Elmer P. Martin Jr.

Dr. Elmer P. Martin Jr. (died 2001) was an African American sociologist and museum executive.

He was the Professor of Social Work at Morgan State University. Prior to becoming the chairman Elmer Martin taught sociology at the university for more than 25 years. He was also the creator of the first wax museum dedicated to black history, Great Blacks In Wax in the inner city of Baltimore. Elmer Martin and his wife Joanne opened the museum on July 9, 1983 with only four wax figures; Frederick Douglass, Mary McLeod Bethune, Harriet Tubman, and Nat Turner. They had the heads of the figures made for them, and used old department store mannequins for the bodies. The couple was inspired to open the museum after they visited a wax museum while on vacation in Florida. Elmer Martin wanted to teach about black history in a way that would grab kids’ attention. He and his wife wanted for their kids to have a sense of pride and history for their heritage. The wax figures in the museum include everything from former slaves to doctors, lawyers, and businessmen.

The museum also includes a graphic scene of a man being lynched, a controversial scene to many. Elmer Martin however believed that it’s necessary for the children to see what the other historical figures had to overcome, to fully understand how great their accomplishments were. The Martin’s did however try to keep the number of athletes and entertainers on display to a minimum. They believe kids know enough about those, and they need to know that there are black men and women who accomplished more. Over the years the couple received more than $300,000 in grants to renovate and update the museum, and it is still growing. Elmer Martin died of a heart attack in June 2001 while he and his wife were on a trip to Egypt doing research. His wife is still running the museum, and credits his vision for all of its success, and for teaching young African American children about their history.

References

• City Paper – February 18, 2004 – Breaking the Mold – As African-American Museums Boom, Great Blacks in Wax Keeps Showing and Telling Black History on its Own Terms
• The New York Times, December 28, 1988 – Wax Figures in Black Cut Chains of Stereotypes
• U.S. House of Representative - Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (06/30/01 Baltimore AFRO-American Newspaper) "Strong Men with a Calling to Heal"

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Name	Martin, Elmer P.
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Date of death	2001
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