Volunteers Move 30,000 Artifacts to Expanded Jim Crow Museum

Hundreds of volunteers in Big Rapids, Michigan are making history by carefully moving more than 30,000 artifacts that tell America's difficult story about racism and the inspiring resistance against it.

Ferris State University's Jim Crow Museum is relocating to a stunning new standalone facility near the campus entrance. The museum has spent three decades using objects from America's Jim Crow era to teach tolerance and promote social justice.

The move began in January with an extraordinary response from the community. Ferris State administrators, students, faculty, alumni and local residents signed up to help transport artifacts that date back to 1877 through the 1960s, when African Americans faced systematic oppression under Jim Crow laws.

Collections Manager Cyndi Tiedt created the museum's first comprehensive volunteer program. Each volunteer receives hands-on training in museum preservation, learning to handle delicate historical objects, pack them by material type, and prepare them for safe transport in archival boxes.

"It's wonderful that so many people want to assist us with the process of safely moving our collection to the new museum," said David Pilgrim, Ferris State's vice president for Diversity, Inclusion and Strategic Initiatives. The project has strengthened bonds between the campus and community over the past three months.

The new 26,000-square-foot facility opens this fall with exciting innovations. An "Understanding Objects" exhibit will feature a conveyor belt of rotating artifacts, inviting visitors to pause and reflect on deeper meanings behind each piece.

State-of-the-art interactive screens will provide extensive details about objects. The expanded space means more programming events, volunteer opportunities, and improved climate-controlled storage to preserve these important historical items for future generations.

The Ripple Effect

The larger facility will dramatically expand who can access these educational resources. School groups, faith communities, civic organizations, corporate leaders, policymakers, law enforcement agencies and civil rights advocates will all have more opportunities to engage with the collection.

Beyond documenting historical racism, the new building creates space to celebrate resistance movements and the courageous people who fought for justice. These stories of pushback against oppression will inspire visitors to continue that work today.

The museum serves as a powerful reminder that ordinary people can create extraordinary change when they stand together for what's right.