A Rare Collection of “Spirits”

TRANS-CONTINENTAL LOVE WILL SOON PROTECT BLACK ARCHIVES RESEARCH CENTER AND MUSEUM

BY [ L.A. CARROLL ]

A gift of 19th century Ghanian artifacts will soon attract scores of students, stakeholders, scientists, and artists to the campus of Florida A&M University (FAMU). Toss in a flock of historians, scientists, an epidemiologist, and tools with a heritage older than Magellan and you have a spirited tale – and rare gift to the Southeastern Black Archives Research Center and Museum.

FAMU is now the official recipient of “Field Spirits,” a donation from Richard Douglass, Ph.D., author, collector and archivist; he placed a probative telephone call to a University professor, Robbya Green-Weir — and the rest is what was previously disappearing African history from the fields of Ghana, now preserved in Tallahassee, Florida.

Douglass, his good friend, and his late wife helped to make the collection a reality at the University.

“About two years ago, communication between Douglass and the Archives began,” recalled Nashid Madyun, the former executive director of the Meek-Eaton Black Archives. “He wanted to donate a rare collection of wooden sculptures from Ghana to FAMU. He was still in the process of preserving the pieces before the pandemic.

Madyun, now the executive director of the Florida Humanities Council in St. Petersburg, Fla., recalled that Douglass soon visited the campus, “to discuss his interest in placing the pieces with us. We have yet to find a full collection or duplicate collection like it anywhere.”

Each piece of the “Field of Spirits” collection is “incredibly unique” Madyun said. They were hand carved to protect the fields, families and property from snakes, predatory animals, and people. They could be found standing guard throughout Ghana. At that time, centuries ago, their purpose made them valuable and ubiquitous.

Protecting and preserving the ‘kinship’

Nana Apt, a Ghanian native, inherited the art pieces from her father, and, later, from her grandfather, a Fante farmer. She was vice president for Academic Affairs at Ashesi University (Accra, Ghana) and also a lifelong collector of cultural art, ancient art, ethnically specific and kinship art, with the oldest pieces dating back to the 1870s, the newest to the 1940s, Douglass says. She and Douglass, “dearest colleagues,” met in 2000 when she had moved on to become a professor at the University of Ghana (Legon).

Over the years, Douglass’s wife and Apt became close friends. The couple, the collector, and an inventory of more than 52,000 pieces — were forever linked.

“When I was in Ghana for my second Fulbright (fellowship), Nana offered me a room at her home for six weeks,” Douglass recalled. “Her house was a living museum.”

The veranda was filled with countless “remarkable wooden sculptures” that have now been deemed as “ critical pieces of British history (because the Cape Coast of Ghana dates back to British rule as far back as the 1870s).

In search of new fields, history to protect

Apt died more than three years ago; Marian Horowitz, almost two years ago. Douglass says both women were souls not to be forgotten. “There are a couple of things about grief,” he said. “You can either feel sorry for yourself or give gifts of legacy for them.”

Horowitz planned for his wife’s estate to pay for the transportation of the collection, the documentation of it and to support the collection their friend had gifted to them. That way, the trio could ensure that the field-art legacy continues.“There are no paper documents of West African art; the hot, dry air and humidity, and pests over the centuries,” made it almost impossible to remain intact, Douglass said. So, he reached out to another colleague, Green-Weir at FAMU.

“Don’t they have a museum there?”

Green-Weir: “...A wonderful museum, the only Carnegie-supported one at an HBCU (historically Black college or university).”

There it was ... full circle, around the globe: The “Field of Spirits” will soon have a new group of valuable souls, pieces of significant history and important collections to keep an eye on – at the Black Archives, on the second floor, as a part of what experts are already calling “a collection of national prominence.”

Read all about ‘Field Spirits of the Fante’

Published by Mot Juste, May 2021

“‘Field Spirits of the Fante’’, a 48-page book written by Richard Douglass, describes the journey of nine wooden carvings from a field in Ghana’s Western Region to the Meek-Eaton Black Archives Research

Center and Museum in Tallahassee, Florida.

Central to the story is professor Nana Araba Apt, a Ghanaian academic and an avid collector of African Art. She recognized the importance of the field spirits that were placed in the fields and around the homes of the Fante, part of the Akan people of the former Gold Coast in West Africa.

ORIGIN AND USE OF FIELD SPIRITS IN GHANA

The nine field spirits, or ‘batebas’, were created by Lobi craftsmen between 1870 and 1940, and were designed to protect flocks, crops, children, homes, hunters and providers. Although converted to Christianity, the Fante often held fast to ancient beliefs and superstitions. But creating pagan objects such as these spirits would have been frowned upon. Lobi woodcarvers, however, remained devoted to their traditional beliefs and their spirit figures were considered as living beings.

These nine carvings belonged to Nana’s paternal grandfather, a farmer near Cape Coast. When he stopped farming around 1950, the pieces were taken off the fields and kept in storage and later moved to Nana’s home in Accra. Left in the fields, these wooden carving would have been destroyed due to exposure to the environment and insects, particular termites. As a result, few field spirits were saved, making this collection unique.

The book describes how the collection was transported from Ghana to Michigan where Richard and his wife Marian Horowitz undertook the cleaning and preservation process and the decision to offer the collection to the Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University, an HBCU (Historical Black College or University) with a core mission in agriculture.

FURTHER RESEARCH

The publication of this book accompanies the collection at the Meek-Easton Black Archives Research Center and Museum of the Florida A&M University and seeks to encourage further research into the Fante myths and the relationship between them and the Lobi.

ABOUT THE FANTE: THE FANTE CONFEDERACY

c. 1651 - 1824

The Fante confederacy, Fante also spelled Fanti, is a historical group of states in what is now southern Ghana. It originated in the late 17th Century when Fante people from overpopulated Mankessim, northeast of Cape Coast, settled vacant areas nearby. The resulting Fante kingdoms formed a confederacy headed by a high king (the brafo) and a high priest.

It extended from the Pra River in the west to the Ga region (centered on Accra) in the east. To the south was the Atlantic coast, dotted with Dutch and British trading forts; to the north was the expanding Asante empire.

THE FALLEN RATTLERS

JANUARY 2022

Coach Bobby Lang

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Bobby Lang earned a bachelor’s degree while on a football and track scholarship at FAMU. He played offensive tackle for legendary FAMU Coach Jake Gaither and went on to earn his master’s degree at FAMU. He coached at FAMU High School before joining Gaither’s coaching staff in 1966 as an assistant football and men’s and women’s track coach. Lang was one of the last surviving members of Gaither’s coaching staff.

Lang earned countless awards, titles and accolades during his coaching career. He became the first coach in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) history to achieve the “triple crown” in athletics by winning conference titles in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. Lang also coached the team while FAMU competed in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). During his 33year tenure, from 1966 to his 1999 retirement, Lang’s teams combined to win 38 conference champions in the MEAC and SIAC.

As the longtime head track and field coach, Lang took great pride in coaching several nationally recognized athletes. He coached All-Americans Pam Oliver and Olympian Rey Robinson. Lang also coached FAMU legendary sprinters Nathaniel James, James Ashcroft, Major Hazelton, and Eugene Milton, whose team won the Penn Relays 440-yard relay three consecutive years, 1966, 1967 and 1968.

A member of the FAMU Hall of Fame, Lang was inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2019.

Another of Lang’s significant pursuits and accomplishments was bringing the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) to FAMU. With fellow FAMU coach and friend Robert Mungen, he helped bring the program to thousands of area youths. For years, participants were exposed to swimming, basketball, softball, track and field, free lunches and more while on the FAMU campus.

Lang is survived by his wife, Gladys C. Lang, Ph.D., daughter, Angela Lang Ward, sons, Ronald Lang and Marlott Lang, a number of grandchildren and great- grandchildren, and a brother.

OCTOBER 2, 2021

Colonel William Howard “Bill” McGlockton

William H. (Bill) McGlockton, 85, of Chapel Hill, N.C. died at his home on September 16. He was born on October 28, 1935, in Rock Bluff, Florida to the late Rev. Hambric L. McGlockton and Louise (Little) McGlockton. He attended Rosenwald High School in Panama City, Florida, before he attended Florida A&M University (FAMU) in 1953 and earned a master’s degree from Ball State University in 1975.

While at FAMU, his roommate introduced him to the love of his life, Lutrelle W. Hilton, who later became his wife of more than 63 years. Also, while at FAMU, after a four-year participation in the Army ROTC program, he was commissioned upon graduation in 1957 as a Second Lieutenant,which was the beginning a 25-year career in the U.S. Armed Forces.

