Historical Black Churches in Leon & Gadsden Counties: Institution Building in the 19th Century

The new additions are the “Historical Black Churches in Leon and Gadsden Counties: Institution Building in the 19th Century,” and “The Hunter Hill, Jr. Collection.”

The Historical Black Churches’ project attempts to recognize some of the oldest religious institutions in the African-American community that were established during the 19th century in Leon and Gadsden Counties. The project identifies churches that emerged during slavery and after the emancipation, and continues into the 21st century as a major institution shaping and impacting the nation.

Mr. Hunter Hill, Jr., a Tallahassee native and 1968 graduate of Florida A&M University has created 29 models of structures that include African-American homes, stores, churches and businesses.  Hill states that the scale model replicas in the collection are “a tribute to his parents, grandparents, relatives, and to the black people who lived in horrible conditions in the Jim Crow South.” In 1970, his mother asked him to build a model of her home.  She was overwhelmed. This model was the first to be built of historic structures to become known as “The Hunter Hill, Jr. Collection.”