Saturday June 11th was the launch event for the Breaking the Colour Barrier: Wilfred "Boomer" Harding & the Chatham Coloured All-Stars (1932-1939) project. Hundreds were in attendance at the WISH Centre in Chatham Ontario to view displays, learn about the project and new website, listen to researchers and family, and even buy some baseball cards of the 34 All-Stars team (proceeds going to the Chatham Kent Black Historical Society). The Leddy Library's Centre for Digital Scholarship worked in collaboration with several partners throughout the project including the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Chatham Sports Hall of Fame, Department of History at the University of Windsor. The successful launch day wouldn't have been possible without the contributions and support of many people so a big thank you to everyone involved with the project.
You can explore the story of the team and the players at: http://cdigs.uwindsor.ca/BreakingColourBarrier/
Media
CTV Windsor: Historic project launches in Chatham
How an all-black baseball team changed Chatham-Kent forever
History of the Chatham Coloured Allstars launch Sat
Baseball Hall of Famer Reconnects With Chatham Roots
Wilfred Harding, our own 'Jackie Robinson,' broke several colour barriers
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