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GASTONIA, N.C. — The founder of Gaston County’s African American Museum of History and Culture hopes to pay it forward by showing children that history can be exciting to learn about.
On any given day, you’ll find Dot Guthrie somewhere reading.
In her line of work, research is critical. However, the long hours of shuffling papers to find the most interesting details are part of Guthrie’s dream job.
“I am just excited each and every day to have the opportunity to share African American history and culture with Gaston County,” said Guthrie.
Her excitement has helped to fill every shelf and wall within the 144-square-foot room, known as the African American Museum of History and Culture at Loray Mill. Guthrie founded the museum and serves as its executive director.
The small gallery, which opened in 2019, houses more than 300 pictures, paintings and artifacts.
Some of them tell the stories of well-known historical figures. However, it’s the local, lesser-known stories that make this place unique – stories like the one of Madame Charlotte, whose hair care products rivaled those of the nationally known Madame C.J. Walker.
“Madame Charlotte, of course, was a manufacturer of beauty products, and she was also a florist,” Guthrie said. “A member of her family heard that we were opening a museum, so he came with this little cannister. Much to my amazement, when I removed the top, we still had some hair dressing in the little cannister. So, we say to those that are learning about inventors and women that left an impact, Madame C. J. Walker had nothing over Madame Charlotte Smith Means Lowery. They both did the same thing.”
Guthrie has dreamed of sharing stories and showcasing pieces of history for years.
The retired librarian says she didn’t grow up with access to such information. However, once she began researching history as a college student, she wanted to pay it forward and is excited to finally be able to do it.
“We want children to be just as excited in learning that their history was awesome,” Guthrie said.
Guthrie says it is history that includes royalty, world leaders and even aviators.
“Marshall Schuyler Cabiness. An original Tuskegee airman,” Guthrie said. “Tuskegee airmen were known across the nation, but what was important about that was that we had one of the original airmen right here from Gaston.”
As her knowledge of local history expands, Guthrie plans for the museum to do the same – allowing visitors, especially the younger ones, to appreciate and build upon the past and present as they plan a brighter future.
“I take home with me the desire to show and to tell more in my research so that our African American families, as well as the greater Gaston community, will benefit from this museum,” Guthrie said.
The African American Museum of History and Culture is only open on Tuesdays and Fridays, but Guthrie provides requested group tours any day of the week.
The museum will host a three-day Juneteenth celebration. Part of the celebration includes highlighting the life of Charlotte McClee, the first midwife in what is now Gastonia.
Guthrie says McClee was widely known as “Aunt Charlotte.” She delivered hundreds of babies, both Black and white. She also tended to the health of women throughout the community.
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