Houston, TX
African American Library
The African American Experience
interpreting culture
The African American library in Houston is one of the only African American libraries in the country. Located in the same building as the previous Gregory School in Freedmen’s town, it has exhibits and art focused on the African American experience. The library’s goal is to interpret African American culture through history.
history
- The Freedmen’s Bureau opened schools for children in the Houston area after the establishment of Freedmen’s Town. A school first opened in 1872 for freed slaves in Houston (and maybe all of TX).
- The Gregory School serves as a resource to preserve, promote, and celebrate the rich history and culture of African Americans in Houston, the surrounding region, and the African Diaspora. The building is housed in the Edgar M. Gregory School built in 1926, which served as the first public school for African Americans in Houston.
- The Gregory School closed in 1980, then renovations began in 2008 to create the library. The library contains galleries, an oral history recording room, and reading rooms.
