Corey Rogers loves sharing stories.
But the stories Rogers shares aren’t his own, they are the stories of Augusta and the men and women whose lives have made an impact on its history. He’s spent the last 20 years finding different ways to tell the often-untold stories through historical markers and public art projects, many of which are contained in a historically Black district of Augusta called the Golden Blocks.
“I’ve always thought our history has either been secondary or overlooked. It became this internalized thing through the vehicle of public history through these markers that I would try and tell the story of Augusta,” said Rogers, the executive director of the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of History.
Rogers’ interest in history began as a student at Terrace Manor Elementary School.
“I had a wonderful string of history teachers. They lit the spark,” he said.
This love of history shaped his college studies, and he returned to the Augusta area after receiving his graduate degree, hoping to share that interest in history with the next generation by teaching. While teaching in the Upward Bound program at Paine College around 2002, Rogers was introduced to the works of Augusta-born author Frank Yerby, whose life and writings fascinated Rogers.
He recalls seeking out whatever information he could on the author whose books were turned into film in the 1940s and 1950s.
“His life was a window into his complexity as an African American in a Jim Crow Society,” he said. “His writing style so all over the place. He had a very eclectic taste.”
Rogers joined the museum staff 20 years ago right about the time a Georgia Historical Society marker in honor of pioneering educator Lucy Craft Laney was erected. That piqued Rogers’ curiosity about the marker process.
In 2007, Augustan John M. Tutt was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and once again, Rogers became interested in historical markers and collaborated with members of the Zeta Xi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha to get one in his honor. It was placed in 2008.
“From there, I started either initiated these on my own or once my name got out into the public sphere, people came to me,” he said.
He also delved more into Augusta’s history in his early years at the Laney museum and interviews he conducted with prominent figures such as Judge John Ruffin Jr., who was a Civil Rights’ leader and Georgia Court of Appeals Chief Judge; Dr. James Carter, Augusta’s first African American dentist, Dr. Ike Washington, longtime educator and administrator; and Grady Abrams, who served on Augusta’s city council during the race riot of 1970, impacted Rogers.
Many historical markers across the state highlight a church or another building, but Rogers’ focus on many of the markers he’s worked on has been on the people associated with the buildings.
Read more: Bench dedicated in Frank Yerby’s honor
“Back in the day, people would apply for markers with sort of a basic standard – it was a church; it was 100 years old, and that was it. Nowadays, it’s more interesting and the stories are more complex,” he said.
Some of the markers he’s worked on have included Amanda America Dickson Toomer (1849-1893), the biracial daughter of a plantation owner who became one of the wealthiest women in America; John Wesley Gilbert (1863-1923), who was the first African American archaeologist; and Yerby.
Rogers served on the state historical society’s marker committee and as its chair for several years.
In addition to the state markers, there are local markers for people who he said are important to Augusta’s history but who might not be recognized outside the city.
Rogers often conducts walking tours in the Laney-Walker district to connect people with places.
“The walking tours give people a chance to look at history up close and personal. When you see and touch history, it’s profound,” he said.
He also worked with the Greater Augusta Arts Council to add the public art piece to this storytelling history. Several murals highlight different aspects of life in Augusta. One features the Golden Blocks area, a mecca for Black businesses and culture in the city, one highlights African American women in education and one in the works focuses on arts and entertainment. A sculpture pays homage to the men and women medicine.
Read More: Sculpture highlights medical ‘Pillars of the Golden Blocks’
And Rogers has no plans to stop pursuing those stories and putting them in places for people to see.
“I want to tell the untold story and add meat on the bones of the told story,” he said.
He said he often finds out about a person of interest while researching another person.
He’s currently learning more about Mabel Ridley, an Augusta-born performer who appeared on Broadway in the 1920s and traveled on national tours. She attended Haines Institute and was taught by Lucy Laney. She’s buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
