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Black History Organizations
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Black History Organizations
POLK COUNTY
Polk County Historical Association
Website: www.polkcountyhistory.org/Press.asp
The Polk County Historical Association (PCHA) was founded in 1974 by 41 organizers to ensure that the history of Polk County would be preserved. The membership quickly grew to 400 as Pioneer Luncheons drew more people. In 1999, the PCHA worked with the Neighborhood Improvement Corporation to Bartow to create "A Curious Coalition," which was sponsored by the Florida Humanities Council.
The yearlong project was the impetus for the L.B. Brown Heritage Festival, which celebrates an African-American pioneer in Polk County. The relationship sparked a new appreciation of African-American contributions in American culture.
PASCO COUNTY
NAACP Pasco County Branch
Contact: 813-778-6064 (Blanche Benford, Vice President)
Although Pasco County's NAACP Branch was just re-organized this year, membership still stands at approximately 130 members. Blanche Benford, a familiar name in Pasco County's African American communities, became the first Vice President of the local branch. Pastor Nathaniel Philms is currently the President. General meetings take place on Thursday nights in various locations across the county.
African American Club, Inc.
West Pasco County
Contact: 727-868-1838 (Sandy Wright, President; Eugene Scott, Vice President)
Email: aacpasco@yahoo.com
This multicultural club has several goals, including reaching out to area youth through after school tutoring programs, and maintaining a network of information that enables families to socialize with one another. This is a very well run organization that also offers insight into local African American history.
Black Caucus of Pasco County
Contact: 813-778-6064 (Blanche Benford, President)
Email: blackcaucuspasco@aol.com
Website: http://www.blackcaucuspasco.org/
The Black Caucus of Pasco County are responsible for organizing the annual Juneteenth celebration, generally held on a Saturday in mid-June. Email or contact Blanche Benford for more information about the Black Caucus.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
ASALH- Association for the Study of African American History and Life, Tampa Bay Branch
ASALH meetings are held at the Robert W. Saunders library branch in downtown Tampa. To contact individual branches by mail, visit: http://www.asalh.org/
City of Tampa Black History Committee
Website: cityoftampablackhistorycommittee.org/
Beginning with an annual Black History program each February, the Black History Committee follows-up this event with an array of activities, including, but not limited to: Youth basketball tournaments, gospel extravaganza, outdoor family festival, youth scholarship ceremony, and an art contest.
Ada T. Payne Friends of the Urban Libraries Group
Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System
Robert W. Saunders Sr. Public Library
1505 Nebraska Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33602
Phone: 813-276-2097
Website: www.thpl.org/thpl/friends/groups.html
This non-profit group supports African American cultural preservation and local historic programming, specifically for the following three inner city library branches: Robert W. Saunders, West Tampa, and College Hill. Meetings rotate between the locations listed below and take place on the third Tuesday of each month at 5:30pm. To find this month’s meeting location, contact Carrie Hurst, Public Librarian, at the number above.
Institute on Black Life
University of South Florida
4202 East Fowler Avenue, FAO 274
Tampa, Florida 33620
Phone: 813-974-4727
Website: www.usfweb2.usf.edu/ibl/
The Institute on Black Life (IBL) was established in the Fall of 1986 to serve as a bridge between the University of South Florida, the local and global community. The Institute sponsors a variety of community development projects, and hosts annual conferences regarding contemporary issues facing communities of African descent in America and abroad. Contact the Center for happenings.
Voces De West Tampa
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 16745
Tampa, Florida 33687
Contact: 813-875-2159
Email: latampena@verizon.net
Funded by the Florida Humanities Council, Voces de West Tampa is a non-profit, cultural preservation project. Led by local historian, Maura Barrios, Voces de West Tampa regularly sponsors community forums to generate interest and support in West Tampa’s Cuban and African American roots. Barrios’ encourages people to contribute their expertise by interviewing community elders, recruiting storytellers or providing publicity, media or community relations assistance for “Our West Side Story: Voces de West Tampa, A Community Autobiography.”
MANATEE AND SARASOTA COUNTY
Manasota ASALH
Lois Watson, President
Email: fillylois@yahoo.com
The mission of the Manasota Association for the Study of African American Life and History is to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community. The organization raises awareness of black history in Sarasota and Manatee County during its monthly meetings; and through cross country tours to historic places, a black film series, an annual art exhibition and scholarship fundraisers to benefit college bound community graduates.
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