African American Library at the Gregory School
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Once upon a time, it was only dreamed of to be able to go to the library and sign out a book or catalog containing history on African Americans. Now, not only can you find entire libraries full of Black history—such as the African American Library at the Gregory School—but its archives are stored digitally, offering the convenience of learning about the people of Houston, Texas, and surrounding states from the comfort of wherever you are in the world.
The African American Library at the Gregory School—a special collections unit of the Houston Public Library, and once a historical elementary school—stands as a two-story research library that also serves as an exhibit space, housing art galleries that honor and uplift the African American experience. Its digital archives consist of personal papers of African-American individuals and families in Texas, as well as photographs, oral histories, and business documents. You can even find old obituaries and funeral programs, which we all know Black folk love to keep! These collections can easily be accessed and downloaded for research purposes. The library offers a wide range of resources for research including histories of HBCUs, black churches, schools, and neighborhoods in Texas.
The African American Library at the Gregory school is currently fighting for recognition and its rightful place to be seen as a prominent, black historical center offering resources, education, and light on African-American history, life experiences, and preservation. As a part of this fight, local volunteers have created and organized The African American Library Gregory Friends, in efforts to uplift the library’s mission and purpose. The organization was created in 2017 and has since helped raise funds and awareness to the digital archives and exhibit within the library.
Learn more about the African American Library at the Gregory School
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