ALBANY, NY.- The New York State Museum is honoring the Black women whose faith helped shape Albany’s communities with the opening of its newest collections feature, Fashion and Faith: Hats from the Great Migration. Between 1910 and 1970, more than seven million African Americans left the South, with New York State becoming a popular destination for those seeking higher wages, better housing, less discrimination, and improved educational opportunities for their children. The display explores the lived experiences of women during the Great Migration through their church hats, which became vibrant, impactful expressions of identity, connection, and possibilities.
The display features 25 hats worn by women who primarily settled in Albany’s South End, Arbor Hill, and Rapp Road neighborhoods. Visitors will learn about the lives and legacies of influential community builders and leaders, including Lady Florine Delores “Sue” Johnson, First Lady of the Greater St. John’s Church of God in Christ; Anne M. Pope, former president of the Albany NAACP and Northeast regional director; and lifelong community advocate Abbie Lee Brace.
Jennifer Lemak, Chief Curator of History, said, “The extraordinary women represented in this exhibit helped found and sustain the local churches that became community centers for migrants settling in New York. These women helped create lasting institutions in Albany and beyond, and their hats serve as tangible, personal entry points to their stories. It has been a pleasure working alongside their families and the Rapp Road Historical Association to create a display honoring their legacy.”…