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As we welcome the bloom of April, it's a time of renewal and growth. April marks the start of National Garden Month, a celebration of the beauty and importance of our gardens, as well as Keep America Beautiful Month, which reminds us to care for the environment and our communities. It's also National Poetry Month, a time to celebrate the power of words and creativity. For the museum and other nonprofits, April kicks off National Volunteer Month ( (we hope you received our note to recruit you), and we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers who give their time and energy to help make a difference. We are truly grateful for Rose and Jamie!
As we look forward to warmer, more stable weather and the excitement of March Madness as it bounces into April we also embrace the anticipation of April showers, which brings the promise of new growth and fresh beginnings.
Here's to a season of blooming possibilities, community spirit,
and continued support from those who make our work possible!
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We’re beyond excited to share the buzz from this year’s Tucson Festival of Books, which once again lit up the U of A campus with an incredible lineup of authors and guests! A huge thank you to everyone The Viners and their team of experts! It was truly a memorable event.
This year, with the museum was open before the Festival on Friday and were busy on Saturday. We proudly stand behind the power of reading and literacy, helping to enrich the experience of thousands of attendees.
Over the weekend, we had the pleasure of welcoming more than 50 visitors, each adding their own unique energy to the celebration of literature and enjoying the history AAMSAZ had to offer. What an amazing way to connect with our community and fuel the love of books!
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Health and Wellness Fair
Tucson Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
We are thrilled to share that the Tucson Chapter of The Links, Incorporated’s Health and Wellness Fair, held at The Dunbar on Saturday, March 15th! The event was an opportunity to promote wellness, with a focus on skin care, heart health, AARP resources, AAMSAZ was present to share information on the upcoming swim program and Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ visit to Tucson.
Under the leadership of Felicia Jackson and the Chapter’s Health and Human Services Facet, local professionals came together to provide valuable health and wellness information to our community.
The event was highlighted by a live Facebook show from the Western Area, where Chapter President Jeanette Washburn and the Chapter’s expert, Dr. Tanisha Price-Johnson, had the privilege of sharing the work being done by the Tucson (AZ) Chapter.
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Join us as we celebrate
Frances E. W. Harper in celebration of her
200th birthday!
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SAVE THE DATE
April 18th at AAMSAZ
2 - 5 PM
You are cordially invited to the Arizona launch of the #Harper200 National Read-a-thon!
We will start with a tour of the museum...
You to cordially invite you to take part in Arizona Reads Harper! event on April 18 from 2:00-5:30pm at the University of Arizona. This is a Borderlands celebration launch of a nationwide #Harper 200 Read-a-thon, an exciting project coming out of the powerful digital humanities initiative, the Center for Black Digital Research/#digblk. In this event, the Tucson community is invited to dive into a treasure trove of writing by this fearless advocate for Civil Rights who was the most beloved Black poet and the most prolific Black novelist of her time.
In guest readings, panels, and more, a multicultural Borderlands community will collectively broadcast her words from her century to ours.
| | Gold Standard for Museums | | |
Exciting News:
AAMSAZ Joins the 2025
Certified Historical Institution Cohort!
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We hit the Gold Standard!
We are thrilled to announce that AAMSAZ is now a member of the prestigious 2025 Certified Historical Institution Cohort. This honor recognized AAMSAZ as a leader in history communication, preservation, and education in the state. The Arizona Historical Society (AHS) made the announcement last week.
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Thank you!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for the unveiling of the beautiful bench at the University of Arizona’s Women’s Plaza of Honor! We are deeply grateful to our LFI Legacy Founding Investors, donors, and special guests. To those who were unable to join us …you were missed.
Our speakers included Keynote Speaker Benjamin Taylor, a graduate of the UA James E. Rogers Law School and the former( First African American) President of the Arizona State Bar; Holly Hancock von Guilleaume; Carrie and Maddie from Santa Theresa Tile Works, who designed the bench alongside Executive Director Beverely Elliott; Troi Newman, President of the UA James Rogers Black Law Students Association; Dr. Stephanie Troutman-Robbins (who this would not have been possible without her!) and Board members Styne Hill and Daisy Jenkins, Esq. of AAMSAZ.
