Before 9/11, Leonard White lived in Brooklyn and spent his free time going to the opera, exploring art galleries and attending Broadway shows. One of eight siblings, Leonard White frequently traveled from Brooklyn to see family in his hometown of Norfolk, Va. While there, he encouraged his nieces and nephews to pursue art and music.
White collected West African art to decorate his Brooklyn apartment. When he saw the elaborate giraffe costumes in a production of The Lion King on Broadway, he began collecting giraffe figurines as well, including the figurine currently on view in the Museum’s memorial exhibition. Nearly 18 years later, White’s family is still collecting giraffe-related memorabilia in his honor.
On 9/11, White was working for Verizon on the 110th floor of the South Tower. The selection of artifacts currently on view in the memorial exhibition all speak to the hobbies, writings or drawings of 19 of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 and Feb. 26, 1993 terror attacks.
By 9/11 Memorial Staff