The African American Museum in Dallas will receive $3 million in support from the Texas Historical Commission, with additional backing from Google, to preserve its collections gathered over 50 years.
Chief program officer Margie Johnson Reese said the initiative is about accessibility and conservation. “It’s about making history accessible to a global audience,” she noted, highlighting the goal of ensuring that irreplaceable materials endure for future generations.
The museum said the funds will improve storage for sensitive artifacts, many of which are currently housed in non-climate-controlled spaces, and expand its role as a resource for education and research. Google’s Traci Thompson added that the company is proud to support the preservation of cultural history to inspire communities worldwide.
The collection includes works by Romare Bearden, Clementine Hunter, Mose Tolliver, and Rev. Johnnie Swearingen, as well as archeological materials from The Freedman’s Cemetery. It also houses rare documents, such as African American newspapers from Dallas and papers from leaders like Juanita Craft, Mamie McKnight, and the late U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson.
Founded in 1974 by Dr. Harry Robinson Jr. at Bishop College, the museum became independent in 1979 and today holds one of the largest collections of Black folk art in the U.S. Its mission is to preserve, celebrate, and educate the public on African American heritage in Dallas and beyond.