We also extend our gratitude to our wonderful hostesses, the members of the Tucson Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Thank you all for being part of this special occasion!
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On Tuesday, March 25th, we had the honor of attending the luncheon preceding the installation of Dr. Suresh Garimella as the 23rd President of the University of Arizona.
It was truly a memorable event, as we shared a meal before heading to the formal ceremony, which featured Dr. Garimella receiving full installation. Congratulations to Dr. Garimella, and we wish him all the best on this exciting new chapter for him and the Wildcats.
Bear Down and Go Cats!
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Support the Souvenir Journal of Alphi Phi Alpha Fraternity – Ad Deadline: April 7, 2025
We invite businesses, organizations, and community members to support our Souvenir Journal by purchasing an ad. This is a wonderful opportunity to highlight your business, recognize outstanding individuals, or show your support for education and scholarship. The deadline to place an ad is April 7, 2025.
Ad Pricing:
Patron Listing: $20
Business Card Ad: $50
Half-Page Ad: $170
Full-Page Ad: $250
Submit your ad via email at:
alphafoundationinc@gmail.com | Submit Your Ad Here
Sincerely,
Eta Psi Lambda Chapter
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
In Partnership with Alpha Foundation, Inc.
| | | Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. | |
We were notified that Dr. Gates had to reschedule due to illness. The event has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 7th.
For more information go to:
https://provost.arizona.edu/bfss-upcoming-events
Or contact Nina A Bates, M.A., M. Admin., PMP
Director, Operations and Strategic Initiatives ninaari@arizona.edu
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The museum will be closed for special events
on the mornings of April 2nd and 3rd
Throughout the Month of April the Museum will be
closed on Thursday Morning
The Museum will be open for visitors on
Thursday afternoons from 1 - 4 PM
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By Oregon State University - https://www.flickr.com/photos/oregonstateuniversity/50521988391/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=100000085 | | Do you have old home movies, photos, albums, CD’s, etc.?You can Digitize them at the Wildcats Memory Lab | | | |
If you've got old wedding videos or boxes of family photos collecting dust in your closet, the Wildcats Memory Lab at the University of Arizona can help bring those precious memories into the 21st century and preserve them for generations to come.
Free for everyone and located on the third floor of the UA’s Main Library, the do-it-yourself digitization space is run by University Libraries and provides the equipment, guidance and resources needed to convert analog media into a digital format.
The project is led by Stacey Erdman, an associate faculty librarian who oversees both digital preservation and archival digitization for the library. Her work involves developing digital stewardship policies, strategies and workflows for all of University Libraries' digital collections. Erdman believes the Wildcats Memory Lab is one of the first – if not the first – public memory labs at a U.S. higher education institution.
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April is a Busy month bringing Awareness
to so many issues that need our attention!
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We are so excited to announce that Alice and Paul Baker are now
Legacy Investors!
Thank you for you support and belief in our mission and vision.
| | | | Arizona and US task force review African American Breast Cancer mortality rates | | | | |
Experts in cancer biology, insurance coverage, and healthcare access point to several factors that contribute to the consistently high breast cancer mortality rates among African American women.
According to the American Cancer Society, African American women are over 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, a disparity that has remained largely unchanged for the past decade.
While the gap in mortality rates for many cancers has narrowed between Black and white communities, the divide persists for breast and uterine cancers.
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Arizona, in particular, has high mortality rates for African American women with breast cancer and is ranked fifth-worst in the U.S., according to KFF (formerly known as Kaiser Health News).
Dr. Halyard, a cancer expert, highlights that one factor contributing to this disparity is the prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer, a more aggressive form of the disease that is more commonly seen in African American patients. Without appropriate treatment, triple-negative breast cancer has a lower survival rate, is more aggressive, and often presents at an earlier age. These factors underline the urgent need for targeted interventions and improvements in healthcare access and treatment for African American women.
