C. Smith: African-American Business and Community Leader Exhibit

Anthracite Heritage Museum Celebrates African-American History Month

Scranton—The Anthracite Heritage Museum in McDade Park will celebrate African-American History month with a lobby case exhibit entitled: Granville C. Smith: African-American Business and Community Leader. Granville C. Smith came to City of Scranton in 1940 to operate the G.W. Brown Company, Inc., a contract hauler to the Great Atlantic and Pacific (A&P) Tea Company. Consequently, the city gained a wise businessman, a tireless community leader, and a compassionate friend.  During his thirty-four years in the city he served in numerous capacities: He was owner-operator of G.W. Brown, a member of the Kiwanis Club, and board member of the Scranton Public Library.  Other board memberships included Goodwill Industries, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council on Alcoholism, the Tri-County Migrant Ministry, the Central City Neighborhood Center, and the Boys Club of Scranton.  Equally inspiring was Smith’s active role in promoting human and civil rights among the people of Scranton.  He served as a member of the Advisory Committee for the State of Pennsylvania of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Chairman of the Committee on Human Relations, and as a member of the Commission on Religion and Race of the Presbyterian Synod of Pennsylvania.  In 1971, he was honored for his work by the United Nations Association.  Two years later, Smith moved to Teaneck, New Jersey, with his wife Dorothy.  That town also benefited greatly from Granville’s dedication to community service until his death in 2002.

The exhibit is open free of charge to the public and will be in place from Thursday, February 1^st through Wednesday, February 28, 2018.  Admission is charged for the Museum’s main exhibit, Anthracite People: Immigration & Ethnicity in Pennsylvania’s Hard Coal Region, and other temporary exhibitions.