The Beaumont Heritage Society is honored to host Agatha Babino: A Narrative of the Formerly Enslaved, a compelling traveling exhibit that explores the life of Agatha Babino, a formerly enslaved woman living in Southeast Texas. The exhibit will run from August 7 through October 3, 2025, and will be available for viewing in Heritage Hall on the grounds of the John Jay French Museum (3025 French Road, Beaumont, TX 77706).
Through historical documents, photographs, and powerful storytelling, the exhibit highlights Babino’s lived experiences - from her early life in bondage to her resilience and contributions in freedom. As a rare firsthand narrative from a formerly enslaved Black woman, her story offers valuable insight into a complex past and is an opportunity for meaningful reflection and learning. The exhibit is designed to be engaging and educational for audiences of all ages.
Exhibit viewing is open to the public during regular John Jay French Museum hours: Tuesday–Friday from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Admission is included with the museum’s regular tour fee of $5 per person for ages 4 and older. As part of the Museums for All initiative, admission is free for up to four visitors per group with a SNAP benefit card and a valid ID.
The exhibit will open with a free public reception on Thursday, August 7, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the John Jay French Museum. Guests are invited to enjoy refreshments and a Q&A with Dionne Babineaux, Director of the Museum of Undertold Texas History and the exhibit’s creator, moderated by scholar and filmmaker Gordon S. Williams, who will speak on the historical and cultural significance of Babino’s narrative. This special program is generously sponsored by The Center for History and Culture of Southeast Texas and the Upper Gulf Coast.
In addition, a community program related to the exhibit will be held at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Beaumont on Saturday, September 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event will offer expanded conversations and programming centered on local Black history and cultural heritage.
The Beaumont Heritage Society extends its deepest thanks to the Museum of Undertold Texas History for bringing this exhibit to Southeast Texas. We also gratefully acknowledge our grantors, the Foundation for Southeast Texas and the Southeast Texas Arts Council, for their support.
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