' Goodwin Sports ::: Press Room

June 25, 2007

FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE / June 25, 2007

MEDIA ADVISORY

CHRIS WEBBER’S COLLECTION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTIFACTS AND DOCUMENTS TO EXHIBIT AT CHARLES H. WRIGHT MUSEUM

Detroit native and NBA All Star excited about opportunity to share his collection with youth.

What:

DETROIT, MI, June 25, 2007 – On Tuesday, June 26, Detroit Pistons C/F and Five Time NBA All Star Chris Webber will unveil his personal collection of artifacts and documents to the media and a group of Detroit youth in a 3 PM EST Press Conference. The collection will be exhibited to the public from June 28-September 28, 2007 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, located at 315 East Warren Avenue. The exhibit titled “Celebratin Heritage” opens to the public on June 28, and is expected to draw thousands to the museum in Webber’s hometown of Detroit, Michigan. The exhibit is made possible with the support of DTE Energy Foundation and the McDonald’s Owners and Operators of Detroit.
Rare books and documents drawn from Webber’s personal collection include treasures of the American past such as Phillis Wheatley’s first edition Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, published in 1773; a personal postcard from Malcolm X to Roots author Alex Haley; a Frederick Douglass carte-de-viste; a signed passport from Toussaint L’Overture; a tribute program autographed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; letters from George Washington Carver and
Booker T Washington; a rare edition of The History of Colored Baseball by Sol White; an accounting journal from early 1800’s Virginia documenting the buying and selling of families; personal pieces autographed to Mr. Webber include Muhammad Ali’s 70lb GOAT book, and a letter from President Clinton to Webber after his infamous “timeout” during the 1993 NCAA
Finals. “I’m very proud to present my personal collection in my hometown city of Detroit,” stated Chris Webber. “I was influenced heavily growing up in Detroit by a environment in which people were proud of who they were while respecting each person’s own heritage. Hopefully, these pieces will make an impact on the lives of everyone who sees them as they have made an impact on me.”
There are many challenges in collecting African American artifacts. Developing the collection has involved a great deal of research, commitment, and the cultivation of important friendships. Overwhelmingly, the direction of Webber’s collection was inspired by his desire to share artifacts of the African American experience with others, especially children. Webber is acutely cognizant of the power of historical documents by statesmen such as Frederick Douglass and believes that these tangible pieces of history should be shared with a broad audience.

"Many people know Chris Webber for the stellar athlete and astute businessman that he is. However, there is another side to Chris that we are pleased to help introduce to the community -- Chris Webber the collector who understands that history shows us what is possible" said Juanita Moore, President and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. "We encourage people to relive and reconnect with history. The Chris Webber Collection of rare documents and artifacts gives visitors the opportunity to do just that. Each piece in this collection allows people of all backgrounds to connect with treasured artifacts and the historic people who created them." The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, Michigan is the world's largest institution dedicated to the African American experience. The Museum provides exhibitions and programs that explore the diversity of African American history and culture, and houses over 30,000 artifacts and archival material. The Chris Webber Collection of Artifacts and Documents will be on display at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History from June 28 – September 28, 2007. The Charles H. Wright Museum is located at 315 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit MI. Museum hours are Tuesday thru Wednesday, 9 AM to 5 PM, Thursday, 9 AM to 8 PM, Friday thru Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM and Sundays from 1 PM to 5 PM. Museum is closed on Monday. Admission is free for CHWMAAH members, $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (62 and older), $5 for youth and children 3 and under are free. Guided tours are also available by calling the Reservations Department at (313) 494.5808. For more information, log on to http://www.maah detroit.org. For those unable to visit the exhibit in person, Chris Webber has provided images, biographies, descriptions, video and educational links regarding his collection on www.chriswebber.com. This exhibit, in conjunction with The ChrisWebber Foundation and a standout NBA career,illustrates Webber’s ongoingcommitment to compete and succeed in the realms of sport, philanthropy, and business. For more information, go to www.chriswebber.com. Note to Media: Chris Webber and the Charles H. Wright Museum will be host a press conference at the museum for the media on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 3:00 PM EST. The press conference is not open to the public. Images will be available through Getty Images and/or NBA Photos after the event. For more information, contact: Laura L. Rodwan, Rodwan Communications, LLC at (313) 477-2750 or lrodwan@rodwancom.com Cara I. Belton, Rodwan Communications, LLC (313) 520-8454 or cbelton@rodwancom.com Erika Bjork, Chris Webber Collection, [cell] 916.606.4554 or [email] eabjork@aol.com