John Hope Franklin Orchid Book Centerpieces
Turn an old book into a centerpiece in honor of John Hope Franklin, an American historian and author. He is best known for his work From Slavery to Freedom, first published in 1947 and continually updated. More than three million copies have been sold.
One of John Hope Franklin’s favorite pastimes was cultivating orchids, and he amassed a prized collection of more than 1,000 plants in a wide range of varieties, shapes, and sizes. His fascination with the flower began in 1959 while he was teaching in Hawaii.
- Date:
- Sunday, June 7, 2026
- Time:
- 3:30pm - 4:30pm
- Location:
- Chantilly Meeting Room
- Library Branch:
- Chantilly Regional Library
- Categories:
- America 250 Black History Make/Create > Arts & Crafts
- Audience:
From the National Museum of African American History and Culture:
John Hope Franklin (1915–2009) was a historian and scholar best known for his 1947 book, "From Slavery to Freedom." Franklin was born in Oklahoma and moved to Tulsa shortly after the 1921 Race Massacre. He attended Booker T. Washington High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree from Fisk University and master’s and PhD degrees from Harvard University. Franklin authored numerous books and articles and was a tireless advocate for survivors of the 1921 Race Massacre.
The distinguished scholar of 18th and 19th-century African American history and founding chairman of this museum’s Scholarly Advisory Committee also grew orchids for 50 years. With a permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Franklin collected orchids during his travels in Asia, Africa, Central and South America.
To request reasonable ADA accommodations or alternative format of materials, please call 703-324-8380 or TTY 711.
