The American Civil War
150 Years Later

2011 marked the Civil War’s 150th anniversary, its sesquicentennial.  You may have already seen on this web page the promotion of AAMLO’s five-part reading and discussion on pivotal aspects of what some have called the nation’s greatest tragedy and most triumphant moment. From January through June AAMLO will feature public programs that help explain this 19th century phenomena, and why it remains critical to understanding our nation’s development in the 21st century. Please visit this site for periodic updates and program features during the coming months. Thank you for your interest in the African American Museum & Library at Oakland Public Library.

Rick Moss
Chief Curator

Traveling Exhibition Available at AAMLO!

Allensworth: 100 Years of The California Dream
Allensworth has been called a “monument" to a dream”. The settlement, founded in 1908 by Colonel Allen Allensworth, Professor William Payne, minister Dr. W.H. Peck, miner, J.W. Palmer and real estate agent Harry Mitchel through the California Colony and Home Promoting Association, did represent the dream of its namesake, “to show the world that the Negro can Do and Be everything that is expected of an intelligent citizenship.”  It also symbolized the dream of African Americans across California and the U.S. for civic opportunity, the chance to create an ideal social enterprise free from the restrictions imposed during this troublesome period considered the “nadir” of race relations in America.

The exhibition celebrating the 2008 centennial of Allensworth was created through a collaboration of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the California African American Museum and the California Community Empowerment Foundation. It consists of 12 [35 ½ ((w) x 18 ½ (d) x 8’ (h)] free standing columns. Text panels on both front and back of each column document the historic founding of the town, and include a video information station.  Rental period is 6-8 weeks. No rental fee.  Host organization must incur all shipping costs. For more information please contact: Rick Moss, Chief Curator, 510.637.0197 or rmoss@oaklandlibrary.org.

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