MUSE Winston-Salem

08/28/2026

Margaret Bourke-White, one of the most famous American photographers of the 20th century, died on this day, August 27, in 1971. Known for her dramatic documentary work, Bourke-White won acclaim for early photos in the Soviet Union, and various commercial commissions for Fortune magazine. She partnered with writer Erskine Caldwell on a Depression-era portrait of poverty in the American South, the book "You Have Seen Their Faces." She was also well known for her wartime photography, one of the first female photographers to travel in combat zones during World War II and, later, the Korean War. In 1949, Bourke-White visited Winston-Salem while shooting for a LIFE magazine story on change in the American South—the story appeared in October 1949 under the title "What's New in the Old South." Her presence was noted in the Winston-Salem Journal, along w/ a photograph of her dining at downtown's Robert E. Lee Hotel. Two photos from Winston-Salem appeared in the story—one of Clara, Jim, and Malcolm McLean, who founded and ran McLean Trucking; and the other of the new Duplan Nylon Plant that had just been built north of the city. You can see the story here: https://books.google.com/books?id=KFIEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA79 =onepage&q&f=false

08/26/2026

Everyone’s stories matter. Even critters.

08/26/2026

RIP, Dolly Parton.

08/21/2026

08/21/2026

Our new security cameras have revealed a few surprises. "Pepé le Mews" is a nightly visitor, and enjoys snacking outside our event space. Have a good weekend, Pepé!

08/18/2026

100 years ago today, Winston-Salem woke up to news that the day before, legislators in Raleigh had failed to vote in favor of the 19th Amendment. If they had, North Carolina would have become the 36th state to do so, ensuring women's suffrage a place in United States Constitution. Instead, it was left to Tennessee, which on August 18th passed the amendment. What exactly happened in Raleigh on August 17th isn't totally clear. Pro-suffrage forces thought they had the votes counted, and expected Lieutenant Governor Max Gardner to break a tie in favor of suffrage. It didn't turn out that way, with a razor-thin vote going against the 19th. Years later, in 1971, when North Carolina legislators made amends and finally ratified the 19th in a symbolic vote, a curious story circulated among the bill's sponsors: back in 1920, the story went, a scheming anti-suffrage legislator had locked a pro-suffrage colleague in a legislative bathroom and hurried back to chamber. The vote was called before the absent legislator returned, and history was made. Was it true? We're not sure, but the way the story was told in 1971 didn't quite line up with the reporting in 1920. So, we have our doubts. Regardless, on this day a century ago, it was Tennessee, not the Tarheel state, that sealed the deal.

08/16/2026

Dr. Kenneth R. Williams was born in Norfolk, VA, on this day in 1912. His family moved to Winston-Salem when he was 2 years old. Williams attended Columbia Heights High School, Morehouse College, and earned his doctorate in history at Boston University. Williams became president of Winston-Salem Teacher's College in 1962, and when the school joined the UNC System in 1972, became chancellor of the renamed Winston-Salem State University. In addition to his career in education, Williams was a pastor and political pioneer. In 1947, Williams was elected as alderman in Winston-Salem, becoming the first Black candidate to defeat a white candidate in a municipal election in the Jim Crow South; his election was representative of the new political agency seized by the city's African American community during the Local 22 to***co worker strikes of the 1940's. He served for many years as chaplain at WSSU. He also pastored two local congregations: the First Institutional Baptist Church from 1937 to 1948 and West End Baptist Church from 1949 to 1961, the two churches that merged in 1962 to create United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church. United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church -Salem State University City of Winston-Salem, NC - Government

08/15/2026

Our clear bottles are getting all the feels these days, ever since the new WSFCS clear water bottle mandate went into effect. They’ve always known they’re beautiful, but now their confidence borders on the haughty. They know their street value is up and they’re not afraid to say it. Yet another reason to take one of our Semiquincentennial Strolls—every ticket holder gets a bottle! Get your tickets at www.musews.org/events