Over the years, the founder and curator of the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey has become known in the area as a fanatic collector of the famous poet’s materials.
Yet Hunter never imagined how he would come across a massive collection of original poems, first-edition books, signed pages and other unique pieces of Hughes’ life.
Just one county away from his Newtonville museum, a Vineland woman discovered the priceless works in a Millville storage garage. She bought the lot for $50, Hunter said.
Hunter purchased Hughes’ works from the woman in 2004, but has never been able to curate the items due to the high cost and time involved in the effort.
On Friday, he proudly opened a 90-day exhibit of the pieces and hopes to have another exhibit starting Feb. 1, the poet’s birthday.
“To have anything with the great legend Langston Hughes in the collection, for research means a great deal, not only for the museum, but also for the region,” Hunter said.
Hughes, who played a large role in the 1920s and `30s cultural period known as the Harlem Renaissance, held many titles including playwright, journalist and composer, but was best-known as a poet, Hunter said.
“He had a silver tongue and a golden hand,” Hunter said.
The collection Hunter acquired in 2004 includes 20 of Hughes’ poems typed out for publication by one of Hughes’ secretaries, Ramona Lowe or Adele Glasgow.
The collection also gave Hunter first-edition poetry books, telegrams the poet sent, a book on African American history that Hughes’ signed, and even some items from after he died in 1967, like the program from his memorial service and pamphlets from celebrations of his life.
All were once part of Lowe’s estate and ended up in a storage bin when the poet’s secretary, who moved from New York to Millville in the 1990s, died. All of the items she brought to Cumberland County ended up in a Millville storage garage, Hunter said.
A Vineland woman unknowingly became the next owner of the large collection world-famous poet’s works when she bought the contents of Lowe’s storage bin for $50.
(Hughes’ estate and the bulk of his works went to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where the poet went to school, Hunter noted.)
The Vineland woman – whom Hunter wouldn’t name without permission and whom he couldn’t reach recently – initially offered the items to museums in Philadelphia and New York City.
When neither contacted her, she followed a neighbor’s advice in 2003 to try a small museum in Buena Vista Township.
“She told me, ‘I want to make sure it goes some place nice,’” Hunter recalled.
He was immediately interested in acquiring the collection he called “irreplaceable.”
“I think I was there in about 12 minutes,” he said, laughing as he recalled his excitement. “When I got there I started salivating at the mouth. She had 22 boxes. I had to sit down.”
Hunter wouldn’t reveal how much he paid for the collection, but said his down payment was $200. He paid the full total and had the whole collection in his Jackson Road museum, part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, by January 2004.
Sharon Lynette Jones, president of the Langston Hughes Society, said Hunter’s acquisition creates an exciting opportunity for educating people about Hughes.
“Langston Hughes contributed greatly to the African American literary tradition and his works continue to be relevant, significant, and important,” said Jones, who also works in the Department of English Language and Literatures’ African and African American Studies Program at Wright State University. “The versatility, originality, and creativity of Langston Hughes is inspirational. His legacy is appreciated by individuals nationally and internationally.”
The society, created in 1981, is a national association of scholars, teachers, creative and performing artists, students and others who seek to increase awareness and appreciation of Hughes.
“Hughes was an American who loved being black – he found a home in black communities, in blues and jazz clubs, and among black intellectuals. It is fitting, then, that some of his work be housed in the African American Heritage Museum,” said Dr. Tara T. Green, associate professor and director for the African American Studies Program at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and vice president of Langston Hughes Society.
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Information from: The Daily Journal, http://www.thedailyjournal.com
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