Central Library to Host Ballard House Project Community Conversations July 27

What: Ballard House Project Community-Wide Collective Memory Program
Where: Central Library’s Linn-Henley Research Library, Arrington Auditorium, 4th floor
When: Thursday, July 27, 2017, 10:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m.
Details: The Ballard House Project will be recording community conversations about Birmingham’s historic past. One-hour session topics will include community building, business, law, civil rights, women’s organizations, food/gardening, health, social & service clubs, fellowship, and faith. For more information, call 205-731-2000 or go to www.ballardhouseproject.org.

Did you participate in Birmingham’s civil rights marches of the 1960s as a foot soldier? Have interesting stories to tell about a family business, church, or important dates in the city’s history?

Then make plans to come to the Central Library in downtown Birmingham between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 27, 2017. The Ballard House Project, Inc. is partnering with the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) as it seeks people willing to share personal stories about Birmingham's historic past.

Last month (between June 19-24), Ballard House Project hosted sign-ups for residents willing to participate at the Central, Avondale, Springville Road, North Birmingham, and Five Points West Libraries. If you missed those meetings and want to participate, call 205-731-2000 or go to www.ballardhouseproject.org for more information.

The Ballard House

The Ballard House, 1420 7th Ave. North in the Birmingham civil rights district downtown, is a
cultural and educational space dedicated to celebrating people, places, and events from Birmingham's past and inspiring citizens of today. The Ballard House was built in 1940 by Dr. Edward Ballard, a prominent Birmingham doctor in the 1920s. Hamilton's husband, Herschell Hamilton, is the son of the late Dr. Herschell Hamilton Sr., who, upon moving to Birmingham in 1958, became the first board-certified African American surgeon in the city.

Dr. Hamilton became known as the "dog-bite doctor" for providing free medical care including surgery for several foot soldiers and activists injured during the 1960s civil rights movement. He was the personal physician for Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and also treated Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Hamilton's office was located inside the Ballard House, and he spent much of his 43 years of medical practice there. Hamilton's family established the Herschell Lee Hamilton Endowed Medical Scholarship in his honor during the 50th anniversary of the civil rights movement in Birmingham.