Items from the Abernathy family history

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Items from the Abernathy family history

Items from the Abernathy family history

Rev. Ralph David Abernathy and his wife Juanita with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King in a family photo from 1965. Abernathy is largely known as King's second-in-command, his top lieutenant.

The plans also include a bookstore and life-size wax figures of Abernathy, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and others involved in the movement. A pair of Juanita Abernathy's shoes.

A pair of Rev. Ralph David Abernathy's jeans that he wore during protest marches.

One of Rev. Ralph David Abernathy's favorite robes he wore while preaching. The old West Hunter Street Baptist Church, for 15 years the spiritual home of the late Rev. Ralph David Abernathy, stands vacant at a corner in Atlanta's West End, next to a Chinese restaurant called Egg Roll Corner. Last year, the legendary civil rights leader's son, Ralph David Abernathy III, had an idea. He wanted to turn the old church into a museum honoring his father.

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (left) installs Rev. Abernathy as pastor of the West Hunter Street Baptist Church in 1961. Abernathy remained senior pastor until his death in 1990. The congregation currently worships in a church on the street that bears its former pastor's name.

Organizers say the building will contain family photos, papers, recorded speeches, some of Abernathy's clothes and keys he collected from hotel rooms he slept in during his travels.

Rev. Ralph David Abernathy and his wife Juanita pose in an undated family photo.

An outfit of Juanita Abernathy shows detail of the material.

Some of the jewelry Ralph David Abernathy gave to his wife Juanita.

Rev. Ralph David Abernathy (left) and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. stand at a lunch counter in the early 1960's.

A pair of cuff links and suit that belonged to Rev. Abernathy.

Rev. Abernathy gave this bracelet to his wife Juanita on Valentine's day 1958.

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Rev. Ralph David Abernathy and his wife Juanita with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King in a family photo from 1965. Abernathy is largely known as King's second-in-command, his top lieutenant.

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