We Need Your Help!!!!
We are still collecting photographs, advertising, and children’s toys for our upcoming exhibit, The Only One. Do you have any photos reflecting African American life in Iowa over the last 30 years? What about advertising or toys that depict African Americans? We could use them! Contact our Curator, Lynn Koos, and let her know what you have! She can be reached at lkoos@blackiowa.org or 319-862-2101 x27.
Evans Liberian Pottery Collection is One Step Closer to Completion!!
AAMI just recieved another peice of the Evans Liberian Artifact Collection!!
Several months ago the AAMI received a large collection of Liberian pottery from James and Mary Evans of Mt. Vernon, IA. The majority of the pieces are from small villages near the Liberia-Cote d’Ivoire boarder and the Nimba mountain range. In the case of these objects, the identity and origin is often difficult to determine, and the information from the traders cannot be verified, but there is one source of written documentation about their history.
Jim and Mary, as well as their family members, saved every letter they wrote back and forth for the duration of their stay in Kakata. The history of the villages, the indigenous peoples’ way of life, stories behind the artifacts, and simply the experience of living and working in West Africa in the 1970’s is documented in these letters.
Mary recently brought in all these letters so that the museum could copy them and record the included information about the pottery. They include facts about most objects in the collection, diagrams drawn by James detailing the layout of the homes they lived in, and little keepsakes such as a section of a weaver bird’s nest.
These letters help to keep the story and the history of these artifacts alive, as well as serve to document a historical time period.
Mary will also be bringing in photographs to share with the museum from their stay in Africa. Stay tuned for more information. Interested in hearing more about these pieces? Contact Curator, Lynn Koos, at 319-862-2101 X27 or lkoos@blackiowa.org
We have all been the only one. Tell us your story.
The African American Museum of Iowa, in conjunction with Johnson County Historical Society, is currently researching for our next exhibit, The Only One. This exhibit will be built around a collection of photographs, artifacts and oral histories which explore the impact of being “the only one” in a group of people. We will focus mainly on being the only minority and will examine how these only one experiences affected everyone in the photo. Artifacts will be used to place the photos in historical context and demonstrate how racial climate throughout US history reinforced certain stereotypes and stigmas.
Have you experienced being the only one? We would like to hear your story. What made you the only one? Were you the only minority? Were you the only kid with glasses? Red hair? The only woman? Please share your story. You can email your story to lkoos@blackiowa.org or call Curator, Lynn Koos, at 319-862-2101 x27.
Check out more about this upcoming exhibit at this link! http://www.blackiowa.org/exhibits/upcoming-exhibits/
Donation of Liberian Pottery Accessioned at AAMI!
The African American Museum of Iowa just accessioned 35 pieces of Liberian pottery! A generous donation from James and Mary Evans of Mt. Vernon, Iowa has proved a great addition to the AAMI’s ever expanding collection. While living in Kakata, Liberia for several years in the 70s James and Mary Evans collected pottery and had it shipped back to the US upon their return. Interested in finding out more about this collection? Contact Curator, Lynn Koos, at 319-862-2101 x27.
