African American Museum and Library at Oakland facts for kids
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Oakland Public Library
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The African American Museum & Library at Oakland
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 African American Museum and Library
Location in Oakland, California
African American Museum and Library
Location in California
African American Museum and Library
Location in the United States
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| Location | 659 14th Street Oakland, CA, U.S. |
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| Built | 1900 |
| Architect | Walter Danforth Bliss, William Baker Faville |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001173 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 11, 1983 |
The African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) is a special place. It's both a museum and a library. AAMLO helps save and share the history, experiences, and culture of African American people. You can find it in Downtown Oakland, USA. This museum has a huge collection of old items. These include diaries, letters, photos, and old magazines. It's a great spot to learn about the past.
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AAMLO's Story
The AAMLO is located in a building called the Charles S. Greene building. This building used to be a Carnegie library. It served as the main Oakland Public Library from 1902 to 1951.
How AAMLO Started
AAMLO began as a private collection of items in 1946. On July 2, 1965, it became the East Bay Negro Historical Society (EBNHS). Later, its name changed to the Northern California Center for Afro-American History & Life. In 1994, it officially joined the city of Oakland. That's when it got its current name: the African American Museum and Library at Oakland.
Growing the Collection
Eugene and Ruth Lasartemay, along with Jesse and Marcella Ford, started collecting these items in 1946. At first, the collection was in a small shop. It was on Grove Street, which is now Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The collection grew very quickly. In 1982, it moved to the Oakland Public Library's Golden Gate Branch. AAMLO officially became a public and private partnership in 1994. The museum and library moved into its current building in 2002.
What You Can Find at AAMLO
AAMLO has more than 160 different collections. These collections include important archives. You can find materials about Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. There are also items related to the Black Panthers and African history. Many people use the library for genealogy, which is studying family history.
Types of Materials
The materials at AAMLO include many interesting things. You can see photographs and handwritten documents. There are also letters, diaries, and old newspapers. The library has recorded oral histories, which are interviews with people. You can also find videos and microfilms. AAMLO has two galleries. These galleries often show new exhibitions. These exhibitions feature art, history, and culture. Sometimes, they work with other groups to create special displays.
Notable Collections
Some of the important collections at AAMLO include:
- Ida Jackson - She was Oakland's first African American schoolteacher.
- Ron Dellums - He was a Congressman and later the mayor of Oakland, California.
- Marcus Foster - He was the Superintendent of Oakland Schools.
- Barbara Lee - She is a Congresswoman from the Bay Area.
- Morrie Turner - He was a cartoonist. He created the famous comic strip Wee Pals.
- Henry Delton Williams - He was a designer for Hollywood and Motown.
- Records from the Oakland Black Cowboy Association.
See also
