The Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum and Cultural Center of African and African American History was established to inspire, enlighten, and enrich the lives of people everywhere. We invite you to participate and enjoy our upcoming events and programs.
2026 Ida B. Wells-Barnett Birthday Celebration
The Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum will host its annual Ida B. Wells Birthday Celebration July 10-11, 2026. It will mark the 164th anniversary of Mrs. Wells-Barnett’s birth in Holly Springs, Mississippi, in 1862.
On Saturday, July 11, the museum’s annual fundraising gala will feature keynote speaker Dr. Johnny M. Moore, president of Rust College.
Dr. Moore, an Arkansas native, HBCU graduate, and accomplished mathematics professor, has earned national recognition as a leader in higher education throughout his more than thirty-year career. Before joining Rust College, Dr. Moore served as Chancellor of Arkansas State University–Newport (ASUN), a part of a three-campus system. Under his leadership, ASUN realized notable gains in enrollment and completion rates, established its inaugural Honors College and Intercollegiate Athletics programs, and expanded academic pathways in high-demand disciplines such as Radiologic Technology, Data Science, and Data Analytics. Additionally, Dr. Moore secured a record $5 million federal grant to establish a Health Science Center.
Previously, Dr. Moore served as President of Pierpont Community and Technical College in West Virginia from 2016 to 2021, and as the thirteenth President and CEO of Philander Smith University, a United Methodist Church–affiliated HBCU in Little Rock, Arkansas, from 2012 to 2014. His administration at Philander Smith University produced a strategic plan emphasizing enrollment, retention, and financial sustainability, and his achievements were recognized with induction into the Philander Smith College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018 as a former student-athlete. During his tenure at Pierpont Community and Technical College, Dr. Moore grew private donations by approximately 300 percent, increased retention by fifteen points, and decreased student loan default rates.
Dr. Moore’s service to the broader academic community includes board and advisory positions with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Advocacy Advisory Group, the Commissions on Student Success and Small and Rural Colleges, and the Tri-State Energy and Advanced Manufacturing (TEAM) Consortium. Selected from nearly two hundred candidates in a national search, Dr. Moore began his presidency at Rust College on August 11, coinciding with the opening of the 2025 fall semester. Dr. Moore holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Philander Smith College, a Master of Science in mathematics from Arkansas State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics education from Florida Institute of Technology. Dr. Moore and his wife, Sequoyah, are the proud parents of Johnathan and Jayna.
The gala will be held at 7 p.m. at the Eddie Lee Smith Center located at 235 N. Memphis Street in Holly Springs.
Gala Tickets
Tickets to the gala are $50 and include a one-year individual museum membership. Order tickets below via PayPal or by phone at (662) 579-5747. Purchased tickets can be picked up at the event.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Please consider supporting the Ida B. Wells-Bartnett Museum as a gala sponsor. There are several options.
| Friend $250 | Family $500 | Trailblazer $750 | Crusader for Justice $1,000 | |
| Gala tickets | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Ad in gala program | Quarter-page | Half-page | Full-page | Full-page |
| Slideshow of sponsors during event | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Verbal recognition at event | ✔️ | ✔️ | ||
| Logo/name on poster at event venue | ✔️ |
If you would like to sponsor the event, complete the form below.
After submitting the sponsorship form, you may either mail a check to the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum, 220 North Randolph Street, Holly Springs, MS 38635, or click the PayPal donate button after selecting your sponsorship level. The deadline is June 30, 2026.
Gala Program Ad
If you would like to support the museum through the purchase of a gala program ad, complete the form below.
After submitting the ad form, you may either mail a check to the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum, 220 North Randolph Street, Holly Springs, MS 38635, or click the “Buy Now” button after selecting the ad size. The deadline is June 30, 2026.