Want List - Artifacts
The mission of the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is to collect, preserve, interpret and celebrate Arkansas's African American history, culture, and community from 1870 to the present, and to inform and educate the public about black achievements – especially in business, politics, and the arts.
Help us preserve the history of African Americans in Arkansas!
Black-owned business related:
- Record book or ledger from black owned business
- Jewelry, arts, crafts, etc made by or owned by black Arkansans
- Restaurant menu or menu board from a restaurant located on 9th Street or other black business areas in Arkansas
- Ads, signage, fliers from 9th Street businesses or other black business areas in Arkansas
- Objects and memorabilia for black business districts or businesses around the state (Helen's Walnut Street, Pine Bluff, Hot Springs, Blytheville, Osceola, Texarkana, Marianna…) - restaurant menus, ads, signage, fliers, business cards, letterhead, photographs, etc.
- Programs/fliers/advertisements for musical performances, boxing matches, dances on 9th Street or other black business areas in Arkansas
- Pharmacy/Medical (used by black doctors, dentist, or pharmacists in Arkansas)
- Medical bag
- Early medical tools
- Frank Coffin's poetry books:
- Coffin's Poems with AJAX Ordeals (1897)
- Frank Coffin, Factum Factorum (1947)
- Advertisements for black-owned and operated drug stores
- High John the Conqueror products
- Diploma of African American doctors, pharmacists from Arkansas
Mosaic Templars of America (MTA)
- MTA membership log or book
- MTA Badges
- MTA Insurance policies
- MTA Juvenile policies
- Copy of the Mosaic Guide (newspaper)
- Nursing school – uniforms, medical equipment, textbooks
- Publishing company - Examples from MTA publishing/printing company items/li>
- Objects from other chapters in other states
African American life in Arkansas, 1870 to 1970
- Jim Crow political cartoons
- Artifacts from specific schools – Dunbar, Jones HS, Fargo, Southland, Shorter, Arkansas Baptist, Branch Normal (now UAPB), Philander Smith or other schools– yearbooks, school programs, diplomas, letter sweaters/ jackets, photos
- Objects related to Equal Pay for Teachers cases
- Baseball paraphernalia used by black semi-professional, PONY leagues, Little League – (uniforms, equipment, etc)
- Church artifacts including celebration programs, photographs, etc.
The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is seeking artifacts and images for our collections. We will gladly accept donations and/or long term loans. If you have questions regarding artifacts and images on this list, please contact Bryan McDade at bryan.mcdade@arkansasheritage.org or at 501.683.6278.
Even if you think it is junk, please give us a call and let us come look at it.