecting many items related to black history. Over time, these items became the large collection for his museum.
Museum's Growth and Impact
Hadley opened the museum in 1995. In 2006, it moved to its current home, which used to be a school in Thomasville. The museum has received grants to help teach students. For example, in 2019, it started a special education program with Thomas County Middle School. In 2021, the museum received a large grant of $240,000.
As of 2022, the museum has about 5,000 items. One special item for Hadley is a bullhorn that belonged to his grandfather. For 40 years, this bullhorn was used to tell slaves when to start or stop working in the fields.
The museum has welcomed over 18,000 visitors since 2006. In 2017, the Georgia House of Representatives honored Hadley, his family, and the museum. Wayne Clough, who used to lead the the Smithsonian, praised the museum after his visit.
James Hadley also created the "Thomasville Black Heritage Trail Tour." This tour teaches people about Henry Ossian Flipper (1856–1940). Flipper was an American soldier and a former slave. The museum also helped get a special postage stamp made for Flipper. They also helped name a Thomasville post office after him.
Hadley shared in 2022 that his favorite part is when kids walk into the museum and say "WOW." He knows then that the museum is making a big difference.
Adapting During the Pandemic
In March 2020, the museum closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The museum worked hard to offer learning materials online. They received special funding to help with this. In September 2020, the museum worked with other groups in Thomasville. They created a photo contest for students about life during the pandemic. The museum reopened in August 2021.
The Imperial Hotel Project
After the movie Green Book became popular, James Hadley became involved in a project. He wanted to help restore the Imperial Hotel in Thomasville. This hotel was listed in The Negro Travelers' Green Book. This book was a guide for African Americans. It listed places where they would be welcomed and served. Hadley said that if he had known about the book in the 1960s, it would have helped him. He often had to drive long distances and was sometimes turned away because he was black.
History of the Hotel
African American brick masons, the Lewis brothers, built the Imperial Hotel in 1949. It was open from 1949 to 1969. The hotel was owned by Howard Thompson and later run by Harvey and Dorothy Lewis-Thompson. Many African American musicians stayed there when they were performing for black audiences. Famous singer Aretha Franklin was one of its guests. The hotel had eight guest rooms, shared bathrooms, a restaurant, and a barbershop. After 1969, the building was used as an office. It had been empty since 2001.
Restoration Efforts
By October 2019, over $190,000 had been raised to restore the hotel. A group of historians, led by Hadley, bought the building. It was the only black-owned hotel in the city. In October 2019, local history groups recognized their efforts. Hadley said in 2022 that he hoped the project would be finished in five years. The pandemic had slowed things down.
In November 2022, the hotel's restored neon sign was lit for the first time since 1969. The plan is to name the area around the hotel "the Jack Hadley Yards." This area will include the museum, the hotel, and a library.
