
Located at the Rudisill Regional Library, 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.




Research Your Family History
African-American Heritage Database
This deep web resource is exclusively devoted to African American family history research. (Note: This database may only be accessed on site at the Rudisill Regional Library)
It provides users a dedicated resource that not only brings together records critical to African American family research; but also connects them to a community of research experts, whose mentoring and assistance can frequently lead to research success.
Search essential historical records for African-Americans, including Federal Census, Marriage and Cohabitation Records, Military Draft and Service Records. Registers of Slaves and Free(d) Persons of Color, Freedman’s Bank and more.
Available only for TCCL library card-holders at the Rudisill Regional Library - 1520 N.Hartford, Tulsa, Oklahoma (918)549-7645
African American Inventions and Inventors
Black-Inventor.com >
From colonial times through today, Americans of African and Caribbean descent have contributed to the advancement of medicine, physics, industrialization and plain old fun.
Click the link below to look for information about African-American inventors and you'll quickly find that American innovation is rich with the contributions of famous black inventors like Elijah McCoy, Lewis Howard Latimer, George Washington Carver and Madame C.J. Walker (Sarah Breedlove).
The Underground Railroad
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center >
The exhibitions and programs of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center celebrate freedom's heroes, those brave men and women who came together to create a secret network through which the enslaved could escape to freedom. From their example of courage, cooperation and perseverance, we relate this uniquely American history to contemporary issues, inspiring everyone to take steps for freedom today.
African American Civil War Memorial
African American Civil War Memorial >
The mission of the African American Civil War Museum is to preserve and tell the stories of the United States Colored Troops and African American involvement in the American Civil War. We utilize a rich collection of primary resources, educational programming and technology to create a meaningful learning experience focused on this pivotal time in American history.
African-American Odyssey
African-American Odyssey >
African-American Odyssey showcases the incomparable African American collections of the Library of Congress. Displaying more than 240 items, including books, government documents, manuscripts, maps, musical scores, plays, films, and recordings, this is the largest black history exhibit ever held at the Library, and the first exhibition of any kind to feature presentations in all three of the Library's buildings.
African Ceremonies: Sacred Rituals in Tribal Cultures
African Ceremonies: Photographs of Sacred Rituals in Tribal Cultures >
Developed by Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher to assist nomadic pastoral peoples during times of drought and to fund research about African ceremonies. This site features a gallery of photos, from the book, of sacred rituals in tribal cultures, as well as information about related African charities, exhibitions and foundations.
Books by or about African-Americans.
Books By or About African Americans
This website lists books by African-American authors.
Abolitionism in America
"I Will Be Heard!" Abolitionism in America >
A well-organized, content-rich site with a wide range of authoritative information about abolitionism in America. Includes profiles of prominent abolitionists, slave narratives, background on the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, critical resources on Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin,"and much more. From Cornell University, Division of Rare & Manuscript Collections.
Top African-American Colleges
Top 30 Historically Black Colleges >
Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) play an important role in the advancement of black culture, and education in general. With over 100 registered HBCUs in the U.S., it can be a challenge for prospective students to find the best match for them, or even know where to begin.
Check out the Top 30 list of the best historically black colleges. from www.bestcolleges.com.
They considered the following:
- Academic excellence
- Student satisfaction
- Cultural impact and community service
Grapevine Literary Society
Grapevine Literary Society >
HISTORY: The Grapevine Literary Society was established on February 16, 2004 with four members. Founding members of the Book Club were: Alicia Latimer, Jackie Goodman, Viviane Patton, and Desrie Terrie.
Membership: Membership is free and open to the public.
The Grapevine Literary Society is an informal membership organization, open to all men and women who are interested in discussing and expanding their knowledge of literature written primarily by African-American authors. Membership is obtained by attending one meeting.
History
Between 1865 and 1915, approximately 50 years after the Civil War, there were at least 60 Black Towns settled in the Nation. With more than 20, Oklahoma led all other states. With help from the Five Civilized Tribes, Freedmen from the South settled the all Black Towns of Oklahoma. Most of these towns were established by African-Americans for African-Americans on land that was formerly held by one of the Five Civilized Tribes.
Today's All Black Towns
Historic All Black Towns of Oklahoma:
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Boley
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Brooksville
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Clearview
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Grayson
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Langston
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Lincoln
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Redbird
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Rentiesville
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Taft
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Tatums
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Tullahassee
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Vernon
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Wewoka
For further information about all-black towns still in existence:
All-Black Towns No Longer in Existence
Historic All-Black Towns No Longer in Existence:
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Bailey
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Bookertee
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Canadian Colored
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Chase
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Ferguson
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Gibson Station
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Liberty
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Marshall Town
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North Fork
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Wellston Colony
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Wybark
For further information about all-black towns no longer in existence:
Historic All-Black Town Tour
Historic All Black Towns Still in Existence today.
The annual Historic All-Black Town Tour is held on the 2nd Saturday in June. Two busloads of travelers visit towns in various quantrants of Oklahoma with a historian on each bus. In each town, the history of the town and their part in Oklahoma history is told by local historians and citizens.
Tickets go on sale on May 1 of each year. For a nominal fee, the day-long tour begins at 7 a.m. and ends by 5:30 p.m. Meals are included in the fare.
For more information about the Historic All-Black Town Tours, contact the AARC Coordinator.
Photograph Resources
- Photos from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
- Unidentified African-Americans: Tulsa & Oklahoma History Collection
- If you can provide information to identify these individuals, please notify the African-American Resource Center coordinator.
- If you can provide information to identify these individuals, please notify the African-American Resource Center coordinator.
- Virtual All Black Town Tour
- Due to Covid-19, the African-American Resource Center offered the Historic All Black Town Program.
Panelists included historian Jimmie White and Shirley Ballard Nero, both of whom have acted for many years as historians for the Historic All Black Town Tours.
Author Dr. Karla Slocum discussed her book, "Black Towns, Black Futures: The Enduring Allure of a Black Place in the American West."
- Due to Covid-19, the African-American Resource Center offered the Historic All Black Town Program.