THE SCRIP - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUMS SPRING 2012 VOL. 6, NO. 3 The 2012 Association of African American Museums Annual Conference Commemorating Struggles: Claiming Freedom he America of ca. War, protest, civil and ra- between these two dynamic For museums, particularly Afri- the 1860’s was cial unrest were accompanied periods of American history. can American museums, the marked by ex- by an expansion of new free- Our goal is for those in attend- challenges are as varied as the treme social doms and concerns previously ance to gain an understanding opportunities. Institutions will strife between un-witnessed in our country. of how the ending of 19th grapple with numerous topics Traces and cultures, families and From draft resistance and sit- century slavery and 20th centu- and themes that may or may communities, the North and ins to demonstrations and pro- ry racial segregation were im- not relate to mission state- the South, all leading to a long tests, many of the phenomena portant milestones in Ameri- ments and held collections, and bitterly divisive war. The which came to characterize the ca’s history and its pursuit of such as the secession of the era however, also saw the crea- 1960’s had its roots in the mid- the democratic ideal. Southern states, slavery and tion of social, political and 19th century. wartime civil liberties, or politi- economic institutions which The larger observations of the cal and constitutional demands laid the foundations for mod- The Association of African American Civil War’s Sesqui- during the war years. ern day America. American Museums’ 2012 an- centennial reveals how the nual conference will examine Civil War era continues to Presenting clear, convincing The legacy of this tumultuous this legacy through sessions shape and affect American exhibits and displays that make period revealed itself a century and discussions that will in- history and popular culture – the not-so-obvious connec- later in the 1960’s, another form and challenge attendees particularly in terms of govern- tions between the Civil War time of great change in Ameri- to explore the relationships ment, modern politics, and and the Civil Rights Movement ongoing race relations. With will undoubtedly demand com- few exceptions, these topics mitments of time and re- Claudine Brown to Deliver Keynote have not been brought togeth- sources needed to encourage er as a single narrative that skeptical audiences that they Claudine Brown, the first Assistant Secretary for Education and involves examining either the should come to new exhibi- Access at the Smithsonian Institution, will deliver the 2012 Asso- Civil War role played by Afri- tions. Sessions at this year’s ciation of African American Museums Annual Conference Key- can Americans or the social conference will address how note Address. The 2012 Annual Conference will take place in and political threads that run museum programs assess and Baltimore, Maryland, and will be hosted by the Reginald F. Lewis from the 1860’s to the 1960’s, meet the needs of audiences Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture over and the inevitable impact of seeking to understand freedom; the weekend of August 22–25; this year’s conference theme is one era on the other. Accord- what resources are needed and “Commemorating Struggles: Claiming Freedom”. ing to James McPherson, an available to conduct this work; eminent Civil War historian at what impacts and outcomes are As Assistant Secretary for Education and Princeton University, speaking possible for the broadest un- Access, Ms Brown is responsible for defin- of commemorations of the derstanding of the American ing the Smithsonian’s education program war’s centennial 50 years ago freedom narrative and the Afri- and reports directly to Smithsonian Secretary “In a way, the civil-rights can American connection to it. Wayne Clough; her focus is the Institution- movement eclipsed the centen- wide plan for educational initiatives, assess- nial and was seen by many The 2012 Association of Afri- ment strategies and funding for students in people as being more relevant can American Museums Annu- the K-12 range. Ms Brown also oversees two than observation and com- al Conference will take place in of the Smithsonian’s educational organizations—the National memoration of military battles. Baltimore, Maryland, hosted by Science Resources Center and the Smithsonian Center for Edu- There was an idea that this war the Reginald F. Lewis Museum cation and Museum Studies—and coordinates 32 education- was about something that was- of Maryland African American based offices in museums and science centers. n’t really talked about.” History & Culture over the (Continued on page 6) weekend of August 22 – 25. 