Iowa Griot 17.3

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 3 FALL 2017

The AAMI staff shows off their new t-shirts, created in collaboration with Raygun. This exclusive design can only be purchased in our Nikee Museum Store.

African American Museum of Iowa 55 12th Avenue SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 Phone: (319) 862-2101 Toll-free: 877-526-1863 Fax: (319) 862-2105

What is a Griot?

A griot (pronounced gree-oh) is the member of a group who keeps the history.

The Iowa Griot is the membership newsletter of the African American Museum of Iowa.

Board of Directors Rudy Simms (Des Moines), President Doris Montag (Iowa City), Vice President Christopher Lindell (Cedar Rapids), Treasurer Tonya Scott (Fort Madison), Secretary Dr. Benny Hawkins (Coralville) Benjamin Hoover (Cedar Rapids) LaShonda Kennedy (Coralville) Judge Kevin McKeever (Iowa City) Ramadhan Muzo (Cedar Rapids) Scott Olson (Cedar Rapids) Dr. Neil Patrick (Afton) Dr. Vincent Reid (Cedar Rapids) Dr. Jacqueline Thompson (Clear Lake) Dr. Barbara Western (Waterloo) Ruth Hairston (Cedar Rapids)

Staff LaNisha Cassell, Executive Director Brianna Kim, Director of Operations Felicite Wolfe, Curator Krystal Gladden, Museum Educator Diana Henry, Education Assistant Robyn Dickson, Operations Coordinator Alyssa Lesmeister, Communications Associate Sean Donaldson, Weekend & Events Manager

Membership & Subscriptions The Iowa Griot is published quarterly and is provided for members of the African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa.

The Iowa Griot is copyright ©African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa.

Reproduction in whole or part without the written consent of the African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa is prohibited.

By submitting a manuscript or illustration, the author warrants to the African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa that the material does not infringe on the copyright of another party and that the author assumes full responsibility for any such copyright infringement as may arise following publication.

The Iowa Griot is not a scholarly publication. Opinions expressed by featured authors do not necessarily reflect the principles or policies of the African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa, its board, membership, staff, editor or publisher(s).

Neither the African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa board, membership, staff, editor or publisher(s) make any warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the contents of this publication or to goods and services that may be advertised herein. The African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa reserves the right to revise, edit, or refuse any material submitted for publication in The Iowa Griot.

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LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR As we close in on the end of this year and gear up for our 25th anniversary year, I am excited to recap 2017 and share our vision for 2018. There are several highlights that come to mind when I consider this final quarter and the year overall. The most recent newsworthy event was our annual History Makers Gala, held on September 7th at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. The event saw more than 370 in attendance while we recognized our four honorees. We met our fundraising goals and engaged with guests from across the state, connecting regional community leaders to one another. We also closed the successful year-long temporary exhibit, Mightier Than the Sword, and opened our 2017-18 exhibit, If Objects Could Talk, to great anticipation and a well-attended crowd on August 25th. This opening event also saw the Museum partner with the University of Iowa Libraries for a “History Harvest” project that encouraged patrons to learn techniques in preserving their documents and photographs. This partnership is just one of many the Museum fosters throughout the year. In 2017, some of our collaborative partners have included Orchestra Iowa, The History Center, Coe College, University of Iowa Labor History Center, and Barnes & Noble. As we continue growing the Museum’s reach and impact, our goal is to connect and work with even more partners as we envision the next chapter for the Museum and the communities we impact across the state. Fostering understanding and an appreciation of African American history and culture is at our core.

Thank you for your continued support of the AAMI’s mission by “If Objects Could Talk” Exhibit Opening 8-25-17 renewing your annual membership, attending our programs, visiting our gallery and contributing your time, talents and financial resources that not only secure our operations, but ensure the kind of quality programming and exhibits the AAMI has been producing for almost 25 years. I invite you to learn more about how your contributions make a direct impact. Be sure to read more inside this issue.

Presentation on Cedar Rapids’ Early African American As always, I look forward to History, a Coe College partnership. your next visit. – LaNisha Cassell

S TA F F N E W S The Museum is pleased to welcome new team members Alyssa Lesmeister, Communications Associate and Sean Donaldson, Weekend & Event Manager. Both are recent Coe College graduates with degrees in history, and were previous AAMI interns.

by Felicite Wolfe, Curator

THE COLLECTIONS CORNER

HISTORY HARVEST On the evening of August 25, 2017, we opened our newest temporary exhibit If Objects Could Talk. Part of the opening event included a partnership with the University of Iowa Libraries to bring patrons a “History Harvest.” The project was a push to heighten the African American community’s interest and involvement in preserving and sharing their personal history. In a broader context, the AAMI can use these stories to promote a deeper understanding of the African American involvement in Iowa. The term “History Harvest” was originally coined by the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

Believing that collective history is just as valuable as items found in museums and archives, they initiated the program, working with various community groups and smaller institutions to gather a digital archive of local history to be shared with the larger community.

