Founded in 1905 and officially incorporated on March 15, 1912, The Arch is the oldest known continuously operating African American social club in the United States. Interview with the organization’s leaders, Jahi Faw and Tshamba Kaleb. Interviewed by 2022 Black Arts District Intern Keyonna Hill and Curator Angela N Carroll  

The Arch Social Club 2023 Oral History Interview 

Interview conducted with Mama K Alexander in 2022 by Historical Photography Project Fellow Keyonna LaShawn. Ms. Pryor-Trusty answers questions about early memories on Pennsylvania Avenue, changes she has observed on Pennsylvania Avenue, and the Uprising 

Mama K Alexander Oral History Interview 2022 - Changes on Pennsylvania Avenue 

Mama K Alexander Oral History Interview 2022 - Remembering the Royal Theater

Oral History Interview - Philip Muriel + Elmer "Teddy" Murray 

Mama K Alexander Oral History Interview 2022 - Thoughts about the 1968 Uprising on Pennsylvania Avenue 

In the Winter -Spring of 2023, 9th-12th grade students taking Social Studies at City Neighbors High School utilized a curriculum developed by the Black Arts District Historical Photography Project  called SnapShots: Preserving Cultural Memory Through Photos. During the course students learned how to analyze photographs and conduct oral histories with members in thier families and community.  Check out a few examples of student work here and in the Oral History collection in our HPPArchive.     Special Thanks to Ms. Jessica Thompson for her support of the Historical Photography Project!  

SnapShots Oral Histories: City Neighbors High School: Mya Kayla Diakhate Interview 

Snapshots Oral Histories: City Neighbors High School: Kolin Interview 

SnapShots Oral Histories: City Neighbors High School:  Aniya Coates Interview

Interview conducted with Ms. Rosa "Rambling Rose" Pryor Trusty in 2022 by Historical Photography Project Fellow Keyonna LaShawn. Ms. Trusty Pryor answers questions: Where did you grow up?, What is your earliest club memory?, Describe your role as a promoter, What hopes do you have for the future of Pennsylvania Avenue?  

Ms Rosa "Rambling Rose" Pryor-Trusty Oral History Interview - History as a Promoter

Ms Rosa "Rambling Rose" Pryor-Trusty Oral History Interview - Earliest Memory in Club on Pennsylvania Avenue  

SnapShots Oral Histories: City Neighbors High School: Isabella Mohammed Interview

Interview conducted with Ms. Rosa "Rambling Rose" Pryor-Trusty in 2022 by Historical Photography Project Fellow Keyonna LaShawn. Ms. Pryor-Trusty answers questions: Where did you grow up?, What is your earliest club memory?, Describe your role as a promoter, What hopes do you have for the future of Pennsylvania Avenue?  

Ms. Rosa "Rambling Rose" Pryor-Trusty Oral History Interview 2022 - Where Did You Grow Up?

Nanny Jack & Co interview tieh James "Big James" Staton 

Oral History Interview - Philip J Muriel + James "Big James" Staton 

Interview with Dr. Frances Toni Draper of The AFRO Newspaper conducted and edited by 2023 Black Arts District Intern Brandy Creek  

The AFRO Dr Frances Toni Draper 2023 Oral History Interview 

SnapShots Oral Histories: City Neighbors High School: Delano Hernanez-Johnson Interview 

SnapShots Oral Histories: City Neighbors High School: Tyson Interview 

SnapShots Oral Histories: City Neighbors High School: Saniya Smith Interview 

Oral History Interview with Dr. Johnson Founder of Liz's Place on Pennsylvania Avenue. The interview was conducted at Liz's Place on March 2023 by Brandy Creek, Cydni Stewart and Angela N Carroll 

Dr. Johnson Lizs Place Founder Oral History Interview 

Snapshots Oral Histories: City Neighbors High School: Makalah Daniels Interview 

SnapShots Oral Histories: City Neighbors High School: Shyasia Monroe Interview 

The Historical Photography Project is proud to collaborate with the 

, maintained and curated by his grandson and fellow photographer Webster Phillips, to showcase a selection of rare images of Black arts, entertainment, and culture on Pennsylvania Avenue (1940s-1950s). Many of the images featured in this collection were taken by I. Henry Phillips Sr. before the repeal of Jim Crow-era segregation laws that 

"affected almost every aspect of daily life, mandating segregation of schools, parks, libraries, drinking fountains, restrooms, buses, trains, and restaurants. "Whites Only" and "Colored" signs were constant reminders of the enforced racial order."

