Our History
The Coweta County African American Heritage Museum and Research Center opened in 2003. It’s the first Black Museum in Coweta County exhibiting historical African American architecture as well as providing a repository for Coweta’s African American artifacts and records. The museum and research center also serves as a genealogy workroom for African American research.
2002
December: AAA plans a "Soulful Christmas Celebration" for fundraising.
November: Commencement of work on the museum and history center, with plans to open in February 2003 for Black History month.
October: Fall Festival in downtown Newnan to promote AAA's mission and raise funds.
September: AAA and NCHS awarded the Heritage 2002 grant.
July: Heritage Grant application submitted.
June: Discussions on AAA's incorporation and non-profit status.
May: Committee meetings to prepare a Heritage Grant application.
February: Logo competition for students and discussions on establishing a "home" for AAA at Farmer Street Cemetery.
2001
December: Fundraising event with the raffle of a custom-made African American doll, "Sadie Mae".
November: Discussions on the preservation of the Powell Chapel Schoolhouse and potential fundraisers.
October: Committee renamed to the African American Alliance, becoming a program of the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society.
September: Discussion on preserving memories of senior citizens. Launch of an oral interview project in partnership with Newnan High School. Interviews took place on October 25, 2001.
May: Community symposium held at Newnan Chapel Methodist Church to organize an African American History Committee.
April: Cynthia Rosers raised operational funds for the Committee, obtaining donations from Bank of Coweta and Newnan Utilities.
February: Symposium at Carnegie Library in downtown Newnan. African American students from Newnan High School read slave narratives.
January: Discussions between President Natalie Helvie and Cynthia Rosers on NCHS’s involvement in the African American community. Decision made to form the African American Heritage Committee.
2000
December: Cynthia Rosers joined the board of directors of the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society.
