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