1 SPRING 2012 THE SCRIP NEWSLETTER WWW.BLACKMUSEUMS.ORG SPRING 2012 THE SCRIP NEWSLETTER 1 The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture “To be the premier experience and While the State of Maryland committed best resource for information and $30 million toward the design and capital construction costs of the institution, the inspiration about the lives of Afri- City of Baltimore donated the land on can American Marylanders”. which the Museum is located. In June 2002, the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation ith that statement, awarded the Museum a $5 million endow- the Reginald F. Lew- ment to be used in conjunction with all is Museum of Mary- educational programs. land African Ameri- The Museum’s permanent exhi- can History and In gratitude for the gift, the Museum was bition explores the diversity of WCulture seeks to realize its mission by col- renamed the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of the African American experience lecting, preserving, interpreting, document- Maryland African American History and in Maryland as told through a ing and exhibiting the rich contributions of Culture; Reginald F. Lewis was a native multitude of individual stories, African American Marylanders from the Marylander who became the first African from historical perspectives to state’s earliest history to the present and American to own a Fortune 500 corpora- insights on today’s contempo- into the future. tion, TLC Beatrice Foods. rary era. It includes three perma- nent gallery spaces. An exciting and dynamic 82,000 square foot facility, the Reginald F. Lewis Muse- BUILDING MARYLAND, BUILDING AMERICA um of Maryland African American History Explores three major types of work in and Culture is the largest African American which free and enslaved people of Afri- museum on the East Coast and includes can descent engaged: work on the wa- over 13,000 square feet of permanent and ter, tobacco cultivation, and iron work- temporary exhibition space, an oral history ing; these endeavors were essential to recording and listening studio, a 200 seat building first, the colony, and later, the theater, a conservation lab, an information state of Maryland. resource center, storage facilities, two classrooms, a museum shop and café, and THINGS HOLD, LINES CONNECT The Reginald F. Lewis Museum is located at flexible public program areas, all of which Shows how African American families 830 Pratt Street in downtown Baltimore. provide preservation and interpretation of and community organizations provided Maryland’s world renowned African Amer- comfort and support in the face of ican history and culture. The Freelon oppression, while creating environ- Originally designated as the Maryland Mu- Group is the building’s award-winning ments in which resistance to oppres- seum of African American History and architectural team. sion could be planned and nurtured. Culture, the Museum’s beginning was the result of a statewide analysis of existing THE STRENGTH OF THE MIND and potential state resources related to Features stories about the creative spir- African American heritage tourism. The it of Maryland African Americans by analysis concluded that there was a sub- focusing on their accomplishments in stantial need and significant potential for a the arts and education. It highlights the statewide museum to protect and interpret experiences of famous and not-so- Maryland’s African American history and famous African Americans from Mary- culture. land and reveals untold stories and little known facts about the lives of Freder- In 1998, the Maryland African American ick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, Frances Museum Corporation was formalized as a Ellen Watkins Harper and Benjamin 501 (c)(3) organization and as an independ- Finally, the Museum is an important venue Banneker. The Museum’s exhibition ent unit of the executive branch of the that has shared Maryland’s African Ameri- also explores the lives and times of State of Maryland. The 32 member Board can history with over a million visitors such 20th century personalities as of Directors brought an Executive Direc- since opening its doors in 2005; it is situat- Thurgood Marshall, Juanita Jackson tor on board to help guide the Museum to ed just two blocks east of one of the state’s Mitchell, Esther McCready and Kweisi fruition. most popular attractions, the Baltimore Mfume. Inner Harbor. 2 SPRING 2012 THE SCRIP NEWSLETTER WWW.BLACKMUSEUMS.ORG SPRING 2012 THE SCRIP NEWSLETTER 2 AAAM at the 2012 American Association of Museums Conference : The Africa-US Cultural Heritage Strategic Partnership By Dr. Deborah Mack n early 2011, AAAM joined an the development and physical and virtual ogies to greatly enhance their reach and U.S.- Africa Cultural Heritage distribution of exhibitions. In a panel engage larger and different stakeholder Strategic Partnership as an inau- presentation, teams of experts from Amer- communities. The presentations illustrate gural partner. The Partnership ican and African museums that have re- models for the shared creation of tools was initiated to collaboratively cently engaged in or are in the planning that generate new skills as well as increased Iexplore collaboratively shared needs in the stages of innovative collaborations will access to and use of collections for ex- museum and cultural heritage sectors of share their perspectives and experiences.