McGlockton served eight months in the Army Reserves and entered active duty in 1958. He graduated from Flight School in 1959 as the sole African American in his class and was assigned to various aviation flying positions at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Following his time there, he undertook CH34 pilot duties in Mainz, Germany. Later, he was assigned as the Third Echelon Maintenance Detachment Commander for all CH34 Helicopter units in Hanau, Germany. Under his command, the Army selected his aircraft hangar to host President John F. Kennedy and his presidential entourage for a visit to the hangar and speech. This tour included President Kennedy’s famous “Ich Bin Ein Berliner” speech in June 1963.

He later was promoted to Captain and was made an Operations Officer. In 1964, McGlockton rotated from Germany to fly CH37 Helicopters at Fort Benning, Georgia, and later transitioned to the newly arrived CH47 Helicopter in preparation for the first of two tours of duty in Vietnam in late 1965.

During his two tours of duty, he completed over 450 combat hours and had three of his helicopters hit by enemy machine gun fire. At the end of his second in Vietnam, McGlockton was assigned to Fort Eustis, Virginia, where he was the first African American commissioned officer to graduate from the CH47 Maintenance Test Pilot Course, and was first in his class. Subsequently, Bill was assigned to the Command and General Staff School in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where he was promoted to major.

Upon completion of the Command and General Staff School, Bill achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and accepted his first non-aviation related assignment as Department of Army, Inspector General overseeing a five-battalion military police brigade in Kaiserslautern, Germany. A two-year assignment in Berlin, Germany he was promoted to colonel.

In 1976, Bill accepted a challenging assignment as Professor of Military Science at Saint Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he graduated 23 Army Lieutenants in 1980, six of whom achieved the rank of Colonel. Next, Bill returned to aviation when he accepted the position of Deputy Director, Advanced Systems Directorate, Army Aviation Systems Command in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1982, Martin Marietta Aerospace (Lockheed Martin) offered him a position, which he accepted after retiring from the Army.

He earned numerous commendations, medals, and awards during his distinguished 25-year military career, including: a Meritorious Service Medal; Service Medal, with one silver service star; the Master Army Aviation Badge; and, the Airman’s Medal, with eleven oak leaf clusters.

Bill worked for Martin Marietta (Lockheed Martin) for 11 years. During this time, he was promoted to Director, Business Development and assisted with the development of a major aircraft applied system which is used on U.S. and foreign government aircraft today. After leaving Martin Marietta in 1992, Bill worked as an entrepreneur and owner of a small defense contractor business until his final retirement in 2019.

He was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He also was a member and president of Host of Orlando. After moving to North Carolina, Bill attended the Congregation at Duke University Chapel on Sundays with his wife and family.

He is survived by his wife, Lutrelle, four children: William H. McGlockton, II (Joan) of Washington, D.C.; Dr. Michael McGlockton (Rayna) of Fort Walton Beach, Fla; Tarshia McGlockton of Chapel Hill, N.C.; and Tamara McGlockton Hill (Johnny) of Durham, N.C.; one sister, Mildred

McGlockton Demps; three brothers, Hambric Leon McGlockton, Jr., Carl Eugene McGlockton, and Rev. Samuel Earl McGlockton.

NOVEMBER 20, 2021

MaKayla Bryant

An outstanding alumna, former student leader, and graduate student, MaKayla “MK” Bryant, who was affectionately known to many as “Peaches,” was born on January 5, 1968, in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. She was the only child of the late Marcus L. Wyre Sr. and Sylvia KingBrown, who preceded her in death.

MaKayla Bryant attended Wesleyan Holiness Elementary. She graduated from St. Paul Catholic High School (Class of 1985), where she was a cheerleader; senior class president; member of the Student Council, National Honor Society, Girl Scouts, and Future Business Leaders of America. She graduated from high school in 1985, then entered FAMU, where she was just as active as a university student, quickly becoming active in many organizations. She completed two internships at Anheuser Busch Co. and Procter & Gamble.

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business and began her professional degree in College Park, Georgia at Enterprise Holdings, Inc. She advanced to Rentals, Inc. Later, she added to her degree with special certification as trainer and project manager, who was respected and well-throughout her career, which included work that spanned the corporate, financial, and information technology sectors.

Bryant was as a member of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church (Atlanta), where she joined in 1996 and remained a loyal member for 25 years; She was a member of the FAMU National Alumni Association (financial secretary).

She left to cherish her memory: three children (Kierra, Keenan, & Chanel); and two grandchildren, Kaiden and Keenan.

