The Eartha M. M. White Historical Museum and Gardens
The Eartha M. M. White Historical Museum and Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida, spotlights the lasting impact of Dr. Eartha Mary Magdalene and her mother, Clara English White–two African American women from the community who lived by the motto:
“Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, for all the people you can, while you can.”
Who is Dr. Eartha M. M. White?
Dr. Eartha Mary Magdalene White (1876-1974) was an extraordinary humanitarian, entrepreneur, and social activist, who gracefully and strategically navigated through a world where African American women (barely one generation removed from enslavement in the Deep South), weren’t expected to venture…and certainly not expected to succeed.
Eartha, with her mother, Clara English White followed her passion for service and her savvy for business to plant seeds of community care and heal the scars left by enslavement, racism, and segregation. Her grass roots efforts grew into organizations and institutions still meeting human needs today.
THE MUSEUM
Along with those essential humanitarian efforts, Dr. White envisioned someday creating a museum accessible to her community to celebrate black history and culture. That idea has now evolved into the ongoing
work of the Eartha White Museum, dedicated to researching, documenting, preserving, and presenting programming to illuminate a rich community history and carry on a multi-faceted legacy.
Housed in the landmarked Globe Theatre building in the historic LaVilla neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida, this exhibit occupies the rooms that were Eartha White's residence and office for the final forty-two years of her life (1932-1974). Her Victorian era furnishings as the backdrop, captioned photographs, text panels, documents, and a wide variety of memorabilia accumulated by Eartha White, help tell the story of the impact of her life’s work.
There are portraits of Eartha White, her mother, Clara English White and a 19th century pencil portrait of James Lloyd Jordan, Eartha White's fiancé, who passed away before they were able to wed. Objects in the collection also include remnants from the numerous community service initiatives,
businesses and organizations Eartha White developed, primarily to meet the needs of the underserved African American community in segregated Jacksonville.
The Museum’s holdings also include materials acquired when the Mission purchased the neighboring building where the Hollywood Music Store stood for many years, another vestige of La Villa’s past.
PRESERVING HISTORY
While few records of early acquisitions for the museum exist and the provenance of many items is unknown, continuing Eartha White’s vision of providing access to cultural resources is a vital part of the museum’s current role. Discovering, researching, and interpreting the accumulated papers, photos, scrapbooks, ledgers, furnishings, objects, and stories reflecting Eartha White’s lifetime of service is ongoing. A frugal and humble woman who would never have promoted her own story, Eartha Mary Magdalene White left a continuing legacy of service, innovation, and determination that still provides dignity, hope, support, and solutions to the underserved.
