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Something to Hope For

The Ontario Regional Museum Program continues at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) with its second exhibit, Something to Hope For. To celebrate Black History Month, the new exhibit focuses on the important role of Buxton, Ontario in the story of the Underground Railroad. Something to Hope For will be on view in the Sigmund Samuel Canadiana Gallery foyer from February 7 to August 11, 2002.

Presented by the Buxton National Historic Site & Museum, Something to Hope For introduces ROM visitors to the Buxton Mission and Elgin Settlement, commonly known as the Buxton Settlement, located just south of Chatham, Ontario. Established in 1849, this settlement was a haven for American fugitive-slaves fleeing oppression in the pre-Civil War years. Many considered Buxton to be the last stop on the Underground Railroad.

Artifacts, photographs and storyboards relate how the Buxton Settlement flourished under the guidance of Reverend William King and earned its place in Canadian history. Something to Hope For brings to life the Rev. King's belief in the equality of races. He saw the former slaves as an intelligent, self-sufficient and productive people. The exhibit contains stories relating to Rev. King and the settlement, providing insight into the extraordinary success of this community of some 1200 to 2000 persons. It also draws attention to the great accomplishments achieved by its original settlers and their descendants, many of whom continue to live in the area to this day.

Something to Hope For explores the history of the first settlers, the rules, tools, and music of the settlement, the impact of the end of the Civil War and the ensuing drop in Buxton's population. For a look at Reverend William King himself, several of his personal items will be displayed. The exhibit reveals the strength of his convictions, his determination, and how through political connections, he was able to transform groups of refugee former slaves into a proud community of landowners and business people.

This small, self-contained exhibit will neighbour and complement a larger Underground Railroad exhibit, The Underground Railroad: Next Stop Freedom, opening April 13, 2002 in the Heritage Gallery of Canada's Peoples, presented by Parks Canada in partnership with the Ontario Black History Society and the Royal Ontario Museum.

The Ontario Regional Museum Program:
Eager to build upon relationships within the wider museum community, The Ontario Regional Museum Program allows smaller museums to highlight their collections for periods up to six months at the ROM in downtown Toronto. The program gives ROM visitors a greater appreciation of local Ontario history, while regional museums reach a larger and more diverse audience than usual. Every 1000-square-foot exhibit will provide a glimpse into the history and peoples of Ontario. The first exhibit of the program, The Great Storm of 1913, remains on display until April 14, 2002, and is presented jointly by the Huron County Museum and the Bruce County Museum & Archives

 

 

Issue date:
January 23, 2002

For more information:
Media Relations
Tel.: 416.586.5547
Fax: 416.586.8022
E-mail: media@rom.on.ca

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