1991:  Jim Crow Museum Opens

David Pilgrim met an elderly African American woman, whom he called “Mrs. Haley,” in a small Indiana town.  She inspired him to found the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia.  The museum is located at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI.  Pilgrim began collecting Jim Crow memorabilia by visiting flea markets and antique stores.  Some of the artifacts came from are South Bend, Niles, Michigan City, LaPorte, and surrounding areas in Indiana.  He said that visitors to the museum respond with “reflective sadness.”  To him, “the objects represent a long material history of propaganda directed against Africans and their American descendants.  The objects both reflected and shaped attitudes against blacks.”  Objects in the collection also reflect contemporary attitudes.  For example, the museum contains “trash talker dolls” and the “Ghettopoly” game, both created in 2003.  

Jim Crow Related Pictures

Minstrel Show Book
Minstrel Show Products Ad
Minstrel Show Glass
Makeup
Makeup
Coon Chicken Inn
Coon Chicken Inn Menu
Minstrel in Chicken Suit
Group of Actors
Cartoon - Getting Ready
Cartoon - Afraid of the Dark
Cartoon - Tan
Cartoon - Clean
Rex Theatre
Sign
Sign
Whipping Post

Cited by: www.ferris.edu/news/jimcrow/menu.htm