New York State Museum Showcases Church Hats of Great Migration Women

Exhibit highlights the contributions of Albany's Black community leaders during the Great Migration

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The New York State Museum has opened a new exhibit called "Fashion and Faith: Hats of the Great Migration" that showcases 24 church hats worn by women who were part of the Great Migration to Albany, New York in the early 20th century. The exhibit honors the women who helped build the Black community in Albany through their work in local churches, highlighting their role as "true leaders" during this pivotal time.

Why it matters

The Great Migration saw millions of Black Americans move from the South to other parts of the country, including over 1.5 million who came to New York State. The exhibit shines a light on the crucial role women played in supporting the new arrivals and establishing thriving Black communities in Albany, even though their contributions have often been overlooked in historical accounts.

The details

The exhibit was curated by Dr. Jennifer Lemak of the New York State Museum and Stephanie Woodard of the Rapp Road Historical Association. They worked with Albany-area families to gather photos, family histories, and the actual church hats worn by the women, which are now on display. The hats represent the personal style and faith of the women, as well as their role in building up churches that served as community hubs during the Great Migration.

  • The exhibit opened in March 2026 and will be on display through July 19, 2026.
  • The New York State Museum is continuing to collect family histories related to the Great Migration as an extension of the exhibit.

The players

Dr. Jennifer Lemak

The chief curator of history at the New York State Museum who co-curated the "Fashion and Faith" exhibit.

Stephanie Woodard

The president of the Rapp Road Historical Association who helped connect the museum with Albany-area families for the exhibit.

Frances Parsons

A key figure in the Albany Black community who, along with her husband Louis, helped establish the First Church of God in Christ and sell land to new arrivals in the Rapp Road neighborhood.

Janice Woodard

A third-generation Albany resident whose mother's church hat is featured in the exhibit, representing the personal and family connections to the Great Migration.

Anne Pope

A woman from Shubuta, Mississippi who maintained a "Civil Rights burning sensation" to ensure the same injustices experienced in the South did not happen in the Northeast.

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What they’re saying

“They were the true leaders.”

— Stephanie Woodard, President, Rapp Road Historical Association

“It was all through faith, all through faith.”

— Stephanie Woodard, President, Rapp Road Historical Association

“Words cannot even describe the feeling about being in a New York State museum. A woman that came from the south. My mother came from Birmingham, Alabama, and she was born in 1915. So coming from that background to the Northeast, women back then just wore hats, and to be in the museum, it's something. Like I said, words cannot describe how I feel and how my mother would feel if she knew her hat, a picture of her daughter wearing one of her hats, was in the museum.”

— Janice Woodard

What’s next

The New York State Museum is continuing to collect family histories related to the Great Migration as an extension of the "Fashion and Faith" exhibit, encouraging visitors to share their stories through an online survey or by scanning a QR code at the museum.

The takeaway

The "Fashion and Faith" exhibit highlights the vital but often overlooked contributions of Black women in Albany who helped build up their community during the Great Migration, using their church hats as a tangible connection to their personal stories and the broader historical significance of this pivotal movement.