Tim Talbott: Thankful For . . .

Throughout my almost 18-year career in public history I’ve encountered numerous people who have helped make me better in numerous aspects of my chosen field of work. It is actually a bit of a challenge to single out any one single person. However, I’m a big believer in keeping the light burning for those no longer with us and for remembering just how much influence they had on our lives. I would like to show gratitude for someone who unfortunately will not be able to read this and probably never knew just how much their example meant to me.

I originally wrote part of this back in the summer of 2018. I was attending the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College when I read on my Facebook feed that Hari Jones had passed away. Hari was only 59 years old when he died, so I was certainly surprised to learn this sad news.

Hari Jones and I first met during a breakfast at the 2009 American Battlefield Trust (at that time the Civil War Trust) Teacher’s Institute, which was based in Fredericksburg that year. He spoke the previous evening in a general session and I found his presentation incredibly compelling. During our conversation over eggs and toast at the hotel breakfast the following morning I go to know Hari a little. I found out that he was born in Oklahoma and had served in the Marine Corps. After a long twenty year military career he graduated from the University of Oklahoma. I am a huge Sooners football fan, so we certainly clicked on that account, despite his telling me he was actually an Alabama football fan. Hari’s depth of knowledge about African American history and the United States Colored Troops, as well as American history in general, deeply impressed me. And his humble nature made his charismatic personality endearing. I’ve always found that I enjoy being around people who are smart, but who do not make you feel beneath them because they know how intelligent they are. That was Hari.

Following a job change in 2009, I had the opportunity to often travel to Washington D.C. for conferences, meetings, research, and personal relationship reasons. After we met, when I could, I would take the yellow/green line Metro to U Street and the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum (AACWMM), where Hari served as curator. During my early visits, the museum was then housed in a rather cramped space with seemingly limited reach. That did not seem to matter to Hari at all. I remember several times when we were in deep discussion, someone would come in to look around—and it did not matter what age, sex, color, or class came through those doors—Hari would willingly share his vast knowledge of the Civil War era and the USCTs with one and all. He knew sharing the USCT story was important and believed everyone could benefit from learning about it. I really appreciated his passion then, and even more now that he is no longer with us.

Hari was also a source of encouragement in my personal career. When I needed to get a thoughtful perspective or locate an obscure source, he was always willing to help. When career challenges emerged he told me to keep up the faith, not get discouraged, and seek inspiration from those of the past that struggled but kept trying. He challenged me to keep reading primary sources, and we emailed suggestions to each other about books we thought we would enjoy.

I wish I could have gotten to know Hari even better before he passed. He had branched out from the AACWMM to do personal museum consulting work, which made it difficult to just drop in as I had before, but we sometimes communicated via email and Facebook. During the fall of 2017, I had attempted to have Hari speak at an event we held when I worked at Pamplin Historical Park, but a scheduling conflict prevented it from happening. Now more than ever I wish it would have worked out. Jealously, Hari would have also been extremely helpful in creating greater awareness of the Battle of New Market Heights, a personal passion project that his presence helped inspire.

I can say without any doubt that the world is a better place for Hari’s existence and that he is dearly missed. His level of thinking, communicating, and research, along with his warm smile and kind voice will simply never be replaced. His legacy continues to educate and inspire those that do not know him but still learn from his good work. What a legacy! Thank you, Hari!