International African American Museum

Get the latest news on the IAAM:
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The International African American Museum Board has tentatively set its meetings for 2009 for the following dates at 9 am unless otherwise noted.

September 25
December 4

All are welcome. Locations will be announced to the IAAM Partners via email.


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Check out the IAAM Strategic Plan. Scroll down to find the link to the plan.
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Planning is currently underway for the International African American Museum in Charleston. The proposed site for the museum is at the corner of Calhoun and Concord Streets, across from Liberty Square (see photo on right). Development is being guided and fostered by three groups: the IAAM Board, the International Board, and the Partners.

The museum will strive to embody the histories, cultures and experiences of Africans in the Americas, with a specific focus on Charleston and South Carolina. Charleston is a unique and important place to tell this story because it was the single most important port of entry for African peoples carried into enslavement in the United States. The International African American Museum will reveal that what happened in Charleston is central to the history of the United States and thus will be of national and international significance. Charleston maintains a strong retention of African American heritage and evidence is still visible of how the history, culture and landscape of this place have been shaped by the presence of Africans and their descendents.

Museum Board
The IAAM Board is a dedicated and diverse volunteer group that works in cooperation with the City of Charleston to direct the planning of the museum. It is led by Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr as Chair and Rita Scott as Vice-Chair. Lucille Whipper serves as this dynamic group's Secretary and Henry Smythe serves as its Treasurer. The board has identified unique opportunities made possible by the museum's location in Charleston, developed guiding principles for the museum, and raised the funds needed for the initial planning process. Currently, the committee is formulating a strategic plan with the guidance of a selected team of museum experts and organizing efforts to raise awareness of the museum and its mission.

The IAAM is a 501 c 3 organization and welcomes financial donations. Donations should be sent to:
IAAM
P. O. Box 20069
Charleston, SC 29413

The Look and Feel
In 2008 architects for the IAAM were selected. Moody Nolan with Antoine Predock will design the IAAM.
Exhibit Designers were selected in 2009 and are Ralph Applebaum Associates.

The Strategic Plan
The American History Workshop is guiding the strategic plan for the museum. This team includes some of the greatest minds in the Nation, South, and Lowcountry in museum planning and African American history. The team is guiding the Steering Committee in defining the museum's story, evaluating the museum's financial feasibility and determining the museum's operating structure. The strategic planning team was directed by Terrie Rouse, the former director of the Philadelphia African American Museum. Others on the team include Richard Rabinowitz of American History Workshop, Dr. Bernard Powers, Dr. Ted Rosengarten, Dr. John Rashford, Dr. Dale Rosengarten and Dr. Ted Landsmark.

The team, in consultation with the Board, Partners and Scholars, has prepared recommendations for the basic elements of and strategic groundwork for the museum.

Among African American museums in the United States, IAAM’s unique advantage is that it is part of a rural and urban, physical and cultural, landscape that still has powerful connections to the legacy of Africa. There are tour programs, museum exhibits, plantation museums, historic sites, historic markers, and educational projects that help make those connections clear. But no single site or program brings the continuing African presence together as a story and demonstrates its enormous historical importance.

For African American people, this is an overdue recognition of the cultural richness of their ancestors and its power to inform lives today. But for all who come, it is an essential, unmistakable aspect of history a vital contribution to the identity of all South Carolinians and all Americans.

There is still much work to be done and comments are encouraged! Please let us know if you would like to see a copy of the draft plan. Contact us at iaam@ci.charleston.sc.us

International Board
This group will ensure that decisions about the content, program, and physical design are of the quality expected for an international museum. These individuals are also helping the Museum Board raise funds for the museum by providing national and international recognition of their efforts. The honorary chair for the International Board is former President Bill Clinton. Marva Smalls, the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief of Staff, Nickelodeon, TV Land, and Spike TV is the chairperson of this board.

Museum Partners
This group consists of museum professionals, educators, community members, and history collectors who share a common interest in the creation of the International African American Museum in Charleston. The Partners have met numerous times over the past year and a half to offer their advice and support for the Museum and to discuss its progress. The Partners are lead by Rodger Stroup, Director of the South Carolina Department of Archive and Elaine Nichols of the South Carolina State Museum.

Among the museum’s core values are “community participation in planning, building, and operating the museum” and “international and regional partnerships and collaborations with like-minded individuals, groups, and institutions.” Through partnerships, the museum will both enrich its capability to provide museum visitors with a high quality and breadth of exhibits, events and opportunities, and support and connect existing individuals, groups and institutions that are already participating in quality work in the study and presentation of African American history and culture.

The community's insight will be invaluable in the planning process. The River of Culture storytelling series was our first opportunity for community input. Local storytellers Brother Jerone DeBuff, King David, Veronica Gaillard, Minerva King and Sharon Murray and Queen Marquetta Goodwine, Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation, each shared their stories and inspired the telling of legends from the audience. Nationally known author, folklorist and storyteller, Lorraine Johnson-Coleman also shared her stories and collected the community's stories on specially designed memory cards. To get your memory card, email iaam@ci.charleston.sc.us or call 724-3776. The community's stories will help shape the museum in word, feel and spirit.

Look for the International African American Museum booth at festivals and events near you. More events will be held to raise awareness about the museum and about African American history. Contact us for the most up to date information on upcoming events and to invite us to your event.

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