Rose Weaver, an active member of the Oak Ridge community who has a passion for preserving the history of its African-American presence. (Submitted photo)
Rose Weaver, an active member of the Oak Ridge community who has a passion for preserving the history of the African-American presence since the city’s inception, will be the featured speaker at a Monday meeting of Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge, a press release said.
“The public is invited to come and learn how African-Americans also contributed to the development of Oak Ridge during the early years of World War II and how life for African-Americans was different than it is today,” the press release said. “(Weaver’s) presentation will feature many famous Ed Westcott photos along with information about several prominent African-American scientists.”
The meeting is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Monday, May 1, at the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge, the Beth El Center, at 101 West Madison Lane in Oak Ridge.
Weaver has most recently served as a teacher at the Scarboro Learning Center. She has provided, in part, services to those affected by its closing, the press release said.
During the past 15 years, Weaver and her late brother, Terry Weaver, have been gathering oral histories and artifacts for a traveling exhibit that tells the stories of the rich history of Oak Ridge. She will bring a portion of this exhibit with her to this meeting. Titled “African-American Experience in Oak Ridge during the later 1940s-1950s,” the exhibit has traveled throughout Tennessee over the years, the press release said.
Through the viewing of this exhibit, Weaver said, she could help all the people of Oak Ridge learn more about their history and help them to “awaken our determination and resolve, and as well embrace the untold contributions to the Secret City.”
Weaver said: “We can do so much in the community if we can sit down and blend our issues and concerns into opportunities. We all just seek the essentials: food, shelter, housing and finally, fairness in all assets of life.”
Weaver graduated from Berea College in Kentucky and earned her master’s in government contracting while working at the Oak Ridge Department of Energy facility, from which she retired after 37 years. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, East Tennessee Contracting Management Association, and the NAACP. She is also active at Spurgeon Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, where she serves as Christian education director and superintendent of its Sunday School.
The public is invited to this free event, the press release said. The Women’s Interfaith Dialogue brings together women of diverse faith, races, and culture to explore, understand, and learn from one another to advance justice, compassion, friendship, and human rights with a focus on women and children.
Scarboro Girl Scouts troop in the early 1960s. (Submitted photo)
Pictured above is Henry Teasley, third from right, and other businessmen in the Scarboro community. Help is needed to identify the others. (Submitted photo)
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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