The African American Museum of Iowa (AAMI) is located in Cedar Rapids, but no fear, if you can’t visit, you can still view some of their exhibits online. Buxton, sports, and George Washington Carver are included in AAMI’s virtual exhibits.
With support from a grant and many sponsors, AAMI established the Children’s Oral History Project. The Children’s Oral History Project promotes cross-generational interaction and history by having children interview adults regarding their experiences in Iowa. Four topics are addressed: Segregation and integration, African American professionals, civil rights organizations, and African American church history.
The floods of 2008 threatened the collections of the museum, but they survived and the museum has continued with its mission.
If you are interested in learning more about African American history in Iowa, you may try these books from DMPL.
African Americans in Iowa: A Chronicle of Contributions 1830-1992
Outside In: African American History in Iowa 1838-2000
Buxton: A Black Utopia in the Heartland
Oak Hill: A Portrait of Black Life in the Heartland
Life Narratives of African Americans in Iowa
Filed under: Local History, Uncategorized | Tagged: african americans, buxton, dmpl, history, Iowa, oak hill, oral histories |
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