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 Bettie Floyd Tanner

Bettie Floyd Tanner, an outstanding wife, mother, and a Marion County Florida educator, was from Ocala, Florida. She was a native of Flemington, Florida (in Marion County),

Tanner was a retired teacher for Marion County Public Schools. She was a 1970 graduate of Florida A&M University and a member of Mt. Pedro Missionary Baptist Church, Micanopy, Florida.

She has left to cherish her memory: her husband of 51 years, Raymond Tanner, of Ocala; her children, Gregory (Delois) Lawton Sr, of Sparr, Florida, and Cassandra (Gregory) Boston, of Micanopy; a devoted cousin, Elmira Clark, of Micanopy, and a host of nieces, nephews, and caring friends.

DECEMBER 2021 Dalton Harrell

Florida A&M baseball player Dalton Harrell, 21, died after an accidental shooting in Bainbridge, Ga. Bainbridge Public Safety (BPS) officials reported that a group of friends were at Bainbridge Country Club on Country Club Road when a “freak accident” led to Harrell being shot in the chest in the parking lot.

Harrell, 21, was the son of Bobby and Jennifer Stephens Harrell. He was a 2018 graduate of Bainbridge High School in Bainbridge, Georgia.

SEPTEMBER 2021 Eugene Ravenel

Eugene Ravenel, an outstanding husband, community leader, and man of service, was born April 19, 1954, in Charleston, South Carolina. He was one of 10 children born to the late Rev. James Ravenel Sr. and Berniece Ravenel. He was a proud graduate of Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) who also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Tampa.

Ravenel was a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, of which he became a member in 1973 and was initiated into the Alpha Xi Undergraduate Chapter at FAMU. Ravenel was highly active in the community at many levels to include serving as a basketball coach, youth mentor, math tutor, and real-estate instructor. He was survived by wife Pamela; son, Evan; daughter, Erin; brothers, James Ravenel Jr. (Marion), Frank Ravenel Sr. (Harriett), Benjamin Ravenel (Vivian), Isaiah Ravenel (Emi), Edward Ravenel (Blanche), Harry Ravenel (Anna); sisters, Julia Forrest, Juanita Young (Oscar); aunt, Julia Gilliard; uncles, Leon Dunmeyer (Alice), Joseph Dunmeyer Sr., Edward Dunmeyer, and sisterin-law, Bernadette Ravenel.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 Idus Cicero Hartsfield

Idus Cicero Hartsfield was born in Tallahassee, Florida on February 3, 1965, to Richard and Mamie Hartsfield, both graduates of Florida A&M University (FAMC, 1941).

He completed his early education at FAMU’s Developmental Research School (FAMU High). A was a 1974 Leon High School graduate, who began at FAMU as a dually-enrolled student. He pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and was initiated into the Beta Nu Chapter (Spring 1975). He earned the B.S. in political science (1977) and the master’s degree in public administration (1981); and

Hartsfield was married to Joni Hartsfield, a FAMU alumna; they have two children, both FAMU alumni.

He worked with the Florida Department of Transportation; he also worked for 15 years at the state’s Emergency Management and Volunteer First before retiring. His “always upbeat personality” was probably best known through “Unique Ad Specialties,” the marketing business he started in the ‘80s.

He leaves to cherish his life and legacy to his wife of 22 years, Joni; children Idus Cicero Hartsfield, II (Jeannelly); daughter, Ashley Hartsfield; stepson, Christopher Abraham (Carla); and five siblings.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Vivian Turner Williams

Vivian Turner Williams, 97, who was born Aug. 31, 1923. She was a proud 1946 graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMC) who earned a bachelor’s degree in music education, with a minor in English. She did further study at the Juilliard Performing Arts School in New York.

Williams taught in Jefferson and Wakulla counties for years before retiring from Wakulla. She was a member of the FAMU National Alumni Association and the National Association of University Women (NAUW).

Williams was also highly active in her church and community where she played for Choir No. 2 and the combined choirs. She conducted private music lessons for many students from throughout the Tallahassee area; and

She leaves to cherish her life, legacy, and memories to niece/caretaker Patricia Patrick, nephews: Harold Lawrence, Darrell (Charlotte) Lawrence, Michael Lawrence, and John Vann; sister-in-law, Mildred (Willie) Harris; brothers-in-law, David (Gloria) Williams and Leroy (Barbara) Williams; goddaughter, Alfredia Brown; and, God sister, Dr. JoAnn Houston.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

Wallace “Chuck” Williams, Jr.

Wallace “Chuck” Williams, Jr. was born 34 years ago to Wallace and Eunice Williams. He was an outstanding son, brother, nephew, and local