Nebraska Wesleyan University was closed for Martin Luther King Day. But January 18 was most certainly a workday for one SM论坛 alumna. In fact, it鈥檚 her biggest workday of the year.
Tracy Lauritzen Wright (鈥93) is director of museum partnerships and compliance at the National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM) in Memphis, Tenn. The museum occupies the Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated on the evening of April 4, 1968. His room, 306, is preserved, and a wreath hangs on the balcony where he last stood.
The history and global studies major鈥檚 first task when she joined the NCRM in 2000 was to catalogue the museum鈥檚 collection of evidence from the assassination investigation. That evidence led to James Earl Ray鈥檚 murder conviction in the spring of 1969.
Before acquiring this evidence, the museum had no intention of serving as a collecting institution, Lauritzen Wright said. But her work on this invaluable trove helped change that. She would eventually lead the museum鈥檚 $27.5 million renovation and help to oversee its shift in mission 鈥渇rom commemoration to utilization.鈥
She said, 鈥淲e want our visitors to connect with history and apply it to issues today.鈥
When asked the public鈥檚 largest misconception about the American civil rights movement, she answered quickly: 鈥淭hat it鈥檚 over.鈥
The task of advancing civil rights, of course, continues today in many forms. 鈥淲e have a lot of work to do in forming a more perfect union,鈥 Lauritzen Wright said.
The National Civil Rights Museum plays an important part in that work. Lauritzen Wright pointed to a sign that hangs near the museum entrance.
It reads: The story and the struggle continue today with you.