High School Students Design, Launch New Line of Gift Shop Items For the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum March 18

Although the Palmer Memorial Institute (PMI), a private school for African American youth, closed its doors as an educational institution in 1971, modern students are learning new lessons at the school-turned-historic site. At the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, the legacy of the school's founder, Dr. Brown, and her vision for PMI continue to inspire real-world opportunities for scholars. The Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum is administered by the Division of State Historic Sites, within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Staff at the museum worked with students at Western Guilford High School to envision a new line of gift shop merchandise to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Canary Cottage, Dr. Brown's campus home. For this project, students in Mr. George Brown's Adobe Visual Design class simulated the design-to-production process, gaining valuable skills and deepening their understanding of merchandising.

Students will unveil their designs and talk about the inspiration, process, and lessons learned at a launch event for the new merchandise, "Canary 100: The Cottage Collection" on Wednesday, March 18 at 12:30 p.m. The media and the public are invited to attend this free event, which will be held in Canary Cottage. An array of products from the new line will be available for purchase in the gift shop, with proceeds supporting the historic site.

"Dr. Brown believed deeply in education and preparing young people to lead with confidence and purpose," said Tanesha Anthony, site manager of the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum. "This project gave students an opportunity interact with history on their own terms, apply their talents in a real-world setting, and see their work valued by the community. We are pleased to not only preserve the history of Dr. Brown and PMI, but cultivate a space for the next generation of leaders and cultural stewards."

About the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum
Founded in 1902 by Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Palmer Memorial Institute transformed the lives of nearly 2,000 African American students. Today, the campus provides a setting where visitors can explore the place where boys and girls lived and learned during the greater part of the 20th century. The museum links Dr. Brown and Palmer Memorial Institute to the larger themes of African American history, women's history, social history, and education, emphasizing the contributions African Americans made in North Carolina.

The site is located at 6136 Burlington Rd. in Gibsonville, N.C. For more information, call (336) 449-3310.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural ResourcesThe N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit https://www.dncr.nc.gov.

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