Proun
Executive Summary
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Primarily located in the east side of Buffalo, the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor is a historic neighborhood that serves as the focal point for learning about Buffalo’s rich African American history and culture. The Heritage area encompasses locations across Buffalo, with a concentrated portion along Michigan Avenue. The Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor (MSAAHC) includes the following Black heritage institutions: the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission (Corridor) and four Anchor Sites: the Michigan Street Baptist Church (owned by the Buffalo Niagara Freedom Station Coalition), The Nash House Museum (owned by the Michigan Street Preservation Corporation), the Historic Colored Musicians Club and Jazz Museum, and WUFO Black Radio History Collective.
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This project evaluated, recorded, and researched the collections, stories, and experiences embodied in the Heritage Corridor and its four Anchor Sites, in order to create a plan to properly care for and interpret existing collections and expand access to content Corridor-wide. The project builds the capacity for these five Buffalo, New York African American institutions to develop and expand public programs and exhibitions. The outcome of this project is documented in the following three reports:
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MSAAHC: Thematic Development Report
The Proun Team began the project by meeting with the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission and Anchor Site members. The meeting participants reviewed and discussed project goals, existing and desired audience groups, school group programs, and school curriculums. Additionally, a brainstorming session was held to identify key stories, themes, and aspirations for the four Anchor Sites. Three additional sessions with the Commission and Anchor Site members were held to allow for feedback during the development of the Report. The outcome of these discussions is the Thematic Development Report which identifies three interpretive themes relevant to each Anchor Site’s stories as well as to the Corridor:
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Black Agency speaks to the free will, collective and individual power, and independent ownership of the land and structures along the Corridor.
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Black Mobility represents the movement of African Americans to, from, and within the Corridor.
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Black Messaging acknowledges the dissemination of ideas, thoughts, and ways of being of the Corridor’s inhabitants.​
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These themes are to be used as a meta-organizing approach in the development and interpretation of the Corridor-wide experience. The Thematic Development Report also details stories unique to each site that fit within the interpretive themes. These stories are not all encompassing but serve as a solid foundation that allows the Corridor and Sites to develop interpretive information for its programs and exhibits, now and into the future.
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MSAAHC: Anchor-Specific Inventory Sampling & Assessment Reports
An object sampling inventory was conducted for each Anchor Site’s collection. A sampling inventory details artifacts by type, condition, and location within the institution. Each Anchor Site’s Sampling Inventory & Assessment Report is based on their unique collection and provides best practices information for:
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Object display techniques
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Conditions assessment considerations
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Methods for implementing proper storage, handling, climate control, and appropriate materials and supplies to prevent deterioration.
The intent of the report is to aid each Anchor Site in making informed decisions about their entire inventory based on the characteristics and conditions of the sampled items.
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MSAAHC: Collections Management Manual
The Collection Management Manual details best practices for the development and management of an institution’s collection, including documentation, conservation and care, accessioning and deaccessioning, related staff training, and resources for successful implementation and ongoing preservation. Each institution should prepare a unique collection policy for their site informed by their institution’s vision, mission and goals. The development of the policy should include key members of the institution’s board and staff. The intent of this Collection Management Manual is to serve as a long-term resource for institutions in the ongoing care and preservation of their collections. To conclude, this scope of work builds on prior development by the Corridor and the four Anchor Sites, including the MSAAHC Strategic Plan, Anchor sites’ collections lists and databases, and the Michigan Street Historic Structure Report, among other research and planning documents and resources. The intent of this project’s reports is to provide the Corridor and Anchor Sites with resources that can be implemented overtime to both manage and maintain collections, and provide site-specific stories related to the Corridor-wide interpretive themes.
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LINKS REPORTS
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OTHER REPORTS