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JULY, 2018
Mr. Clark’s collection By Bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia.com
Marbles and matchboxes are only a few of the collections Ben Clark has. Collecting is simply something he’s done since he was a little boy. In the decades since then, his collection grew to include African American cultural artifacts, stamps and currency from around the world and anything else that has struck his fancy. Clark houses his collection in the basement of the suburban home he shares with his wife Geri. (The pair is not to be confused with the ice cream company, Ben and Geri joked). The couple moved from Jefferson City, Mo., to Fort Wayne in 2013 to be closer to their daughter, Sheryl Ferguson. Into “the jungle”
“Okay, we’ll go down
to the jungle now,” Clark said, descending the basement stairs. “Be sure and use the hand rail because these steps are kind of narrow.” The 85-year-old maneuvered the steps with relative ease. He has Parkinson’s disease, but he remains active, hitting the gym three times a week to play table tennis with an 89-year-old partner. The basement is less of a jungle and more of a museum. Binders are stacked neatly, framed artifacts line the walls and items are carefully arranged on tables. He became serious about collecting when he worked as a mail clerk in Missouri. With all the mail coming across his desk, he started to take notice of the different stamps. “They tell a story,” he
An open book
Women share vision for Human Library Ellen Sauer and Nicole King are community project coordinators for the Human Library-Fort Wayne. The event, which is scheduled to take place Aug. 4 at the Allen County Public Library downtown, will offer the public a chance to interact with more than 30 human “books.” Real people will be “on loan” to readers. The event will feature opportunities for one-on-one interactions as well as panel discussions. According to humanlibrary.org, the experience is designed to build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue. While the model for this project has been reproduced in communities worldwide, Fort Wayne’s Human Library will be a true representation
of the community, King said. Here, they talk about their vision and give a behind-the-scenes look at the project.
How would you describe the Human Library – Fort Wayne and what you two are doing with it?
Human Library Fort Wayne believes prejudices and stereotypes can be interrupted and dismantled by creating a positive environment for conversation; an environment where real people are “on loan” to readers and where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered. We feel that the books in our human library are a true representation of our community. Its first event, scheduled for Aug. 4 at the Allen County Public Library in downtown Fort Wayne, allows folks visiting it to open the pages of those books and learn from and embrace new faces and
stories.
How did you two meet and how did you become involved with the Human Library?
We met about one year ago while serving in a multiracial group. Both of us were interested in the human library concept and decided to forge ahead together and create the first one ever here in Fort Wayne. We set out to manifest a vision and ended up becoming friends over this past year of planning. Frankly, that was unexpected for both of us — a really lovely surprise for which we are so grateful. It’s basically been a mini Human Library in action — two women who would be considered ‘other’ in their respective worlds taking the time to learn about each other and shifting their See LIBRARY, Page 8
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BRIDGETT HERNANDEZ
Clark’s collection includes African American cultural artifacts, matchboxes and vintage gun-shaped Avon bottles, among other items.
said. “They’re all so beautiful to me. I don’t have favorites.” Clark spent his boyhood years in Jefferson City. During the Great Depression, his family moved to Kansas City, Mo., to find work. In the early 1950s, Clark served in the Air force and was stationed in Suwon, South Korea.
Later on in his career, Clark worked as a parking attendant for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He enjoyed his time there. As a museum employee, he was privy to private, after hours viewing of the exhibitions and was allowed to bring in 10 guests. In the 1960s, he also had
the opportunity to work with and learn from Cecil Fergerson, the celebrated art curator and community activist. Ferguson started working in the Los Angeles County museum system as a custodian and rose through the ranks to become an art preparator See COLLECTION, Page 14