These gourds were seeds of learning to symbolize the African-American culture. Dr. Shirley Turpin-Parham (1939 – 2012) was a superb teacher of Afro-American History in Philadelphia public schools and at the Afro-American Museum (7^th and Arch St.). She founded several historical organizations, researched historical markers that are on the streets of Philadelphia today and wrote prolifically. Many of her publications can be found at the Cheyney University Library archives. Dr. Parham was a major influence in increasing the diversity of the public school history curriculum. This is a salute to her life’s work.