Sometimes, important history is easy to find. Large monuments tell us about someone’s brave deeds. A beautifully preserved building shows secrets about the lives of those who walked inside them. At other times, important history needs some digging.

​Mr. James Clark, a Cincinnati native, has just such a story to share. You may know Mr. James Clark as the friendly jazz aficionado who hangs out at Caffe Vivace. Mr. Clark also happens to be descended from the Hemings and Fossett families, enslaved men and women who helped run Thomas Jefferson’s plantation, Monticello. Once they obtained their freedom, his ancestors traveled to Cincinnati, established successful businesses, participated in the Underground Railroad and worked hard to help their community.

Exhibit on view during library’s open hours.

Monday: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Sunday: Closed