Featured images highlight Black businesses, protests, Black joy, and arts and entertainment events facilitated by exclusive Black-owned and operated social clubs. 

I Henry Phillips Sr. Collection 

In Fall 2023,  students taking Social Studies at Glenmount Elementary Middle School utilized a curriculum developed by the Black Arts District Historical Photography Project called SnapShots: Preserving Cultural Memory Through Photos. During the course students learned how to analyze photographs and conduct oral histories with members in their families and community. Check out a few examples of student work here in our HPPArchive.

Special Thanks to Ms. Shana L Bainbridge for her support of the Historical Photography Project!

Snapshots: Glenmount Elementary Middle School 

The Historical Photography Project is proud to work in collaboration with Dr. Ida Jones, Archivist in the Beulah M. Davis Special Collections at Morgan State University to showcase rare images of Victorine Quille Adams (1912-2006) from the papers of Victorine Quille Adams (1912 – 2006) collection. 

Adams was a Baltimore Public School teacher, business manager of the Charm Center, Politician, and founder of the Colored Women’s Democratic Campaign Committee. These images and other items in the Victorine Quille Adams papers document the life of a native Baltimorean whose contributions to improve civic awareness and participation are notable. The collection is organized into 10 series: personal papers; family correspondence, organizational affiliations, correspondence, Colored Women’s Democratic Campaign, Woman Power, Baltimore City Council/Baltimore Fuel Fund, and artifacts. Visit 

Victorine Q. Adams: Morgan State University Beulah M. Davis Special Collections

The Historical Photography Project is proud to collaborate with the Rosa "Rambling Rose" Pryor-Trusty Archive to showcase images that highlight Black Joy, arts, entertainment, and entrepreneurship on Pennsylvania Avenue (1940s-1960s). Ms. Rosa Pryor-Trusty, a longtime columnist and promoter, maintains an extensive collection of photographs and ephemera about African-American entertainment in Maryland. She is a published author who highlights regional histories. In her seminal book, African-American Community, History & Entertainment In Maryland: Remembering the Yesterday's 1940-1980, "Rambling Rose" gathers a significant snapshot of Black entertainment arts and culture in Baltimore City and across Maryland. 

African-American Community, History & Entertainment in Maryland: Remembering the Yesterday's 1940-1980

Rosa "Rambling Rose" Pryor Trusty Archives 

In the Winter -Spring of 2023, 9th-12th grade students taking Social Studies at City Neighbors High School utilized a curriculum developed by the Black Arts District Historical Photography Project  called SnapShots: Preserving Cultural Memory Through Photos. During the course students learned how to analyze photographs and conduct oral histories with members in thier families and community.  Check out a few examples of student work here and in the Oral History collection in our HPPArchive. 

Special Thanks to Ms. Jessica Thompson for her support of the Historical Photography Project!  

SnapShots: City Neighbors High School 

Penn Ave Main Street Farmers Market Portraits 

On top of the world 

Family 

Chelsea on the Ave 

Bmore

Smaller girl is Johnetta K. Creek maiden name Hicks. The taller girl is unknown. Posed for a picture in front of row homes with a ball. Taken in the July 1955 most likely in the 21217 area code. 

Girls with Ball

Johnny Hicks on a Baltimore rooftop circa 1940s.

Johnny Hicks on Rooftop - West Baltimore 1940s

image of unidentified people in Sphinx Club 

Sphinx Club 

Strength 

Portrait of community members at Pennsylvania Main Street Farmers Market

Tew Dew Dugg Fugg

Bobbi - The Blueface Project Showing Black Girl Joy 

Grandmother and Granddaughter 

Honor our Elders 

Ariel on the Ave 

On the Avenue at the Pennsylvania Avenue Main Street Farmers Market 

On the Ave 

The Historical Photography Project ("HPP"), an initiative of the Black Arts District, seeks to counter histories of disinvestment that have exacerbated the loss of cultural memory for communities in the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor of West Baltimore. HPP encourages photographers and residents living in West Baltimore to contribute photographs from their personal archives and to create new images that contextualize the history, present and future of West Baltimore. 

SnapShot: Preserving Cultural Memory through Photos was designed to highlight gaps in West Baltimore's community history by asking the questions:  

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I Henry Phillips Sr. Collection

Snapshots: Glenmount Elementary Middle School

Victorine Q. Adams: Morgan State University Beulah M. Davis Special Collections

Rosa "Rambling Rose" Pryor Trusty Archives

SnapShots: City Neighbors High School