NEW ALBANY —
A thunderous round of applause followed New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan’s declaration that the permanent exhibit celebrating the life of Lucy Higgs Nichols was now open.
Nichols escaped slavery in 1862, nursed troops in the New Albany-based 23rd Indiana Regiment back to health during the Civil War and received a rare pension for her service through a special act of Congress in 1898.
Remarkable, courageous and resourceful were some of the adjectives used to describe her Saturday as “Remembered: The Life of Lucy Higgs Nichols,” commenced at the Carnegie Center for Art and History.
“Her story will inspire us to achieve more,” Gahan said.
Nichols’ life would have remained largely a secret without the research of New Albany historians Vic Megenity and Curt and Pam Peters.
The trio spent hours researching the story of Nichols, as they were able to pinpoint her birthplace in North Carolina and her childhood home in Tennessee.
They also discovered Nichols died in the historic North Annex in 1915 when it was the Floyd County Home.
Fittingly, the exhibit opened in the midst of Black History Month. Nichols fought for her freedom and any benefits she received from the government for her service as a wartime nurse, and on Saturday people had to fight for a spot in the crowded wings of the Carnegie Center as dozens showed for the opening.
“Lucy was one of the most interesting individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting through history,” Megenity said.
He added he was “astounded” by the job the Carnegie Center did to bring Nichols’ story to life through the exhibit. He conceded it was emotional for him when he saw the display for the first time, as Megenity said the trio of researchers never dreamt their research would help lead to something so prominent.
“We had absolutely no idea it would result in this grand exhibit of her life,” he said.
Pam Peters, who has dedicated many hours to researching and writing about local black history, said the exhibit is the culmination of efforts from several groups including the Carnegie Center.
“We were the ones that had the fun in discovering this, but there were a lot of people that helped with the research,” she said. “We didn’t do it for [recognition], we did it to save the history.”
The interest of the community in recognizing and preserving the history of Nichols’ life has made the work even more meaningful, Curt Peters said.
“It’s so gratifying to see other people pick up the ball the way they have,” he said. “When we were involved in the research, I didn’t have any vision of what it might lead to, I was just excited to learn about her.”
In April, a state historical marker was installed at the Veterans Plaza in New Albany to honor Nichols. As a testimony to her impact, several soldiers she nursed and accompanied during Civil War battles supported her petition to receive a pension from the federal government.
Fifty-five veterans of the 23rd Regiment advocated on behalf of Nichols, and she was awarded a $12 monthly pension by Congress in 1898. The sum equates to about $325 a month today.
It’s a story that deserves national acclaim because so few black nurses received a pension for their Civil War service, Pam Peters said.
Floyd County Historian David Barksdale said the Nichols exhibit is an intricate part of celebrating black history locally. Nichols served with the 23rd Regiment during multiple key conflicts, including the Battle of Atlanta in 1864.
“What they have found is just phenomenal,” he said.
The crowd that gathered for the event despite the rainy conditions spoke volumes about the importance of the Nichols exhibit, Carnegie Center Public Relations Associate Delesha Thomas said.
“It’s fabulous to see it unfold finally, it’s been a long journey,” she said.
In addition to the Carnegie Center, the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library, the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County and the Duke Energy Foundation were among the contributors to the project.
Additional advisers for the exhibit included Glenn Crothers, Keith Griffler, John Dittmer, Jane Schultz and Barbara Gannon.
The Carnegie Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and is located at 201 E. Spring St. Admission is free.
For more information, visit the website www.carnegiecenter.org.
Recent Local News
Related Photos
-
Dashon Tyus and other members of Cub Scout Pack 994 from Louisville tour the new permanent exhibit, "Remembered: The Life of Lucy Higgs Nichols," at the Carnegie Center for Art and History in New Albany. The center hosted the grand opening Saturday. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
-
A ceramic bust of Lucy Higgs Nichols, created by sculptor David Ross Stevens, is part of the Carnegie Center exhibit. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
-
Jo Russell, foreground, and other members of the New Albany Community Choir perform during the Carnegie Center for Art and History's opening celebration of the permanent exhibit, "Remembered: The Life of Lucy Higgs Nichols." Staff photo by C.E. Branham
Discussion
What a woman: Runaway slave turned Civil War nurse memorialized with Carnegie exhibit
- Recent Local News
-
-
SWEET TREAT: Volunteers see the attraction of annual Starlight Strawberry Festival
-
Board chair: Parks district best solution for New Albany and Floyd County
Mayor Jeff Gahan’s veto of a new parks deal between the city and county was upheld earlier this month by the New Albany City Council. While the Floyd County Council agreed to still pay an additional $100,000 toward the parks department for the remainder of the year, the city and county remain under a prior agreement that led to funding discrepancies in the past.
-
THE 'V' WORD: SUB: Prosser Career Education Center moves away from stigma of ‘vocational’ school
- TARC sets Memorial Day and Kennedy Bridge route changes
- Indiana man releases hostages, fatally shoots self
-
Vietnam veteran receives medals 46 years after active duty ends
- More travelers to hit the road this Memorial Day weekend
-
Pence talks bridges, jobs during Southern Indiana swing
“I think everyone senses with the recent bridges agreement, the potential for extraordinary growth,” said Mike Pence, a U.S. House member who is seeking to replace Gov. Mitch Daniels and retain the gubernatorial seat for the Republican Party.
- Police: Gunman has hostages in Indiana realty office
-
Delaware woman dies in I-65 crash
-
Collingsworth Family to perform at Silver Heights Retreat Center in New Albany
The Collingsworth Family will be making a return trip to the Silver Heights Retreat and Camp Center in New Albany on Thursday, June 7.
-
Clark County approves self-insurance plan
Clark County Insurance Agent-of-Record Diane Swank presented health insurance renewal options at the council meeting Monday, but the county’s fiscal body decided to recess its meeting in order to review a proposal to move the county to a self-insured plan.
-
New theater directors at NAHS and FCHS ready for their programs
As the curtain falls on the careers of the teachers who put the theater programs of Floyd Central and New Albany high schools on the map, the new blood coming in have big hopes for the programs they’re taking over.
-
Jeff to start enforcing insurance ordinances
A 2004 ordinance that dictates how much city retirees pay for health insurance – ignored for years by Jeffersonville officials – looks like it will now be enforced.
-
Top Gun showing Saturday at the New Albany riverfront
In honor of Memorial Day, the city of New Albany will show the movie “Top Gun” on its new 40-foot screen at the Riverfront Amphitheater Saturday.
- More Recent Local News Headlines
-
