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History

The African American Museum in Cleveland was founded by Icabod Flewellen in 1953. It became the first independent African American museum to open in America. Flewellen was a long-time resident of East Cleveland and best known for his extensive collection of African-American historical artifacts and souvenirs. By age 13, Flewellen began collecting historical newspaper clippings dedicated to the history of black Americans, a passion inspired by the writings of Jamaican-born author J. A. Rogers. Icabod’s first museum collection, which he noted had been exceedingly rich with historical material, was destroyed at his West Virginia home in a firebomb by white supremacists shortly after his return from the military. Flewellen’s collection of materials, after the fire in his West Virginia home, eventually became the main artifacts of the Museum. He then migrated to Cleveland, Ohio in 1949, began collecting materials again, and relaunched his second African American Museum originally known as the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Society in 1953. The majority of Flewellen’s collected material was obtained by visiting neighbors and asking them about their family histories. One collection that remains in the museum today is from the Cleveland’s “Parade of Progress” in 1964. Other portions of his collection went to the East Cleveland Library Debra Ann November Center.

Mission

The African American Museum, formerly the Afro-American Cultural & Historical Society Museum which was established in April 1953 is located at 1765 Crawford Rd. in Cleveland. It is a nonprofit cultural and educational museum that aims to share the achievements of African Americans. Flewellen believed that everyone should have the opportunity to see the accomplishments of Africans and those of African descent. Although they were originally stored at his home on Harkness Avenue, it was moved in 1968 to a classroom at St. Marian’s School. In May 1973, the collection (more than 200,000 items at the time) was moved to 1839 E. 81st St., where it was housed until February 1983, when the Cleveland Public Library (CPL) leased Flewellen its Treasure House building on Crawford Rd. CPL turned over the management of the building to the museum in September 1984. The museum building was renamed Icabod Flewellen in 1987 and can be seen in the photo.

Funding

Flewellen worked other jobs to support this project and due to an increase in black history interest, he received grants for special projects, such as a $10,000 grant from the Cleveland Foundation in 1970 to catalog his collection. The Ohio Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities also provided support, and in 1983 the museum received a $50,000 community development block grant for lectures to schoolchildren and community groups. In 1992 the museum received grants from the Cleveland and Gund Foundations.

Closure

The museum has been closed since 2011 due to lack of proper building functions and funds. According to the Museum's official website, the museum is only open on selected days (part time) by volunteers and it is currently raising funds in hopes to re-open full time. Its mission will remain the same: to store, share, and educate the public on contributions made to the world by people of African descent. Over the decades, the Museum has provided the Cleveland community with cultural education about Black history and events that celebrate African American artifacts.