Vintage Black Americana | African American History & Memorabilia

The Vintage Black Americana collection encompasses historical objects that document the lived experiences, representation, and cultural legacy of African Americans in the United States. These artifacts span a wide range of contexts—from painful examples of racist imagery and stereotyping to materials that celebrate African American achievement, creativity, and leadership.

Some items in this collection reflect periods of racial injustice, when harmful imagery and stereotypes were widely produced and circulated in everyday culture. These objects are preserved today for historical education and critical understanding, not endorsement. Other pieces highlight African American accomplishments in areas such as music, sports, politics, literature, and public life, offering counternarratives rooted in pride, resilience, and self-expression.

This collection is presented with care and context, informed by the scholarship of institutions such as the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University, founded by Dr. David Pilgrim. As Dr. Pilgrim emphasized, such artifacts—when thoughtfully contextualized—can be used to “teach tolerance and promote social justice” while preserving a more complete and honest record of American history.