Thank you Ginny Clements, Addie Jones, and others for pushing Breast Cancer Awareness.
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History is being made with the creation of the first monument on the National Mall dedicated to American Women’s History!
This groundbreaking project will honor the incredible contributions of women suffragists, trailblazers, and countless others who have shaped our nation.
What makes this even more special is that Every Living First Lady is involved in the project and serves on the Foundation Board!
- Prominent figures such as filmmaker Ken Burns and actress Rosario Dawson are also playing key roles in bringing this monumental tribute to life.
- This is a powerful moment in history that celebrates the achievements and legacies of women throughout American history!
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This Day in History
On April 10, 1956, legendary African American singer and pianist Nat King Cole was performing for an all-white audience of 4,000 at the Municipal Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama, when he was violently attacked by a group of white men. The assault came after a drunken man in the front row shouted, "Negro, go home," before the attack unfolded.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1919, Nat King Cole moved with his family to Chicago as a child. By 1956, he was a nationally beloved entertainer.
However, due to Birmingham’s strict racial segregation laws, Cole was forced to schedule separate performances for Black and white audiences, reflecting the deeply divided social landscape of the time.
Image source: Library of Congress
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The Civil War started at
Fort Sumter…
On April 12, 1861, the calm of Charleston Harbor was shattered by the thunderous roar of cannons as Confederate forces launched a fierce artillery assault on Fort Sumter, a Union-held stronghold located on a small island off South Carolina's coast.
This bold act of aggression marked the official beginning of the Civil War—the deadliest conflict in American history.
It set the stage for four years of intense, heartbreaking struggle that would divide the nation and ultimately redefine our country’s future.
Image source: Library of Congress
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The U.S. Department of Defense removed and then restored a webpage recognizing Jackie Robinson's military career amid a purge of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content across the department's sites.
A story on Robinson from the "Sports Heroes Who Served" series initially redirected to a "Page Not Found" message on the morning of Wednesday, March 12th . By afternoon, it was restored.
This move followed a February 26 Pentagon memo directing the removal of all DEI-related content from the Defense Department's websites. The archived story highlighted Robinson's military service, including his draft in 1942, his assignment to a segregated Army unit, and his time in the 761st "Black Panthers" tank battalion.
Robinson also faced a court martial for refusing to give up his seat on an Army bus but was later acquitted. He served until 1944 before making history as the first Black player in Major League Baseball in 1947.
Image source: Library of Congress
| | | Become a part of assisting us as we share high-quality educational programming, engaging content, and impactful cultural information with our community and the world. | | | | | |
Our Legacy Founder Investors (LFI), COX, TEP, Elliott Family Charity, Zuckerman Family Foundation, Tucson Foundation
Thank you for your
unwavering support!
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Supporting AAMSAZ | We love hearing from you!
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Gifts in any amount are always welcomed. Please use our easy and secure online giving site.
- Do you have a legacy story or an oral history to share? How about an African American or Black collection that you want to donate to AAMSAZ?
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Let's connect. Please email us and let us know at AAMuseumofSouthernAZ@gmail.com.
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Join our team of volunteers!
Join the effort to preserve African American history and culture in Southern Arizona. AAMSAZ welcomes volunteers. Background checks will be conducted. We are committed to finding meaningful ways for you to contribute.
Please contact us at AAMuseumofSouthernAZ@gmail.com to learn how you can volunteer.
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Sign Up for Tours and Visits
Wednesday - Saturday
10 AM to 4 PM
Friday
10 AM to 3 PM
Tours or visits to the AAMSAZ are by appointment only. Schedule a tour by signing up online. Please check our schedule and sign up using the AAMSAZ website sign-up page!
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General Admission to the museum is free!
Help us keep it that way by
Making a Donation!
Thank you!
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Find AAMSAZ on Facebook and Twitter.
Use #aamsaz and #aams_AZ on your social media posts.
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