The African American Museum, Dallas today announced major funding support from the State of Texas and Google to preserve and digitize the Museum’s extensive collection gathered over the institution’s 50-year history. The Texas Historical Commission has awarded a $3 million grant, alongside support from Google, to launch a long-term commitment to safeguarding the material collected by the museum over its 50-year history.
These funds will help enhance the accessibility of the Museum’s collections and strengthen the Museum’s role as a vital resource for education and research for the Dallas community and beyond. The Museum’s collection—spanning fine art, folk art, decorative arts, archival materials, and artifact – features work by renowned artists such as Romare Bearden, Clementine Hunter, Mose Tolliver, Reverend Johnnie Swearingen, among others, and archeological materials from The Freedman’s Cemetery.
“This investment is about more than just conservation,” said Margie Johnson Reese, MFA, Chief Program Officer of the African American Museum, Dallas. “It’s about making history accessible to a global audience. We are thrilled to work with the Texas Historical Commission and Google to preserve the works of art and the historical documents in our care. It is our responsibility to ensure that this irreplaceable material will endure to educate and inspire current and future generations.”
Currently, portions of the collection are stored in non-climate-controlled facilities, leaving them vulnerable to environmental damage. The funds will ensure the collection’s long-term survival while making it more widely available to the public.
“Google is committed to making a positive impact in the communities where we operate, and we welcome opportunities to support the sharing of powerful stories,” said Traci Thomason, Global Community Development Strategy Manager at Google. “By working with the African American Museum, Dallas, we are proud to be part of the effort to ensure that this rich cultural history remains available to inspire and educate people around the world.”
The museum’s extensive collection showcases significant historical documents, including early Dallas-based African American newspapers and rare photographs and papers from influential leaders such as Juanita Craft, Mamie McKnight and the late U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson.
Among the highlights are 40,000-plus images from Sepia magazine, a nationally recognized photojournalistic publication that chronicled African American life and culture for decades. The collection captures the power, pride and progress of a generation, featuring striking images of government leaders like Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and U.N. Ambassador and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young; civil rights icons Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X; and legendary entertainers including Aretha Franklin, Cicely Tyson and Ray Charles.
