Mission

Faye Dant is a fifth-generation African American Hannibalian and descendant of Missouri slaves, including James Walker. She grew up here in Douglasville and attended local schools including segregated Douglass School, Hannibal High School, and Hannibal LaGrange College. Her life experiences in the era of segregation, integration, Jim Crow, and the Civil Rights movement lead to the creation of Jim's Journey. She received a B.A. from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan and a master's degree from the University of Michigan. She has worked for more than thirty years in Human Resources. She is married to Hannibal native Joel Dant; together they have three adult children and three fun-loving grandchildren. Some of her board obligations include the Missouri Humanities Council, the Marion County Historical Society, the Grants Panel for the Missouri Folk Arts Council and the NEA, Our Town Grants Panel.

A former Douglass School student and graduate of Monroe City High School, Donald Scott was born in Hunnewell, Missouri, a descendant of slaves Henry Scott and Henry Dant. Donald Lavern Scott entered the United States Army in 1960 as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Lincoln University (MO) with the rank of Second Lieutenant and retired in 1991 with the rank of Brigadier General. General Scott served as Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer under the late Maynard H. Jackson for the city of Atlanta, GA, founded the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps and served for ten years as the Deputy Librarian and Chief Operating Officer for the Library of Congress. Since retirement from the Library of Congress, General Scott has served on numerous Boards and Committees including the Board of Trustees for the Library of Congress, the American Folklife Center, the Missouri State Parks Foundation, and is a member of the Five Star council of the AFC's Veterans History Project. Recently published his memoir, Recipient of Grace, available on Amazon.com.

With husband Ken, Lisa Marks is the co-founder and co-curator of the Hannibal History Museum. With her husband, she has written three books published by the History Press: Molly Brown from Hannibal, Missouri (2013), Hannibal, Missouri: A Brief History (2011) and Haunted Hannibal: History and Mystery in America's Hometown (2010). Lisa is also a contributing writer for Hannibal Magazine and Missouri Life magazine. Lisa has been named to the Missouri Arts Council's Touring Performers roster and the Missouri Humanities Council Speaker's Bureau with her historically accurate portrayal of Margaret Tobin Brown, "The Life and Times of Molly Brown." The Marks are on the board of directors of the Marion County Historical Society and members of both Friends of Historic Hannibal and Missouri Historical Society.

A life-long Hannibal resident and graduate of Douglass School and Quincy University, Phil Smith retired from Blessing Hospital in December 2008 from his position as Administrative Director of Ancillary Services after 50 years of service. He is married to Reverend Minnie Smith, pastor of Willow Street Christian Church. Mr. Smith is active in the denomination of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. He serves on numerous committees and as a board moderator at the area, regional, and national levels of the church.

Mr. O'Donnell's involvement in numerous charitable and civic organizations provides the HAALHP valuable insight for fundraising projects and efforts to raise awareness and support for the HAALHP throughout the community of Hannibal. He serves on numerous local boards and committees.

We want to acknowledge and thank the individuals and organizations that have contributed to the creation of Jim's Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom Center.

Dr. Shelley Fisher Fishkin, the most significant inspiration for Jim's Journey. She gave me the best account of what adult Samuel Clemens personally thought of and about slavery and race relations in Lighting Out for the Territory: Reflections on Mark Twain and American Culture (1997), and continued to provide advice and support during the development of the museum and the website. Reading her works helped Faye Dant, the Founder, I see that her sense of being invisible while growing up an African American schoolgirl and adolescent in Hannibal was not her imagination. Thank you, Shelley, for so much more than you will ever know.

Missouri Humanities Council, for support with grants which went directly to the acquisition of artifacts and creation of displays. Geoff Gigliorano, the Executive Director, was an incredible source of knowledge, support and encouragement.

Silicon Valley Foundation, provided a grant used for the creation of this website and classroom curriculum development project.

The City of Hannibal, for providing the Old Welshman House at 509 North 3rd Street for the museum.

The Hannibal History Museum. Executive Directors, Ken and Lisa Marks, for their generosity in providing the initial museum space and their experience, expertise, and passion in helping us reach our goal. Their many acts of kindness can never be repaid.

FACT (Families and Communities Together) is an organization of community members working together to develop or build stronger, more successful families and children is serving as the fiscal agent in grant writing, and for their ongoing support of community endeavors which continue to strengthen Hannibal.

Vicki Bynum Andrews and Gregg Andrews, whose acts of generosity went beyond monetary contributions to include books as well as Andrew's drawing of Samuel Clemens.

Barry Moser, award-winning artist who generously allowed the use of his engraving of Jim for the website. Barry is one of the foremost wood engravers in the United States and is the proprietor of the Pennyroyal Press. Among other books, he illustrated Huckleberry Finn (California, 1985), Moby Dick (California, 1981), Dante's Inferno (California 1980), Purgatorio (California, 1981), and Paradiso (California, 1984), and the Holy Bible (1999).

Nancy Rawles, adviser, award-winning novelist, playwright, and author of My Jim, the story of the bereaved family of Mark Twain's famous slave character. Also, a teacher, Rawles' latest novel is Miz Sparks Is On Fire And This Ain't No Drill, a story about some the challenges today's teachers face.

Stephanie Thomeczek, Families and Communities Together (F.A.C.T.), who described the group's role as an organization created to help dreams come true, stepped up more than three years ago and provided free office space which allowed us to hit the ground running.

Iva's Printing. Kerry and his wife were very supportive with encouraging comments, generous with advice and service while embracing our project and expediting the development of our displays.

Douglass School Reunion Committee. Alumni chairman Joe Miller loaned numerous artifacts, giving us the ability to recreate the story of Douglass School.

Connie Ritter, Interpretative Research Specialist (Administrator) of the Mark Twain Birthplace Museum in Florida, Missouri, contributed to the history of slavery in the Samuel Clemens family and the Missouri display.

Steve Chou, collector of everything Hannibal, primarily photographs, and author of two books, a collection of his vintage Hannibal photographs and Hannibal Missouri: Bluff City Memories. Mr. Chou has generously researched and provided digitized copies of photographs relevant to this story.

Terrell Dempsey, adviser and author of Searching for Jim (2003), the best account of slavery in Sam Clemens' Hannibal.

Mary Lou Montgomery, Hannibal Courier-Post editor, who willingly publicized our events and encouraged the community to support our efforts.