The Du Bois Freedom Center, The Scottsboro Boys Museum to Host Travel Exhibit

08:03AM / Thursday, February 05, 2026Print Story | Email Story

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.—The Du Bois Freedom Center hosts The Scottsboro Boys Traveling Exhibit, opening Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Center's Main Street office, located at 309 Main Street in Great Barrington.

Presented byThe Scottsboro Boys Museum in Scottsboro, Alabama, the exhibit will remain on view through late April.

The exhibit tells the story of nine Black teenagers who became international symbols of racial injustice in the 1930s. The Scottsboro Boys case sparked global outrage and was the foundation for two paramount U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Its legacy to the civil rights movement is immeasurable.

"This exhibit connects the Scottsboro Boys' legacy to the enduring fight for justice that W.E.B. Du Bois championed," said Dr. John D. Lloyd, Interim Executive Director of the Du Bois Freedom Center. "We are honored to bring this history to Massachusetts."

The partnership between the Du Bois Freedom Center and the Scottsboro Boys Museum brings together two seminal forces in civil rights history. It explores the NAACP's involvement in the Scottsboro Boys case, the responses of communities in the North—particularly in Massachusetts—and the enduring legal strategies that emerged from the case, many of which continue to shape justice efforts today.

This will be the first showing of the travel exhibit outside of Alabama. Dr. Thomas Reidy, Executive Director of The Scottsboro Boys Museum, said, "We have shown it throughout the state, but this is its first journey above the Mason-Dixon line."

In conjunction with the exhibit, the Du Bois Freedom Center and the Scottsboro Boys Museum will host a moderated conversation on Thursday, February 12, at 5:00 p.m. at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. The exhibit will be open for viewing prior to the discussion. The program will feature Dr. Thomas Reidy and Dr. Whitney Battle-Baptiste, Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Center at UMass Amherst, and will be moderated by Marcus P. Smith, History and Archival Fellow at the Du Bois Freedom Center.

"The history of the Scottsboro Boys Case—and the work of the Scottsboro Boys Museum—is both inspiring and essential, highlighting the powerful role museums can play in fostering community and advancing justice," said Marcus Smith.

More information about the associated events or the travel exhibit is available at www.thescottsboroboysmuseum.com.

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Wisdom & Cinncinatus Lodges Donate to Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:15PM / Saturday, March 07, 2026

WEST STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Two local Grand Lodges of Massachusetts selected the Berkshire Humane Society for their charity donation.

Cincinnatus Lodge and Wisdom Lodge AF&AM hosted a golf and cornhole tournament last year, raising $2,500. Members of each lodge presented the check to Berkshire Humane Executive Director John Perreault last week.

The Wisdom Lodge does a golf tournament every year to benefit local charities or schools, and is locally sponsored, but last year's tournament was special to them.

"Personally, this year, because my father passed away, we changed the name of the tournament to represent him, so it's now called the RW Lawrence D. Tonini Memorial Golf Tournament," said Christopher Tonini.

"And because my father loved the animals, we thought that we would change course this first year of the name change and do something he would love to have happened."

Tonini is the master of the Cincinnatus Lodge and the treasurer of Wisdom Lodge.

He said they are also looking at a surprise donation to be given to the Humane Society on top of the $2,500.

Joint member Nicholas Oleen said their lodges are always looking to benefit the community.

"We're a non-profit organization, and our teachings are basically about building character and helping out people in the community and charity."

They've donated to many other organizations in the past, including Soldier On and Food Bank of Western Mass.

Perreault was able to make the trip to receive the checks from the two lodges and give his thanks

"At the Berkshire Humane Society it’s more than just helping animals, it's helping people as well," he said. "And every time we help a companion, we're actually helping the owner as well. And part of our programming is really pet retention.

"So our goal is, rather than have animals coming into our shelter, is to keep it in their homes. So a lot of the funding that you're providing here tonight will go to help keep animals in their homes and not in shelter."

He said the money will go toward the shelter's pet food bank and wellness clinic.

"I can tell you that many, many, many animals will be helped, which will make many, many people happy," he said. "And if you have pets at home, you know that they are part of your family, and they certainly help you out in good times and in the bad so we can't thank you enough for what you guys have done, so thank you."

The lodges have many events coming up and you can find out more information on their Facebook or Instagram.

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