'Voices and Votes' Smithsonian exhibit at library ties in Maury County history

The history of voting contains many stories, moments and notable people, which not only led to the U.S. voting process, but also secured voting rights for Black citizens and women.

The "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" exhibit at the Maury County Library, presented by the African American Heritage Society of Maury County shows the historic journey to secure the right to vote and how it applies to modern times.

The exhibit, which is just part of a much larger display at the Smithsonian National Museum, debuted at the library earlier this month, and will remain open through Oct. 1.

Much of the exhibit shows the forming of the country through the Civil Rights movement, going back to the pre-Revolutionary War period.

"This exhibit starts at this point, the great leap of faith that led to the formation of the Constitution of the United States, and it's done in six different sections," AAHS founder and president Jo Ann McClellan said.

Of the many things that make Voices and Votes unique, it is also one of only six approved for display in Tennessee.

More: African American Heritage Society plans big year for Black history

And getting approved was no easy task and dates back to 2019, McClellan said, when the AAHS applied for a community outreach grant with Humanities Tennessee.

"The purpose was that Humanities Tennessee wanted people to do outreach projects during COVID, while everyone was stuck in their homes. So, originally what we did was apply for $6,000 for a website," McClellan said. "After we got the website up, Humanities Tennessee contacted us and asked if we wanted to host this exhibit."

'A Leap of Faith' and local history

A stipulation for approving the display involved pairing the history of voting with the history and progress of the town in which the exhibit is presented.

For Maury County, McClellan said the AAHS adopted the "leap of faith" theme featured in the main exhibit, which ties into the country's foundation, while also pairing with the progress made locally.

While the main exhibit's theme predates the Revolutionary War, the local "exhibit-within-an-exhibit" ties in with themes such as the abolishment of slavery, Maury County's rich history in education, Columbia black-owned businesses, as well as notable individuals, who were and still are considered groundbreaking and innovative.

More: African American Heritage Society of Maury to host Smithsonian exhibit at library

Each Leap of Faith panel also features a quote regarding the importance of voting, as well as the future of voting as the country began to take shape during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

"This is about how Maury County history folds into the national story of democracy in America," McClellan said. "Our leap in faith was the Civil War and the belief that we would be free, and on a national level, it was the starting of the country and the Declaration of Independence."

While the exhibit is a dazzling display of the country's evolution in the right to vote, McClellan said presenting the local strides in Maury County toward freedom are something she takes much pride in. She said she enjoys sharing the milestones in Black history with the community, which are gathered through her countless hours researching, sifting through photographs and contacting surviving descendants.

In her experience, not only do many people not know about Maury County Black history, but that they often don't believe what they hear is true.

"A lot of our African American history has never been written about, or really hasn't been studied until I started doing it 20 years ago," McClellan, a Santa Fe native, said. "I started studying about my family, and every time I would do it, it would lead into more Maury County history, which is why I started the AAHS organization, because everyone knows about slavery and the race riots, but they don't know about any of the other history."

McClellan said a rich story exists within Maury County and should be appreciated at the level it deserves.

An interactive experience, but not political

The Voices and Votes exhibit is designed and intended for all ages, but much of its purpose is to educate young people about the history of the country.

It also encourages them to register when they reach 18.

Multiple video and computer stations create a hands-on, interactive experience coupled with physical photographs, artifacts, relics and placards adorned with important quotes and information.

"There are three interactive stations, where people can see interviews where others are exercising their civil rights," McClellan said. "There are six sections available to see, which is really interesting, like a self-guided tour. There are a million pieces here, and it all arrived in 16 crates. It took us four nights to set up."

McClellan explained that the nonpolitical exhibit includes vintage pins, protest signs, magazines and other items, dating back to the administrative eras of Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter to view, or for some, to perhaps remember.

Still, the focus and message of "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" is to learn about the country's origins, its voting process over the years, as well as how Maury County was involved throughout the years in becoming a thriving community with its own storied past worth learning about.

"I have a list I like to call 'hidden figures,' and they are people I like to consider as innovators in community building for Maury County," McClellan said. "But people don't know about these stories. They know about the 1946 Race Riots, or whatever else they want to know about. But these stories haven't been written about or really researched, but these are the stories people need to know."

Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Voices and Votes exhibit chronicles country's origin, local history