March is Women’s Herstory Month – Women’s Herstory is American History!

WELCOME TO THE

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM

OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA

AAMSAZ

We Are A Movement, Not Just a Museum!

Coming Soon with Your help!

A Bench on the UA Campus for

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

Exciting News!

No Hair Discrimination in Arizona!

Governor Katie Hobbs signed the CROWN Act through an executive order making hair discrimination illegal in the workplace on March 17, 2023!

AAMSAZ Celebrating Excellence During Black History Month

Presented by AAMSAZ

Musical Melodies at Tucson HS

February 10, 2023

Jack and Jill Teens of Tucson – Double Good – for AAMSAZ

February 14, 2023

Supporting HBCUs

Delta Sigma Theta Toured Museum with Delta Gems (Children)

FEBRUARY 18,2023

Blax Friday Celebrated Black Vendors in Tucson

FEBRUARY 17, 2023

Black and Brown Health Fair

FEBRUARY 18, 2023

Welcome

AAMSAZ will present a cultural and educational experience by providing items of significance with stories of struggles and triumphs presented by knowledgeable volunteers and staff. We are devoted to gather and share stories, images, and artifacts as we document, digitize, and preserve African American and Black life, culture, and history in Southern Arizona to benefit the community.

Margaret Campbell Story

Her Niece, Cornelia, who lives in Georgia, contacted the museum, to share this wonderful herstory. 

Mrs. Margaret Campbell was the first female African American novelist published in Arizona. She published her book, Iba the Dawn, which is available in UA Special Collections. She lived in the South Park neighborhood at Santa Rita and 29th Street in an underground home. Mrs. Campbell began digging to build the foundation in her home by herself and brought in workmen to complete the job. Her home had three floors, one of which housed a piano. She spoke five languages and gave piano lessons to neighborhood children.

Coming in March

3/3 to 3/4 – Tucson Festival of Books


3/3 to 3/12 – UA Spring Break


3/1 to 3/14 – AAMSAZ Closed FOR FESTIVAL OF BOOKS & UA SPRING BREAK


3/12 – National Plant a Flower Day


3/13 – National Good Samaritan Day


3/14 – National Organize Your Home Office Day

3/17 – St. Patrick’s Day & World Sleep Day


3/18 – National Corn Dog Day


3/20 – March Equinox


3/28 – National Weed Appreciation Day


3/29 – Vietnam Veterans Day


3/30 – National Farm Worker’s Day

Spotlight Story

Stacey Snowden Chat

Celebrating 50 years of Coach Fred Snowden’s Historic Hiring and 50 Years of McKale Center!

Over 300 people joined us at the Loft Theater on February 3rd for a Chat with Stacey Snowden! Stacey and her husband Dave put together amazing clips from over 50 years of Coach Fred Snowden’s Life. The main focus on his life here in Tucson as the First African American Basketball NCAA Division I Head Coach at a Major College or University.  

Stacey provided us with stories, clips, photos, and newspaper articles from years gone by, and we loved that Motown Music that had us singing in our seats! Some of those clips were tough to hear and see, but that was their life. UA Basketball Head Coach Tommy Lloyd and Dave Heeke, VP of Athletics, were there to hear and support the event. Thank you to our donors and the UA Athletics as our Title Sponsor. Pat Parrish of KGUN and David Kelly KVOA were there to capture the moment. 

Thanks, Ken, of Ken’s Hardwood Barbecue, for providing us with delicious barbecue before we started. Volunteers from COX and AmeriCorps were wonderful, and The Loft, also celebrating 50 years, was so easy to work with. Thank you, Peggy Johnson, JJ, and Stephanie Troutman Robbins, for your collaboration and support of this amazing evening!

Kindly provide credit to the photos taken by Dominic Ortega.

Beverely Elliott and grandkids

Our Origin/Our History

In February 2021 Jeremiah “Jody”, our seven-year-old grandson, was assigned to complete a report during Black History month on an African American Hero. He went online and then asked, “Nanu (that’s what our grandchildren call me) don’t you help people with a museum in Michigan?” I said, “Yes, I do.” Then he went on to say, “So, where is the museum I can go to here in Tucson to learn about African American people who lived around here?”

I told him I would look into it and found what I already knew would probably be the case. The history of African American people, particularly around the country, is more like collections of artifacts, hearsay, documents, and things in trunks, garages, basements, and attics. Jody wanted me to know that we should have an official museum in Tucson and I agreed! So, on April 15, 2021 I began my research.

– Beverely Elliott

This Month is Women’s History Month…

Let’s Talk about the Women’s Plaza of Honor on the Campus of the University. Hope you’ve been there if not… take a peak! https://plaza.sbs.arizona.edu/ and https://www.aamsaz.org/african-american-womens-arch/.

There’s a bench on the Plaza that honors RBG! So…

AAMSAZ is launching a campaign to have a bench placed on the Women’s Plaza of Honor in tribute to Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson the First African American Female to sit on the bench. Most of us know the questions she was asked and had to endure to be confirmed. Help us raise the $15,000 for this bench. Shhh… this is the silent phase of us raising funds but let me know at www.aamuseumofsouthernaz@gmail.com if you’re interested. Anything helps but if you want to be a sponsor, please contact us. Make sure you make a note that it’s for the bench!

women's plaza of honor

Legacy Founder Investors
Thank you for your support!

Cox Communication
TEP
Zuckerman Family Foundation
Elliott Family Charities
Mr.s Roosevelt and Robert Elliott

Our Collections

The AAMSAZ museum is a collective home for stories, artifacts, culture, genealogical data, and how it speaks to the African American human condition. AAMSAZ wants to expand its collections to represent the African American community in Southern Arizona. The collections are held in trust for the Southern Arizona community and for the world and are curated in perpetuity for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of current and future generations.

Photographed here: Fred “The Fox” Snowden – University of Arizona Head Basketball Coach 1972- 1982. First African American Basketball Coach for a Division I Major University. Taken in front of the newly built McKale Center.

Our Programs

Join us for quilting, fun with markers, dance, personal family history exploration, and more!
Grandma Sneed's Art
Come Visit Us!

To set up a tour or visit the museum it is by appointment.

 February Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM.
March Hours: Wednesday through Saturday from 10 AM – 4PM.

Become A Member Today!

Website by CS Design Studios

Logo Design by Felicia Penza -feliciapenza@gmail.com

Site
Museum Location
  • Museum is located on the Campus of the University of Arizona
    Student Union Room 244
    Park in the 2nd Street Garage
  • Museum is located on the Campus
    of the University of Arizona
    Student Union Room 244
    Park in the 2nd Street Garage
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