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•pg_13-27__BMT_pg3-58 1/8/14 6:35 PM Page 14 BY PATRICIA ANN JORDAN MAYME A. CLAYTON LIBRARY & MUSEUM,AND THE TANGIPAHOA AA HERITAGE MUSEUM BOTH "OUR" HOUSES Greeting Readers and happy fall to you! In this column I want to share about Mayme A. Clayton Library & Museum (MCLM), which I visited September 28. Had been meaning to get by and took the opportunity when invited to a fundraiser and vintage Black home movie screenings. I give kudos to Alisha and Michael Madison, supporters of preserving our culture, who organized the fundraiser. Mayme A. Clayton, Ph.D. (1923-2006), a true visionary, established the Western States Black Research Center (WSBRC) in 1975 because she believed that "children should know that Black people have done great things." In 2007, the organization was renamed in her honor as a testament to her contributions and legacy. Dr. Clayton, a librarian, collector, and historian, believed that pre- 14 serving and sharing the often neglected and overlooked history of Americans of African descent was imperative for current and future generations In the early 1960s Dr. Clayton began collecting documents, books, photographs, films, and memorabilia chronicling our experience. Dr. Clayton recognized the importance of preserving the historical record of an important aspect of American history. Thus began an effort that spanned more than forty years of her life – to collect and preserve this historical record as it unfolded, and to serve as a cultural and research resource. Devoted, she scoured bins in garage sales and explored used bookstores. She was able to acquire the entire film library of a Black film studio, Lincoln Moving Pictures Company. . All these "items" were catalogued by Dr. Clayton and became a part of the collection. Of special importance to Dr. Clayton were the school children visiting on fieldtrips. She shared with them in the small garage or in her study. These impressionable ones saw handwritten slave records, rare and out-of-print books, rare photographs of major figures of the Civil Rights movement. Initially housed in the Dr. Clayton's Los Angeles' home garage, the center was in need of a new home. A campaign to rescue, relocate, and share the collection was organized in 2002 by Dr. Clayton's eldest son, Avery Clayton (1947-2009), an artist and retired educator. In 2006, shortly before Dr. Clayton passed away, a permanent home for her collection in Culver City, California was announced, where they are presently housed. Lloyd L. Clayton, chair- man of the board, Dr. Clayton's younger son, Executive Director Larry Early, Jr., other board members and volunteers work tirelessly to keep Dr. Clayton's legacy thriving. Please connect with MCLM to view items such as a 1910 Howard University graduation class photo, which fascinated me. I was duly impressed with the current Barack Obama Exhibit, on loan from Culver City resident, Jacqueline Hill. I think what may have fascinated me even more were the vintage home movies. I saw home movies of Black people at the 1966 World's Fair; Angus herds of Oklahoma farmers and their oil wells…yes oil wells. MCLM is committed to telling the story of the African-American experience in all its variations: Family life, arts and entertainment, history, sports, medicine, architecture, politics, religion, law, technology, and more. Dr. Clayton was truly a visionary for future generations. MCLM needs and welcomes your support. Contact Information: (310) 202-1647 or www.claytonmuseum.org Make sure to connect with The Tangipahoa African American Heritage Museum and Veteran's Archives, in Hammond, Louisiana. Considered one of the largest in the south, it houses seven galleries with over 20 original murals and original art plus artifacts. The Tangipahoa also offers banquet space. More to come on this museum that is dedicated to preserving and discovering our culture. Contact: (985) 542-4259 or www.taahm.org B M & T ••• November/December 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com