The idea of the “History Harvest” was brought to us by staff of the University of Iowa Libraries.

Patrons were asked to bring photographs or documents, up to 11x17 in size, involving African Americans in Iowa to be scanned. The patrons received a copy of the digital files to take home, along with advice on how to care for their items. The AAMI also received a copy with the potential of creating a larger digital archive that, being made accessible on our website, can share

stories of African American experiences in the state. Saturday, guest speakers Nancy Kraft and Candida Pagan from the University of Iowa Libraries Preservation and Conservation department discussed the importance of saving family heritage and what you can do to store your items Grade 3A Tyler Elementary school class, 1935. and stories, preserving them for future PHOTO COURTESY OF BETTINA MILLER generations.

This pilot program was definitely successful, providing both institutions with quite a bit of "food for thought."

You may be wondering why we want your documents and photos. Is there a rhyme or reason? In the world of history museum's, there is a distinct reason.

The AAMI's existence is based on collecting and sharing African American experiences in Iowa. Without your documented memories and stories, Iowa's history would be incomplete.memories.

In 2016, the Museum was awarded You may feel your memories a grant from the Linn County wouldn’t be significant enough to Historic Preservation Commission On August 2017, and the AAMI opened new 25, furniture anyone else besides you and your family,to purchase for our collections storage our latest temporary exhibit, If Objects but your stories ARE important to us. cabinets room.

As the Museum’s collection Could Talk. The exhibit, which runs You may think nothing of the fact that continues toJuly expand, we realized 27, 2018, offers athat glimpse your grand-father ran a barbershop or our through current storage capabilities were of the AAMI’s collection of thousands of that your family has lived in Iowa for being outgrown or unsuited to best objects, documents, and photographs. preserve some types of objects.

With generations, but these accounts help Each a unique story about grant,item thetells Museum purchased us to fill in the history of a people that thisAfrican new storageAmerican cabinets history, for smallcommunities, have been buried under the collective objects, pallets that keepThe oversized and culture in Iowa. exhibit shows history of Iowa. We cannot tell the local items off the floor, mobile shelving how history can transform everyday for collections being processed, and statewide narrative, or Iowa’s story unitsobjects into invaluable records that help andus additional work tables. without your help. Your family’s about local history, change over We learn were also awarded a grant history is part of the full story. our state’s diverseand communities fromtime, the and Institute of Museum and Services. people. Programming associated So, before our next History Harvest Library This grant allowed If Objects Could Talk is ongoing upgrade technology in the in February 2018, dig into the dusty us towith purchaseCheck for thedepartment duration of and the exhibit. old boxes in the attic, gather the stories curatorial a new so our collections outserver our website at www.blackiowa.org of your family’s history, and join us to database could becoming networked on guided to see what’s All share your treasures and help us to tell multiple computers. The up! project also tours are by reservation only. For more the story of African Americans in Iowa. enables us to develop a cataloging information or to schedule a tour, manual, add more complete contact our Education Department information to our collections Patron Bettina Miller shows University of Iowa at education@blackiowa.org volunteer Allison Bettine family photos. database, train paid interns, and or PHOTO COURTESY OF SHARI NEAL make our databasex222. more useful to 319-862-2101 staff, researchers, and online visitors.

EXHIBIT NEWS

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RECAP More than 370 guests packed the banquet hall at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center on September 7, 2017, to }honor Deborah Berry, Leon Mosley, Dr. Jerome Pierson and Dale Todd as the African American Museum of Iowa’s 2017 History Makers. From as far as California and representing communities across Iowa, family, friends, community leaders and public officials came to help the Museum recognize the contributions of our four honorees.

After receiving greetings from University of Iowa President J. Bruce Harreld, our premiere sponsor, participating in a game of Heads or Tails, sponsored by Guaranty Bank, and eating a delicious meal prepared

by Kirkwood’s culinary team, guests welcomed the honorees to the stage.

Nominated by their peers, each honoree thanked their families, communities and mentors during their address to the audience. Their inspirational stories and words of thanks were met with many rounds of congratulatory applause and accolades long after the event ended.

The only major fundraiser the Museum hosts, the event also served to share the highlights of the past year and provided a snapshot of what’s to come in 2018, the Museum’s 25th anniversary year. Executive Director, LaNisha Cassell, thanked her team by name and shared their collective vision that entails fostering greater understanding and appreciation through conversation, engagement and reflection. The event closed with the AAMI board of directors President Rudy Simms, encouraging continued support of the Museum’s mission to preserve, exhibit and teach the African American history of Iowa.

