THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604170191
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Olde Towne Journal
SOURCE: Alan Flanders
LENGTH: Long : 122 lines
LONG BEFORE SHE became I.C. Norcom High School's librarian, Mae Haywood was interested in history. And one thing she noticed was, there wasn't much of it to be found if you wanted to read about the African-American experience in Portsmouth and the Hampton Roads area.
``One day a student walked in and asked to check out a book on Portsmouth's black history,'' she recalls. ``When I couldn't find anything in the card catalog, I knew something had to be done.
``The look of disappointment on that student's face told me I had a lot of work ahead, but I had to do it.''
And she is doing it.
When you enter the Norcom library, you'll most likely find Haywood maintaining a few inches of space at one end of a long reading table. The table top itself is no longer visible for the most part as neat stacks of books, ledgers, photographs, journals, artifacts and newspaper clippings cover every available inch.
When she isn't serving students in the Norcom library, Haywood's challenge mostly lies on that table: collecting, collating and categorizing nearly three centuries of local black history. She says it's a daunting task, but she is motivated because she isn't doing it just for herself - but for her school, the black community and the entire city. Giving her the energy and enthusiasm to continue are the images of future students utilizing what she has preserved.
``Since childhood I've always enjoyed history, and especially studying local history, but I noticed there wasn't much about black history - a few references to slavery and that was all!''
And that began to change when she became librarian at Norcom.
JUST DECIDING WHERE to start can be frustrating, Haywood says.
``You have to face the fact that a lot has been lost over the years. Personal stories passed down from generation to generation are scarce. Diaries and letters are even harder to find. I just started calling people and asking them if they had any written documents or photographs from the past. That method, as general as it may seem, really began to open doors.''
After years of work, her patience is now paying off.
``We have names of freedmen before the Revolutionary War, some who were soldiers for both sides, other names of Virginia Colonial pilots and sea captains, names of slaves and slave owners, workmen who built Drydock 1 and helped convert the Confederate ironclad Virginia. I have found a number of black sports heroes, journalists, educators, entertainers, military leaders, farmers, lawyers, politicians and clergy.
``What must be still out there could be just astounding.
``Fortunately, many of the older newspapers featured black journalists like Jeffery Wilson, Lee Rodgers and Hazel Lawson who wrote regularly on black history. Even though they weren't front-page stories, their columns, often referred to as `Colored Notes,' were a gold mine for me. I had a feeling that each name mentioned in those articles might lead me to another story or photograph. I became enthralled about how people dressed over a century ago both for community business and leisure, and even for sports and games.''
HAYWOOD SEES THIS gap in local history as both a blessing and a tremendous challenge. In many ways she is a pioneer as she envisions a history of Portsmouth black people that will reveal all aspects of community life including relationships with the white community.
Slavery, racism, social unrest and discrimination from the courthouse to the outhouse, from the public water fountain to the lunch counter - all present opportunities for Haywood to research and compile this history.
``I don't think we should leave out our leaders and their struggle for equality and human rights,'' Haywood says. ``But my focus is how involved the black community was in all social and public affairs through the centuries - not how separate we were. I want all our citizens to know more about people like Ida Barbour, who opened one of the first day-care centers in the nation here in Portsmouth during the early part of the 20th century.''
A constant theme throughout Haywood's research is that black history is an integral part of Portsmouth community history. She emphasizes that black history should be celebrated all year instead of just in February.
``Because of Black History Month, we have begun as a community to focus on black contributions to society in general. But I want our young people, black and white, to appreciate the contributions black citizens have made 12 months out of the year.''
AS HAYWOOD BEGINS to sort through literally hundreds of stories, photographs and documents on her table, she also focuses on making a permanent contribution herself to Portsmouth's black history.
``What I would like to do during my research is begin a book on local black history. I want to leave something behind that answers the disappointment of that student who came in looking for something to read.''
The growing amount of historical material has given Haywood another plan as well.
``Just what I have already collected during the last year could be the beginning of a substantial archive right here at the Norcom library. Then students of the future could come in and get ideas for papers and even books of their own. Once the community, the entire city, sees that something is being saved and properly treated, more treasures of black history will be found.''
To Haywood, the mountain growing on her table is just the tip of the iceberg.
``I am presently making plans for a second trip to the National Archives in Washington. The Virginia Historical Society records in Richmond might hold other bits and pieces I need for the project. Sources like farm ledgers from Norfolk County, shipyard record books and other government records are all potential sources that need serious consideration.
``But I think the real material is right here in Portsmouth. Through a flyer that I am now sending out throughout the community, I want to get the word out to as many people as possible that we all share in community history and that local black history is interwoven throughout the entire story.
``I hope I never have to say ever again to a student that I have nothing in the library on local black history.''
From the look of Mae Haywood's research table, she's already seen to that. MEMO: If you would like more information about her project or would like to
contribute to it, call Mae Haywood at Norcom High during working hours
at 393-8793.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by ALAN FLANDERS
Norcom High School librarian Mae Haywood works with a growing
collection of photos, journals and clippings about local
African-American history.
by CNB