Local History

Black History

Taborn, Jeannette

Jeannette Taborn (1925-2016) took her role as a board member for various local organizations seriously. Described as someone with a “quiet and calm manner...”

African American Churches

List includes both active and inactive congregations Ministerial Alliance of Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1969 Allen Chapel A.M.E., founded in 1855 Bible Baptist Church, founded in 1968 First United Baptist Church, founded…

African American Newspapers

In addition to Kalamazoo’s principal newspapers (The Kalamazoo Gazette and The Kalamazoo Telegraph [1844-1916]), everyday life of black Kalamazoo residents during the 1960s and 70’s was chronicled and archived by…

Afro-American Journal and Directory

Rev. John L. Davis, c.1894 Published by Rev. John L. Davis of Kalamazoo, this 48-page Afro-American Journal and Directory was printed by The Kalamazoo Publishing Company in 1894 to celebrate and…

Alexander, Dr. C. Allen

“An extraordinary personality, who is a physician, surgeon, community leader, oral historian, sportsman, raconteur, and author.”

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

Founded in 1855 by a handful of members, the Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church is the oldest black church in Kalamazoo.

Baseball in Kalamazoo: Black Teams

From as early as 1877 or before, Kalamazoo’s leading African American baseball players were forming independent teams and successfully squaring off against other local and regional clubs, both white and black...

Black Arts Festival

“The Black Arts Festival is founded on the belief that Black Awareness should be an integral part of our society. Through artistic expression we help promote the essence of our…

Black Lives Matter Street Mural

You likely have seen the beautiful Black Lives Matter street mural on Rose Street, but do you know the amazing story of how this historical work of art came to be?

Bradley, Gilbert H., Jr.

“Gil has something unique to offer our community. During his ten years as a resident of Kalamazoo, he has been a student, factory worker, union member, teacher, social worker, and…

Civic Black Theatre

Founded in 1978, the Civic Black Theatre (CBT) “recognized a need” for “black theater” in Kalamazoo. According to WMU faculty members Leander C. Jones and Thomas Small, two of the…

Colored School

One of the more puzzling events in the history of Kalamazoo’s public school district is the story of Kalamazoo’s “Colored School.”

Council Hawes Jr. and The Pacific Club

In 1946, after returning from military service in World War II, Council Hawes Jr. (1910-1982) managed The Pacific Club (aka The Pacific Inn), a restaurant, bar, entertainment venue, and residence…

Douglass Community Association

The Douglass Community Association was a byproduct of the First World War. Camp Custer was home to large numbers of mobilized troops, both during the war and in the immediate years that followed. These men needed something to do in their downtime...

Graine, Judson C.

Judson C. Graine was born in Paw Paw, Michigan. Later, he moved to Kalamazoo, where his enthusiasm for horses and horse racing developed. Graine was closely associated with Kalamazoo’s most famous race horse, Peter the Great.

Harris, Enoch and Deborah

Among the earliest pioneers in Oshtemo Township were Enoch Harris and his family, the first black settlers in Kalamazoo County. They arrived in Michigan from Marion County, Ohio, in approximately 1830, bringing with them seed from which they ...

Hill, Forrest M.

Hill’s influential contributions to life in Kalamazoo during the late 19th and early 20th century are deserving of chronicling, for they fit into the kind of ordinary community impact that too often becomes relegated to the margins of history.

Johnson, Pauline Byrd

Pauline Byrd Johnson was many things: an outspoken critic of forced desegregation policies, an active member of the Kalamazoo Republican Party, a tireless advocate for the value of education, and…

Las Amigas Club

Organized on 28 February 1948 the African American women’s group Las Amigas (The Friends) Club emerged to provide a variety of civic services and social programs, mostly focusing on supporting young adults and their educational pursuits.

LaVal Productions

During the 1960s and 1970s, Vic Taylor's Kalamazoo-based "LaVal Records" was a big name in popular entertainment, especially among lovers of blues, R&B, and comedy. Taylor did much to promote black music and entertainment in our area.

Local Black Fraternal Orders

Fraternal orders were at one time one of the most important social phenomena in American cultural life after the U.S. Civil War. Local blacks were just as interested in organizing within these clubs for the services they provided.