La Villita Historic Arts Village is known for many things — it’s home to an array of vibrant artisan shops, unique dining options, and the beloved Fiesta event Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA).
But did you know it’s also a place to learn, experience, and explore San Antonio’s African American history? Founded in 2017 by Everett Fly and George Frederick, The San Antonio African American Community and Archive Museum (SAAACAM — pronounced SAY-CAM) is on a mission to collect, preserve, and share the cultural heritage + untold stories of African American community members.
Digital Exhibits
If you can’t visit SAAACAM’s physical location, you can access digital exhibits like the Barbara Rice Collection (the first African American female administrative staff member of the San Antonio field office of the FBI) and the San Antonio Ethnic Art Society.
Community-based digital archive
SAAACAM’s digital collection of archives was created as a place to keep track of those untold stories of local Black history and make it accessible to the public. The archive is a combination of local community-centric oral histories, photographs, and supporting documents that can be found online or at Texas A&M University-San Antonio Library. Currently, SAAACAM has 88 collections in its archive and counting.
Tell your Story
San Antonians are invited to share their story (or a relative’s) with SAAACAM through its Oral History Project collection, where the museum is looking to collect original stories that include text, documents, photographs, videos, and audio files celebrating the African American past, present + future of San Antonio.
For more information on volunteer opportunities, events, and how you can donate, visit SAAACAM’s website.
