The African American Museum and Library at Oakland

Nestled in the heart of Oakland, the African American Museum and Library (AAMLO) stands as a testament to preservation. The museum began as a private collection in 1946 by Eugene and Ruth Lasartemay and Jesse and Marcella Ford, who initially housed their artifacts in a small shop front on Grove Street. It later became the East Bay Negro Historical Society in 1965, eventually becoming a public/private partnership in 1994 before moving into its current location in 2002.

The AAMLO is located in the Charles S. Greene building, which previously served as the Oakland Main Library from 1902 to 1951. As a museum and non-circulating library in the Oakland Public Library system, it is dedicated to preserving African American history, experiences, and culture. The museum contains an extensive archival collection of artifacts such as diaries, correspondence, photos, and periodicals.

With its collections of photographs, manuscripts, letters, diaries, newspapers, recorded oral histories, and videos, the museum features two galleries hosting exhibitions of art, history, and culture. Visitors can explore artifacts including materials related to Ida Jackson - Oakland's first African American schoolteacher - and records of political leaders like Ron Dellums, Marcus Foster, Barbara Lee, Morrie Turner, and Henry Delton Williams.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons