Celebrating The 20th of MAY
The state of Florida emancipation is May 20th, 1865. The US southern states were forced into emancipation by the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and following the end of US Civil War April 9, 1865. Slavery in Florida was a foundational part of the antebellum economy, with a focus on plantation agriculture (cotton/sugar) as well the enslaved labor for prominent constructions in America. The 250 burials lost and found discovered at Munree Cemetery is American Black history of the enslaved and sharecroppers and tenant farmers.
The rhythm played during the Emancipation Day Celebration in Florida. This rhythm has been passed down for generations in North Florida. Emancipation Day is May 20th in Florida. Video credit: Mr. Tony James
Commemorative Fans
Designed by Chloe King-Pedrosa
Gift of Fan with Munree Memberships
The launch of Munree.org website for Munree cemetery is very exciting. The first 3 days was more than 272 viewers looking at our website to view the Revival of Buried Kinfolks video oral history project, and the other menu headings: ABOUT, RESEARCH and check out our MEMBERSHIP pages.
We are so excited about the supportive comments many people are sharing. Thanks to Althemese Barnes, Founder-Director Emerita of the John Gilmore Riley Museum for sharing the outstanding message to encourage and empower our thoughts. We welcome positive feedback and hope the community will become an active part of our service efforts at Munree cemetery.
FILM CREDITS: The oral history film and photo documentarian is Kanaan Stewart (FSU). The featured interviewees are Raymond Johnson, Wilbert Ferrell, Charles Thompson, Dee Calhoun Rush, George Stanley III, Deloris Sloan, Al Dennis, Charles Jefferson, Roland Gaines, James Ferrell and Ernest Proctor. Another filming by Stan Johnson (FAMU) highlights interviewees Mary Helen Rogers and Gloria Anderson. The Revival of Buried Kinfolks. Oral History interviews are organized by project director Kabuya Pamela Bowens-Saffo.
A message from Althemese Barnes, Founder-Director Emerita of the John Gilmore Riley Museum
John Gilmore Riley Museum – Tallahassee, Florida
Historically speaking many descendants can now visit the pastoral landscape where their/our ancestors were laid to rest. They were devoted churchmen, heads of households that produced professional medical, legal, education leaders, service and industrial engineers, technicians and subsequently through the generations highly functional families.
Thank you Munree Cemetery believers, workers on the project and many who showed up and volunteered time to this restoration – preservation project. If you are a Pemberton, Austin, Thompson, Johnson, Yant, Clack, Campbell, Vaughn, Ferrell, Littleton, Davis, Barnes, Conway, Brim, Leon, Jefferson, Banks, Rush, Burgess, you in all possibility have an ancestor resting in Munree Cemetery. Thanks Wilbert Ferrell especially for laboring in this vineyard through the years so that mine and other descendant families can be pleased and more at ease concerning our loved ones.
About Munree Cemetery
Munree Cemetery is a historical landmark of 5 acres highlighting the lost and found discovery of 250 African American burials, located on Edenfield Road miles north of U.S. 90 in Leon County, Tallahassee, Florida. The cemetery was created during the early 1900s for African Americans who lived and worked as sharecroppers and tenant farmers on the land and plantations named Welaunee. In 1912, a New York businessman, Udo Fleischmann, acquired the Welaunee Plantation property and converted it into a bird-hunting preserve. As part of the purchase, Fleischmann also acquired the land used for Munree cemetery.