Visit the Museum online at www.BlackIowa.org or our social media platforms for event photos. pagetwo

A Little

Education BYKRYSTAL GLADDEN, MUSEUM EDUCATOR

Public History

and Public Access

As a public historian and museum educator, means that one of my top goals is to provide publicly accessible information in a way that is easily understood. These goals, aligned with the AAMI’s mission to preserve, exhibit, and teach the African American heritage of Iowa, mean that I am tasked with finding new ways to make sure the public hears these amazing stories of success, failure, discrimination, and triumph. Although it is a weighty responsibility, we have always understood the joint responsibility we share with the community and are grateful to have community partners who understand the role they play.

Over a year ago, we were contacted by Dr. Brie Swenson Arnold at Coe College about partnering on a walking/driving tour brochure that would highlight spaces with narratives relating to Cedar Rapid’s African American history and culture. In the midst of finalizing some information and editing drafts of the brochure, Dr. Swenson Arnold learned the city was planning to erect historic markers highlighting aspects of Cedar Rapids history. The marriage of these two projects was obvious, and after a successful pitch to the Historic Preservation Commission, we began choosing stories for the first round of markers.

We collaborated with city officials, scholars from Coe College, members of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, and The History Center to help bring narratives from Cedar Rapids’ African American history to this project. After more than a year, on

Linn County Historian Mark Stoffer Hunter holds up two of the newly fabricated historic markers before they are installed.

Members of Bethel AME Church congregation gathers for a photo around their newly installed marker.

September 13, the city held an unveiling at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church at the corner of Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue. Bethel is home to the city’s oldest African American congregation and has been at their current location since 1874. That afternoon, the first ten markers were unveiled to the press and members of the media and were then placed at their locations.

This project is a great example of the AAMI’s goal to create understanding and appreciation through engagement and reflection. We were so glad to be a part of such a great collaborative project and to include multiple layers of experiences that have shaped and impacted the city. These narratives are now accessible to people who might not have realized the valuable information that museums like the AAMI provide. They are able to receive this content and learn about these collaborative institutions at their leisure with minimal barriers. This project takes learning and engagement outside of the walls of our institutions and puts it in spaces of public access.

We hope this exposure will create a desire for Cedar Rapidians and visitors to learn more about our institution and inspire them to learn more through our exhibits and programs.

A full location map and key can be found at www.cedar-rapids.org/crn

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2017 Iowa City Public Library display for Black History Month

$10k Challenge Match Richard and Norma Small have established a $10k challenge match.

Your contribution doubles now through December!

Don’t forget to check with your company's HR department regarding employee matching gift programs.

You can also make a donation online at blackiowa.org/support/donate/

Supporting our Mission and Vision Thank you for considering a year-end gift to the African American Museum of Iowa.

Donors like you play an incredibly important role in helping the African American Museum of Iowa fulfill its mission to preserve, exhibit and teach the African American heritage of Iowa. From engaging and fun programs to thought-provoking exhibits, the AAMI strives to engage the community in meaningful and relevant ways.

The AAMI was founded almost 25 years ago because of a concern that Iowans were not being taught the state’s African American history. Last year, the Iowa History Advisory Council reported that only 37% of survey respondents knew that Iowa outlawed school segregation in 1868. This story, and many others like it, is featured in our exhibits, programs, and traveling resources that visit statewide communities and help ensure the history of a vibrant and longstanding community is remembered and shared.

Support of our organization allows us to sustain and grow accessible resources, maintain qualified staff, preserve our collection, market our resources, and present professional exhibits and programming. Your efforts help us achieve our vision of building a community that comes together to foster greater understanding and appreciation of Iowa’s African American history and culture. By teaching people from all backgrounds about Iowa’s African American history, the Museum seeks to create a community that is better informed about its shared past and present to make more informed decisions about our future.

As you’ve learned through this newsletter and past issues of The Iowa Griot, 2017 has been an exciting year for the AAMI. We opened a new exhibit, held engaging programs across the state, put on a successful gala, and much more. Help us make 2018 even more successful with a gift today.

A gift of any size helps us achieve our goals. Here are some examples of how we put your dollars to good use.

• $25 could help purchase a box of nitrile gloves to handle our collection or a box of paper • $50 could help purchase supplies for a field trip workshop • $300 could help fund an exhibit panel, calendar of events postcard mailing, or create a traveling trunk • $1,000 could help bring in a speaker or performer for an adult program or go toward a new or duplicate traveling exhibit • $5,000 could help fund professional conservation of flood-damaged pieces in our collection • $30,000 helps fund our operations for one month or fund the design, fabrication and installation of a temporary exhibit

HELP KEEP IOWA’S AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY ALIVE!

Thank you for your gift!

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55 12th Ave. SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 319-862-2101 www.blackiowa.org Thank you for making it possible to achieve our goals! We hope to see you at the museum soon!

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