Celebrate Black History Month with SCF and Family Heritage House Museum
BRADENTON — State College of Florida is inviting the community to celebrate Black History Month by visiting the African American gallery and resource center at the Family Heritage House Museum in the Library & Learning Center at SCF Bradenton, 5840 26th St. W.
The Family Heritage House Museum is dedicated to promoting a deeper understanding of African American heritage and culture. The museum tells the stories of the African American experience for the benefit of the entire community and the African American community specifically; provides engaging programs; and promotes community engagement and research through ongoing resource development.
Founded in 1990 by the husband-wife team of Ernest L. Brown Jr. and Fredi Sears Brown, the museum curates a collection of artifacts, literature and displays reflecting the history and experiences of African Americans in Manatee County and surrounding areas.
The Browns began collecting news clippings, photographs, documents and books when they were living in Detroit to preserve the living history they were experiencing. Their collection grew to a hybrid library-museum after moving to Bradenton in the 1970s.
A decade after they opened the first Heritage House in a trailer behind a Head Start office in Bradenton in 1990, the Browns opened the doors of their new museum building at Manatee Community College, now SCF, ensuring a non-circulating collection was available to anyone for browsing, studying and researching. With the help of SCF presidents, the Browns maintained its focus on educating youth.
“Part of our mission at Family Heritage House Museum is to inspire children to have a respect for their ancestors, a love for learning and a passion for service, and to strengthen Black families and empower them to maintain historical bonds of kinship,” said Museum Specialist Kathie Marsh, sharing a sentiment from Fredi Sears Brown.
Admission to the museum is free. For more information, visit familyheritagehousemuseum.com or contact Marsh at MarshK@SCF.edu or 941-752-5319.
Submitted by Jamie Smith
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: A celebration of Black history at Family Heritage House Museum at SCF
