The Jewel of the Delta

To build Mound Bayou, Booker T. Washington—one of the most well-known activists of the time—raised funds from Northern supporters such as Andrew Carnegie, Collis P. Huntingdon, and Julius Rosenwald. By 1907, Mound Bayou was a thriving community and expanded to include 13 stores, six churches, three cotton gins, and a newspaper.

Pictured: A black and white photograph of Eugene Booze and his wife. The pair are seated on a dark couch. Both are in light colored clothing and are reading. In the center of the frame is a radio. On the right is a dark fireplace with a mirror, and a light colored armchair. The floors are hardwood and partially covered in a rug.

Credit: MDAH Mound Bayou Collection