The fourth entry in a multi-volume book project, Archives of the People, documenting some of Zanesville’s most influential citizens from the Black community has just been published. This impactful new edition adds 45 biographies to an already impressive roster of people featured in previous volumes adding up to 182 biographies and 212 pages featuring Zanesville’s Black history.
According to the introduction at the beginning of each volume, Archives of the People began as an idea that was the result of a few Black community members who stayed after a meeting to chat. From there the idea bloomed, becoming an anthology of stories about Black people from our community who have made a difference by setting an example of what can be possible regardless of any obstacles in their lives.
The late Ernest “Fireman Ernie” Bynum Jr. played a major role in making Archives of the People possible and was the founder of the Minority Business Resource Network. He passed away in 2022 before Volume 1 was published. His son, Ernie Bynum, and the rest of the committee continued with the project which grew from an idea to a realized published set of books.
Ernie is thankful to his father and others who have helped to make this project come to fruition. “First and foremost I would like to thank my father, the late Ernest E. Bynum Jr., for being the main force behind this project. Archives of the People means many things to me but the most important to me would be that the books create a legacy for all the individuals included. It shows the love for the community and their commitment to excellence. It shows the contributions that were made from African Americans to their communities,” Ernie said.
“The Committee has a vast amount of historical knowledge. The individuals on the committee have dedicated many years to volunteering and working in the community. They have led many boards and been engaged in many aspects of the community from education, business, leadership, and spiritual endeavors. They all have a passion for building a better community. I cannot say enough about each member that has dedicated their time and talents,” shared Ernie.
Volume 4 and every entry prior has allocated the space in the center of each book to feature collages of pictures of varying subject matter that is important to Black history in the Zanesville area. The first volume used this center section to display two pictures of the Municipal Stadium and swimming pools including the blacks-only pool called “The Ink Well”. In addition, three group pictures were included: Armco employees, Ladies Community Center, and the 1943 Zanesville Black Stars baseball team. Volume 2’s center pages featured three sports teams: an Armco baseball team, a basketball team, team members from the Zanesville Athletic Club in the late 1920s, as well as a few photos of three prominent historical buildings. In the third volume, a four-page section in the center was dedicated to the Muskingum County Highway Patrol, featuring 12 officers. The Martin Luther King Jr. Heritage Bridge, Golden Rule Lodge, Community Center basketball team, Head 20th Century Club, and the Slam Steart Trio were all part of this special section in Volume 4.
Part of the last paragraph in the Volume 4 introduction reads “It is the hope of this visionary group that everyone will read and enjoy this publication (Vol. 4) and all future publications that are named Archives of the People. That each reader will feel the same pride as those who are being recognized…” It seems that this is exactly the type of reception these books are getting according to Ernie. “The response has been amazing. Lots of love from all of the community. We have gotten a lot of feedback like ‘I did not know they did that.’ ‘I never knew they accomplished that coming from the beginnings that they did.’ ‘How did they overcome such beginnings to be that successful?’ The individuals from the collective sit and smile knowing they know so many of the individuals and their families. Pride not only for the individuals but the families and the whole community”
As of right now, there is just one more volume in the works, rounding the set of books to five. Copies of each volume of Archives of the People can be obtained by contacting a member of the Minority Business Resource Network. The non-profit organization can be reached via Facebook at facebook.com/minoritybusinessnetwork. You can also email Ernie at ebynum43@yahoo.com.
