The late A. Quinn Jones Sr., a legendary and revered Gainesville educator, meticulously kept documents related to his civic, personal, professional and religious life.
Those documents and other materials will be displayed inside galleries at the new A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center at 1013 NW Seventh Ave. The museum is in the house that Jones and his family moved into in 1925. Jones lived in the home until his death in 1997 at the age of 104.
A dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the museum.
Stephanie Seawright, project manager with the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency, said the project cost $400,000 to complete. Seawright said the museum will be managed jointly by the CRA and the city Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department until 2019. After that, the CRA will withdraw, leaving management of the museum to the parks department.
Seawright said the dedication ceremony will feature remarks from city officials; Oliver Jones, the 96-year-old son of A. Quinn Jones, receiving a key to the museum; music by Hartley Leacock and the Collective Format Band and a soul-food tasting catered by Ralph McKnight of Garden of Eatery Catering.
Seawright said visitors will be led on tours of the museum with exhibits showcasing the history of the Fifth Avenue community. Other exhibits will highlight the life of A. Quinn Jones, including his early years, his family and his contributions to Gainesville and Alachua County.
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