A Quest for Freedom: The Black Experience in the American West
name: label: Collection Collector
content: Maltsby, Portia
label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Program in African American Culture
setName: label: See more items in
content: Program in African American Culture Collection
label: See more items in
content: Program in African American Culture Collection / Series 1: Program Files
unitdate: label: Date
content: 2001 February 2-3
container: label: Container
content: Box 25, Folder 22
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Annual national observance of African American history month. The 2001 conference explored the Black experience in the American West and its impact on African American culture and the national and cultural history of the United States. Scholars at the conference presented papers on a variety of themes relating to African Americans and the West, ranging from buffalo soldiers and Black cowboys to race relations in Los Angeles. The conference also looked at the cultural contributions that blacks brought to the West, evidenced through literature, theatre, film, and music. It took place over the course of four days in the Carmichael Auditorium and the Information Age Theater of the Smithsonian Institution. The program was sponsored by the Program in African American Culture of the Smithsonian Institution and cosponsored by the California African American Museum, the Center for African American Studies, University of California- Los Angeles, the Irving Caesar Lifetime Trust Partnership of the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Midwest Express Airlines, and Pacific Bell. 


Participants included:

Blake Allmendinger, Ph.D., professor of English, University of California, Los Angeles

David N. Baker, Ph.D., distinguished professor of music and chairman of the jazz department, Indiana University School of Music, Bloomington

Albert S. Broussard, Ph.D., professor of history and holder of the Elton P. Lewis Faculty Fellowship, Texas A&M University

Lonnie G. Bunch III, president of the Chicago Historical Society, past associate director for curatorial affairs, National Museum of American History (NMAH)

Sumi Cho, Ph.D., associate professor, College of Law, DePaul University
  
Bettye J. Gardner, Ph.D., professor of history, Coppin State University

Juan Gómez-Quiñones, Ph.D., professor of history and former director of the Chicano Studies Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California

William W. Gwaltney, chief of interpretation at Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado

Gerald Horne, Ph.D., professor of history, African and Afro-American studies, and communications, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Patricia Nelson Limerick, Ph.D., historian of the American West with a particular interest in ethnic and environmental history

Rick Moss, curator of history, California African American Museum, Los Angeles, California

Cornel Pewewardy, Ph.D., assistant professor of teaching and leadership, School of Education, University of Kansas

Harry Robinson, Ph.D., president and CEO, African American Museum, Dallas, Texas 

Beverly Robinson, Ph.D., professor, School of Theater, Film, and Television, 
University of California, Los Angeles 

Fath Davis Ruffins, historian, National Museum of American History (NMAH)

Frank N. Schubert, Ph.D., chief of joint operational history, Joint History Office, Office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

Michael N. Searles, assistant professor of history, Augusta State University

Alonzo N. Smith, Ph.D., research historian, National Museum of American History (NMAH); and adjunct professor of African American history, Montgomery College

Paul W. Stewart, founder of the Black American West Museum, Denver, Colorado

Rowena Stewart, D.H., executive director of the Museums at 18th and Vine

Quintard Taylor, Ph.D., Scott and Dorothy Bullitt professor of American history,  University of Washington

Performers

The American Jazz Museum All-Stars

Saxophone- Ahmad Alaadeen

Trumpet/ Flügelhorn- Stan Kessler

Trombone- Tim Perryman

Saxophone- Gerald Dunn

Bass- Tyrone Clark

Violin- Claude "Fiddler" Williams

Pianist- Chris Clarke

Drummer- Mike Warren

Vocalist- Kevin Mahogany

Vocalist- Ida McBeth

Saxophone- Bobby Watson


The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra

Saxophone- Charlie Young

Trumpet- Tom Williams

Brass- James King

Vibes- Chuck Redd

Drums- Ken Kimery

Vocalist- James Zimmerman


Living History Interpreters

M. Sargent Lee N. Coffee, Jr.- interpreted Sargent Emmanuel Stance, a Buffalo Soldier Medal of Honor recipient

Janice "Christi" Cole interpreted "Stagecoach Mary" Fields

William Grimette interpreted Estebanico, an early explorer of the Southwest

Sandra Kamusikiri, Ph.D., interpreted Biddy Mason, an entrepreneur and early urban pioneer in Los Angeles

Kimberly Kelly interpreted Mary Ellen Pleasant, a civil rights activist and businesswoman in early San Francisco

Michael N. Searles interpreted "Cowboy Mike" a composite historical figure


Program number AC408.114.