---
title: Bringing a Southern City’s Buried Black History to Light
date: 2024-02-27T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/bringing-a-southern-citys-buried-black-history-to-light"
section: Articles
---
# Bringing a Southern City’s Buried Black History to Light

*February 27, 2024* — by [Brianna Rhodes ’17](/author/brianna-rhodes)


> Architecture Researcher Helps Community Group Preserve, Plan Interpretive Park at Sculptor’s Homesite

*Edmondson Rendering 1920x1080 — Plans for the William Edmondson Homesite, honoring the legacy of the noted Nashville sculptor, include a cultural arts center, library and museum. A UMD assistant professor of architecture who previously lived in his neighborhood developed the building's design with students.*

A century ago, a self-taught artist by the name of William Edmondson sat in his Nashville backyard, using a railroad spike and a hammer to chisel yard ornaments and sculptures for headstones. He later became the first African American to have a solo show at the Museum of Modern Art.

Today, the site of his home and workshop in the historic Black neighborhood of Edgehill is under a basketball court.

Georgeanne Matthews, an assistant professor of architecture at the University of Maryland, is well-versed in the literal covering up of the legacy of the groundbreaking artist: Her family has lived in Nashville for at least four generations.


*William Edmonson — Photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe/Archives of American Art*


*Edmondson home — Image courtesy Grinberg Archives*



**Sidebar note:**

This is one of a series of Maryland Today features during Black History Month celebrating Terp faculty, staff, students and alums.





**Topics:** [Research](https://today.umd.edu/tags/research)


**Tags:** [Historic Preservation](https://today.umd.edu/topic/historic-preservation), [Black History Month](https://today.umd.edu/topic/black-history-month), [Research](https://today.umd.edu/topic/research), [Multicultural Community](https://today.umd.edu/topic/multicultural-community)


**Units:** [School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation](https://today.umd.edu/topic/school-architecture-planning-and-preservation)