{"id":85,"date":"2020-01-10T23:15:12","date_gmt":"2020-01-10T23:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.williamaharper.com\/?page_id=85"},"modified":"2024-03-17T16:19:39","modified_gmt":"2024-03-17T16:19:39","slug":"blog-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.williamaharper.com\/blog-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
March 15, 2024 <\/strong>\u2013 Decatur Magazine Article<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Decatur Magazine in Decatur, Illinois, published an article about Harper in its October 2023 edition! The article outlined Harper\u2019s relationship with Decatur, and highlighted the Harper paintings which were known to still be in Decatur as late as 1922. Of those paintings, over 20 have still to be located. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In that article, I encouraged Decatur residents to check their attics and basements in the hopes that more of Harper\u2019s paintings could be identified. Within a few days, the James Millikin Homestead (home of the founder of Millikin University), called to say that they had in their collection just one such painting! That lovely painting bears a striking resemblance to the Harper painting at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., and has been added to the Paintings Gallery on this website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n December 19, 2022 \u2013 <\/strong>Ontario Historical Society Award for Documentary<\/p>\n\n\n\n Graeme Bachiu, the Writer\/Producer\/Director of Canfield Roots<\/a>, the Street family cemetery documentary, has been honored by the Ontario Historical Society (OHS)<\/a> with the 2021\/2022 President’s Award. This prestigious award recognizes Mr. Bachiu\u2019s “outstanding contribution to the preservation and promotion of Ontario’s History”, for his six-part documentary series, Canfield Roots<\/a> . <\/p>\n\n\n\n The series highlights the\nStreet family cemetery in Canfield, Ontario, which is the final resting\nplace for William A. Harper\u2019s grandparents, who escaped slavery in West\nVirginia, and their descendants \u2013 including William A. Harper\u2019s mother, Charity\nStreet Harper. The documentary is a continuing reminder of the historical significance\nof old cemeteries, and the importance of their preservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n William A. Harper is highlighted in Episode 4 of the documentary. See Blog of May 24, 2022, and: Watch Canfield Roots S01:E04 – Canfield Roots – S01E – Free TV Shows | Tubi (tubitv.com)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Congratulations Graeme! And thank you for including William A. Harper as a part of the story!<\/p>\n\n\n\n May 24, 2022 – YouTube Video<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n William A. Harper now has a YouTube\nvideo! An organization called \u201cBlack Art\nin America\u201d just released a YouTube video discussing Harper, his family\nhistory, and his paintings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n See: <\/p>\n\n\n\n BAIA BITS: William A. Harper – YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n They did a good job, but unfortunately neglected\nthe most important information about Harper: that his paintings currently hang\nin the Metropolitan Museum of Art\nin New York and in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History\n& Culture in Washington, D.C. – among other museums and institutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I am delighted to see that folks are actually using this\nwebsite, and that Harper is finally getting some well-deserved attention!<\/p>\n\n\n\n May 24, 2022 \u2013 Street Family Cemetery Documentary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Street family cemetery in Canfield, Ontario, where Harper\u2019s grandparents and mother Charity are buried, has been almost lost for years in overgrowth. It is also trapped on private property and inaccessible to the family and general public. Efforts are now underway to save and restore this historic cemetery. Graeme Bachiu, of Windecker Road Films, has recently released a six-part documentary recording those efforts, entitled \u201cCanfield Roots\u201d. The documentary also explores the Street family history, and highlights some of its notable descendants \u2013 including William A. Harper (Episode 4). <\/p>\n\n\n\n The documentary has already been shown on Canadian television. Hopes are that it may someday be available on public TV in the U.S. Until then, a copy of \u201cCanfield Roots\u201d is available from: www.windeckerroadfilms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n