About the Center

The purpose of the African-American Resource Center is to collect, preserve and provide access to resources honoring and documenting the experiences of people of African descent.

The Center is devoted to providing the community with current and comprehensive resource materials and professional reference materials on the culture and history of African-Americans.

Reference Materials

Dictionaries
Encyclopedias
Bibliographies
Chronicles
Indexes
Five Civilized Tribal Rolls

Listening Station
An homage to the musical artistry of African-Americans

Viewing Stations
Videotapes of oral histories of North Tulsans and on African-American intellectuals, history and black thought

Exhibits
Displays are used to promote and interpret the collection and are made possible by local citizens. Past exhibits include:

"400 Years Without a Comb"
"Aristocrats of Color"
"Harlem Renaissance"
"Distorted Images"
"Portraits of Historic African-American Leaders" - Exhibit from the Oklahoma State Capitol
(Oklahoma Centennial Project- 2007)

Materials for Teachers and Community Organizations

Educational kits to promote multicultural education
Historical games, like "African-American Bingo," to make learning black history fun
Cultural posters for displays

Electronic Databases

Inventors and Innovations
Encyclopedia of African-American
History and Culture
American Social Leaders

Adult and Children's Programs

Presentations by renowned authors
Book discussions and reviews
Annual tour of Oklahoma's historic all-black towns
Annual Kwanzaa Kickoff
Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Program
Annual African-American History Month Celebration
Annual Juneteenth Extravaganza

Tours
As the only center of its kind in Oklahoma, our services have attracted visitors throughout the nation. Individual and group tours of the center's collection and special features are available by appointment. To arrange a tour, call the coordinator at 596-7280.