Postcards From Durham: Local History Through Vintage Postcards

with John Schelp

Where was the indigenous village of Adshusheer? Who lived on the hilltops and who lived in the creek bottoms? 

Where's Alley #35? Who was Blind Boy Fuller? Where did Madonna take early dance lessons? 

Where was Kevin Costner spotted in his boxer shorts? Who dedicated the Muhammad Ali Gymnasium in Durham?

Who wrote the song, "Tobacco Road" and delivered telegrams around downtown? 

Why do neighborhoods change so fast in Durham? Where did Bartlett Durham live?

Who was Pfc Booker T Spicely? What's the connection between Old Bull, Bull Durham and Durham, England? 

Join us to find out!

Co-hosted by the Durham County Library, Museum of Durham History and Preservation Durham. 

About the presenter: 

John Schelp worked for the Peace Corps and USAID in Congo for seven years and was an elections observer with Jimmy Carter in Liberia. He's served on the Museum of Durham History advisory board, Pauli Murray steering committee, Mayor's Sesquicentennial Commission, president of the People's Alliance Fund, vice-president of the NAACP-Durham branch, president of the North Carolina Peace Corps Association, chair of UNC-Greensboro’s Parent Council, and longtime president of the Old West Durham Neighborhood Association.

He also helped secure state markers for Pauli Murray, Booker T. Spicely, Bull City Blues and the Royal Ice Cream Sit-in. John worked at the National Institutes of Health in RTP for more than 32 years and is now retired. He has degrees in Political Science & French from St. Lawrence University, a Masters in Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill and speaks French along with conversational KiKongo.

Where can I park when the Main Library parking lot is full?

Parking is available in the library parking lot or at the North Queen Street Garage located at 115 North Queen Street which is behind the apartments directly across the street from the library. Parking is free in the garage. Please bring your ticket to a service desk in the library for validation.