Niles History Center hosts Frederick Douglass Exhibit

NILES, Mich. -- The Niles District Library has teamed up with the Niles History Center to host "The Frederick Douglass: Advocate for Equality Exhibit", which will be on display from now through Oct. 4.

Douglass was a passionate advocate for voting rights, and as stated by the Niles History Center, this exhibit comes at a crucial time with elections just around the corner.

The exhibit will be available for viewing during the library's regular public hours. It’s free and open to the public. Next door at the Niles History Center, visitors can find additional information about Douglass and his legacy. 

The exhibit has six standing panels, each highlighting different periods of Douglass's life. From his early years in slavery to his work as a newspaper publisher, civil war leader, and activist during the Reconstruction era.  

Director of Niles History Center Christina Arseneau says this exhibit not only highlights his life and work but also reminds us of how important it is to use the voice he fought for us to have.

"People went through a lot for this right. He was an advocate for abolition early on. He really believed that your vote is your voice. It's really important even if you think your vote doesn't count, it almost certainly does. It's just a good reminder of why history still stays with us today," Arseneau said. 

But this exhibit not only celebrates Douglass. It also explores the local connection to Niles artist and activist, Lottie Wilson.  

Wilson once painted portraits of Douglass and his first wife, Anna Murray Douglass. The History Center says she is remembered as a suffrage advocate and artist who made significant contributions to civil rights. 

The library owns one of Wilson's surviving pieces, which depicts a historic meeting between abolitionist Sojourner truth and President Abraham Lincoln. 

Monday at 5:30 p.m., Arseneau will host a program titled "Activism and Art," exploring Douglass's writings and Wilson's lasting contributions.

"It's interesting to remember that history and all the things that he fought for; some things we're still working on today. I think it's a good reminder of all the rights that we have in this country and the responsibilities that come along with them," Arseneau said.