African American Museum and Library at Oakland

The African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) is a special place in Oakland, California where people can learn about the history, experiences, and culture of African Americans. It is part of the Oakland Public Library system and has both a museum and a library that does not let people check out books.

Located on 14th Street in Downtown Oakland, this museum holds many important items. Visitors can see diaries, letters, photographs, and old magazines that tell the stories of African American life. The museum and library work together to keep these memories safe so everyone can learn from them.

History

The African American Museum and Library at Oakland is located in a building called the Charles S. Greene building. This building used to be the Carnegie library and served as the Oakland Main Library from 1902 to 1951.

The museum started as a private collection in 1946. On July 2, 1965, it became known as the East Bay Negro Historical Society. Later, it changed its name again before becoming part of the city of Oakland in 1994. It moved to its current location in 2002.

Collections

The African American Museum and Library at Oakland has more than 160 special collections. These include stories and items related to important figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, as well as groups such as the Black Panthers. You can find many different kinds of materials here, like photographs, letters, diaries, newspapers, videos, and more.

The museum’s collections also feature the work of notable people from the area, such as Ida Jackson, Oakland’s first African American schoolteacher, and Ron Dellums, a former congressman and mayor of Oakland. Other collections include items from Marcus Foster, who was a school superintendent, and Barbara Lee, a congresswoman from the Bay Area. There are also records from the Oakland Black Cowboy Association and more. The museum’s galleries change their displays often to show new exhibits about art, history, and culture.