Black Archives of Mid-America

Black Archives of Mid-America

The mission of the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City, Inc. is to collect, preserve and make available to the public materials documenting the social, economic, political and cultural histories of persons of African American descent in the central United States, with particular emphasis in the Kansas City, Missouri region.

Black Archives of Mid-America is an educational resource and provides access to its collections for research, exhibition and publication to honor our community heritage and to catalyze public awareness.

Digital Collections include the Tuskegee Airmen.

The Black Archives of Mid-America is pleased to host and make available to the public the Allan Gray Family Personal Papers of Alvin Ailey (AC10), on long term loan from the Allan Gray Family.

Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) was one of the seminal figures in American choreography in the twentieth century. His most important works – including Blues Suite, Revelations, Masekela Langage, Cry, Night Creature, Memoria, and For Bird, With Love – have been performed for audiences around the world. Mr. Ailey founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958.

What started as a small group of seven dancers grew into a large, carefully managed, internationally known and celebrated company.

As Mr. Ailey began considering a second home for his dance company, Kansas City civic leaders and arts organizations actively encouraged Mr. Ailey to consider Kansas City.

The Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, founded in 1984, serves as the official second home to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

The Black Archives of Mid-America houses unique special collections that document the history of African American culture and society in the Kansas City metropolitan area and surrounding region.

The special collections include archival collections, such as personal papers and organizational records.

The special collections also include groups of items that provide insight into particular community leaders, clubs and organizations, and civic institutions.