Hari Jones: Hidden Histories
The Library has partnered with the Dauphin County Commissioners to create a carefully curated, permanent Hidden Histories collection and program series that celebrates the life and work of visionary historian, Hari Jones. Both the program series and collection have been designed to foster ongoing community dialogue, discussion and discernment.
Hari Jones Memorial Fund
Established in 2019, the Hari Jones Memorial Fund supports the expansion of the Hari Jones: Hidden Histories Program Series and Collection. Harold (Hari) Jones was a writer, lecturer, historian, curator, and motivational speaker. He was one of the foremost authorities on the role of African Americans in the Civil War.
Hidden Histories Program Series
Bus Trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Saturday, October 14
Join The Library on a trip to Washington, D.C! We will take a bus trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAACH), where we’ll delve into the rich and diverse tapestry of African American history, culture, and contributions to our nation. To quote Lonnie G. Bunch III, the museum’s founding director, “there are few things as powerful and as important as a people, as a nation that is steeped in its history.” Registration is required. $50 per person, though additional donations to support the Hari Jones: Hidden Histories Program Series and Collection are welcome.
The ticket covers the cost of transportation and museum admission. The bus will have an ADA wheelchair lift available. The museum is accessible via escalators, elevators, and ramps. Detailed accessibility information can be found on the museum’s website >
For ages 15+ The bus will depart from the East Shore Area Library at 7:30 a.m. The bus will depart from the museum at 5:00 p.m. for its return to the East Shore Area Library.
Hidden Histories Collection – titles added in 2021
About Hari Jones
Harold (Hari) Jones was a writer, lecturer, historian, curator, and motivational speaker. He was one of the foremost authorities on the role of African Americans in the Civil War.
He spent 12 years as assistant director and curator at the African American Civil War Freedom Foundation and Museum in Washington D.C. In this role, he curated the permanent exhibit titled “The Glorious March to Liberty.
”Over the course of his career, Jones appeared in over 50 television programs and documentaries shown on C-SPAN, Fox News, NBC, PBS, BBC, the American Heroes Channel, the History Channel, the Smithsonian Channel, and many other outlets.
What’s his tie to Dauphin County?
He served on the Board of Directors of the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, where he presented his award-winning lecture series, “The Lost Story,” in 2015.
The Library’s Hari Jones Collection is based on the bibliographies provided to us by people who knew Jones. They are either titles Jones would have read or reflected topics that were of interest. Many of the books in the collection are reflective of his focus on African Americans and the Civil War. Based on the provided bibliographies, however, books about the African American experience in general – regardless of time period, reader age, and genre – are also included. You can view the entire collection online or by searching The Library’s catalog for “The Hari Jones Collection.”
