Friends & Foundation of the Rochester Public Library

Central Library Celebrated the National Museum of African American History and Culture with an online Smithsonian Poster Exhibition (February 2021)

The Smithsonian Institution opened its newest museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture September 24, 2016.

With support from FFRPL, Central Library presented this online version of the Smithsonian’s exhibit A Place for All People: Introducing the National Museum of African American History and Culture in place of the traveling version originally scheduled for Black History Month (February 2021).

Organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) in collaboration with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, “A Place for All People” highlights key artifacts that tell the rich and diverse story of the African American experience.

From the child-size shackles of a slave and the clothing worn by Carlotta Walls on her first day at Little Rock Central High School to Chuck Berry’s Gibson guitar, “Maybellene,” and the track shoes worn by Olympian Carl Lewis, the exhibition presents a living history that reflects challenge, triumph, faith and hope.

The poster exhibition and related public programs were an opportunity for Central Library to showcase its work in sharing the many stories of African American and African diaspora people and their contributions to the local community and the American story.

View the Smithsonian’s title poster, A Place for All People

View the Smithsonian’s Introduction

View the Smithsonian’s Narrative Break [The Hughes Family]

View the Smithsonian’s Slavery and Freedom poster

View the Smithsonian’s Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom poster

View the Smithsonian’s A Changing America poster

View the Smithsonian’s Narrative Break [Powder Horn] poster

View the Smithsonian’s Making a Way Out of No Way poster

View the Smithsonian’s The Power of Place poster

View the Smithsonian’s Double Victory poster

View the Smithsonian’s Sports poster here

View the Smithsonian’s Narrative Break [Revelations] poster