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Exhibit salutes first black lawyers of St. Petersburg

Also this month at the Woodson Museum, community stories.

By JON WILSON
Published September 6, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - Many of the city's pioneer African-American lawyers started their practices on 22nd Street S. Now an exhibit honoring their work has come to a museum in the old neighborhood.

Titled "A Legacy of Courage, Vision and Hope: African-Americans in the Legal Community in Pinellas County," the exhibit is at the Carter G. Woodson Museum, 2240 Ninth Ave. S.

Organized three years ago by the St. Petersburg Bar Association, the exhibit honors early legal warriors like Isaiah W. "Ike" Williams and the late Fred Minnis.

Minnis opened the city's first full-time black law practice, and Williams became his partner.

The two were the first admitted to the St. Petersburg Bar. They rose to prominence during the era of civil rights battles, and they were mentors to a younger generation of lawyers who joined the cause, including Morris Milton, Frank Peterman, James Sanderlin and C. Bette Wimbish.

"I'm elated that we could have something of that caliber that's a part of local history," said Jacquie Small, a museum board member.

Small said she is particularly pleased because she knew Wimbish, who became St. Petersburg's first black City Council member. Small said she and Wimbish's daughter were classmates at Immaculate Conception Catholic School on 16th Street S.

The museum is negotiating with the bar association to have the exhibit as a permanent loan, said Tyna Middleton, museum board president.

A reception to present the exhibit formally will be scheduled later. Meanwhile, an oral history project compiled by the Front Porch organization will officially open on Sept. 30, Small said.

Lolita Dash, Front Porch coordinator, is the project coordinator. Young people fanned through the community tape recording the memories of longtime residents.

The project was a favorite of Ginger Baber, the late museum director who died this year. A search is under way to find her replacement.

The museum is on its summer schedule, open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

[Last modified September 5, 2006, 13:55:42]