Living Here: Alumni of Booker T. Washington School

The McKinney Center is to hold a reception for the opening of their new exhibit, Living Here: Alumni of Booker T. Washington School. The reception will be held at the McKinney Center, 103 Franklin Ave, Jonesborough TN 37659. This event will take place on Friday, September 19th, from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Refreshments will be provided. Those interested in Jonesborough’s history are invited to come view this exhibit and learn about the experiences of Booker T. Washington School alumni.

Booker T. Washington School was an elementary school for African American children in Jonesborough from 1940 until 1965, when schools were integrated and the building fell into disrepair. Later, the town of Jonesborough renovated the building, and it was renamed the McKinney Center, after the legacy of the McKinney family. The goal of the exhibit is to amplify the lives and experiences of Booker T. Washington School alumni, and to honor the building’s history.

The exhibit itself will run from September 19th to October 10th, 2025. It will feature photo portraits of 16 different alumni of Booker T. Washington School, as well as a short biography written about each person. It will also feature a memory wall for viewers to submit memories of alumni who have passed. Along with the portraits, recorded versions of each interview held with the alumni will be made public and viewable at the exhibit. In these videos, the alumni recall memories of their time at Booker T. Washington School, as well as where they are in life now. The McKinney Center invites the public to learn about Booker T. Washington School and the people who made it a lasting part of the community.

You may also like the following events from McKinney Center:

• This Saturday, 23rd August, 10:00 am, McKinney Center Fall Market 2025 in Jonesborough
• Next month, 4th September, 06:00 pm, Film Screening: Indelible Appalachians in Jonesborough