PRESERVING PENSACOLA HISTORY By Victoria Barsh
The Ella L. Jordan African American History Museum held an open house on February 19 to unveil its final round of repairs after suffering significant damage from Hurricane Ivan back in 2004. The museum is one of only 18 African American history museums in Florida and will serve as an educational beacon and museum for our community. The museum originated as a one-story Queen Anne cottage home, which was built in 1890. In 1951, the home was purchased by the Pensacola Federation of Colored Women’s Club, which serves as an umbrella group that included four major clubs: The Mary Mcleod Bethune Federated Club, Book Lovers Club, Idea and Art Study Club, and the Barnett Club.
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The home also served as the host to many clubs and social activities in the Black community throughout the decades including wedding receptions, teas, and Mardi Gras parties. In addition, the home provided services such as educational tutoring and etiquette classes, which were typically not accessible to the Black community. The home was named after the founder of the Pensacola Federation of Colored Women’s Club, Ella L. Jordan, who made significant contributions to the African American community in Pensacola. Many notable activists, such as Mary McLeod Bethune and Eleanor Roosevelt, visited the home.
These women worked to ensure the right to education and freedom from discrimination for African Americans. The museum’s mission is to “honor the significant political, social, and economic contributions of African American women in our community throughout our history, particularly that of Ms. Ella L. Jordan; provide a space where citizens can come together across race and gender to continue the betterment of our community; and to provide educational opportunities for those interested in learning more about African American history in Pensacola.” The Ella L. Jordan home fell victim to Hurricane Ivan in 2004, like much of the Florida Panhandle. The home was condemned by the City of Pensacola due to its dangerous
