Tulsa World

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Work to begin at Franklin park site

by: RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Friday, June 12, 2009
6/12/2009 3:34:55 AM

Related story: Racial unity leader hailed.

As former President Bill Clinton joined a lengthy list of academics memorializing John Hope Franklin on Thursday, work was set to begin on the Tulsa park named for the distinguished historian and one of Tulsa's most famous sons.

Franklin, who died March 25, is widely regarded as perhaps the most respected observer of race relations in the United States. His book "From Slavery to Freedom," first published in 1947, was the first study of its kind and remains a standard text for many college history courses.

The Tulsa park named in his honor, however, evolved from an eight-year effort to create a memorial to Tulsa's 1921 Race Riot. Initially, at least, the park will not include a likeness of Franklin, but will feature two sculptures commemorating the riot.

Julius Pegues, chairman of the committee responsible for the park and memorial, said he hopes to include a statue of Franklin soon. For now, though, he is excited about seeing progress on an initiative that often seemed hopelessly bogged down in red tape, indifference and outright hostility.

"I think we're making some serious progress, both with the park and the citizens of Tulsa," Pegues said this week. "It's been an education process, getting people to understand that this is not all about the race riot."

Pegues originally envisioned a $25 million museum, library and events center with displays and archives concerning the riot and activities to encourage racial reconciliation and understanding.

Franklin endorsed the project early on, although he initially advocated naming it for his father, B.C. Franklin, a Tulsa attorney at the time of the 1921 upheaval.

John Hope Franklin, his mother and siblings had not yet moved to Tulsa when flames destroyed most of what was then known as the Negro district. He blamed the riot for keeping his family separated for several years while his father re-established his practice.

With his family finally reunited, Franklin graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, where he was valedictorian, and went on to Fisk University and Harvard.

Pegues and his committee eventually decided to alter their plans to include a $5 million first phase, consisting of a three-acre park with the two large sculptures, with the museum and library — now known as the reconciliation center — to follow as funds became available.

The general construction contract for that first phase was awarded to Keith Construction of Tulsa on May 20, with completion by Dec. 22.

Work at the park site, across Elgin Avenue from the new downtown ballpark already under construction just inside the north leg of the Inner Dispersal Loop, is expected to begin within a few days.

Fundraising for the project has been difficult. Most of the $5 million for the first phase came from state appropriations, which stopped several years ago. Pegues, though, remains optimistic.

"We are laying the groundwork for that second component," he said.

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