Services
Dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and culture of African Americans in Houston and beyond. Our goal is to link visitors from around the world to the storied history of this city and Texas.
The collections provide books, manuscripts, and photographs; the research center hosts events, exhibits, and programs that explore the lives and achievements of African Americans. Services and events are open to the public and are designed to educate and engage visitors of all ages.
Construction is underway at this location. While we remain open, you may experience temporary disruptions, including noise or limited access to certain areas.
The collections provide books, manuscripts, and photographs; the research center hosts events, exhibits, and programs that explore the lives and achievements of African Americans. Services and events are open to the public and are designed to educate and engage visitors of all ages.
African American History Research Center at the Gregory School
Construction is underway at this location. While we remain open, you may experience temporary disruptions, including noise or limited access to certain areas.
Reserve a meeting room that is perfect for everything from group projects to solo study sessions.
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Step back in time with a visit to the first Black public school in Houston, nestled in the heart of historic Fourth Ward. Get a unique glimpse in to a 1926 restored classroom, galleries showcasing the establishment and developement of Freedmen's Town after emancipation, and other rotating exhibits. Tours accommodate groups of 10 to 50 people. Late arrival of 30 minutes or more may result in a cancellation or a self-guided tour.
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Stay informed with the latest updates and developments regarding the African American community! Visit our blog for a curated selection of recent articles, stories, press releases, and more. Stay Linked to HPL.
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History
Built in 1926, the two-story, former elementary school named after Edgar M. Gregory, a Union officer and Assistant Commissioner of the Freedmen’s Bureau for the Texas area, is in historic Freedmen’s Town, in Houston’s Fourth Ward. This area is the city’s oldest established African American community. By 1876, the former Gregory Institute became a part of Houston’s public school system, and the Gregory School became the first public education institution for African American children.
The State Historical Commission designated the Gregory School building as a State Archaeological Landmark in 1995; the highest historical landmark classification that can be placed on a building. In 2008, ground-breaking work began to restore and transform the former school into The African American Library at the Gregory School. The renovated library opened on November 14, 2009. The library’s name was changed to the African American History Research Center in 2022.
The State Historical Commission designated the Gregory School building as a State Archaeological Landmark in 1995; the highest historical landmark classification that can be placed on a building. In 2008, ground-breaking work began to restore and transform the former school into The African American Library at the Gregory School. The renovated library opened on November 14, 2009. The library’s name was changed to the African American History Research Center in 2022.
African American Collections
BLACK MUSIC IN HOUSTON
A collection of newspapers, programs, and images about black music activities in Houston.
DEMETRIUS HEAD COLLECTION
A collection depicting African American life, culture, and political activities from 1942 to 2010.
HARRISON FAMILY COLLECTION
This collection documents the Harrison Family of Houston, Texas from 1880 to 1980, and features Edwin Harrison, a civic and community leader.
REV.LEE HAYWOOD SIMPSON PAPERS
Rev. Lee Haywood Simpson was a prominent black pastor at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, and political activist in Houston.
WILLIE LEE GAY
Willie Lee Gay a historian and educator, her collection documents her advocacy for documenting and preserving the history of African American communities in Houston and Texas during the twentieth century.
African American History Resources
Find available online items faster using this guide to access finding aids, print collections, databases, and recommended resources on African American history!
Research Guides
African American Journals & Periodicals
Our A-Z databases offer access to a wide range of scholarly articles, research papers, and publications that cover African American culture, history, language, and more.
Explore Journals & Periodicals
Have a question, want to donate materials?
Submit your research question or donate items to the archives. We gladly accept items such as:
Personal and Family Papers (letters, diaries, journals, scrapbook materials, oral history interviews, legal records, photographs, and funeral programs)
Organizational Records (charters, membership lists, minutes, yearbooks, programs, press releases, correspondence, newsletters, and brochures)
Business Records (correspondence, financial records, legal records, minutes, and photographs)
Printed Materials (newspaper clippings, books, pamphlets, broadsides, and maps)
Audiovisual Materials (audio recordings, oral history interviews, and videos in various formats)
Organizational Records (charters, membership lists, minutes, yearbooks, programs, press releases, correspondence, newsletters, and brochures)
Business Records (correspondence, financial records, legal records, minutes, and photographs)
Printed Materials (newspaper clippings, books, pamphlets, broadsides, and maps)
Audiovisual Materials (audio recordings, oral history interviews, and videos in various formats)
The African American Library Gregory Friends
We welcome donations from your family items and personal collection. Our services provide the opportunities to preserve, reflect, and grow the experiences of African Americans in the Greater Houston area. Your personal materials are essential in capturing oral history and the public sharing of information as historical records in the Houston Public Library’s Digital Archive.
Movements in Houston
A collection of stories and responses to race and social justice topics on inequity, police violence, and racial discrimination and activist movements in Houston and the United States.
RACE & SOCIAL JUSTICE PORTAL
History Research Center Events
Tour the Galleries
RESTORED CLASSROOM
A classroom has been restored to its original 1926 appearance so that visitors can experience what the Gregory School was like at its inception.
FREEDMEN'S TOWN GALLERY
This exhibit chronicles a crucial period in Houston’s history when an African American community, later known as Freedmen’s Town, Fourth Ward, was established following emancipation.
AFRICAN AMERICANS IN HOUSTON GALLERY 1
This exhibit centers on the themes of Faith, Cooperative Economics, Collective Work and Responsibility, and Unity accenting how each played a significant role in the development of the city.
AFRICAN AMERICANS IN HOUSTON GALLERY 2
This exhibit highlights how Black Houstonians used Purpose, Self-Determination, and Creativity asserted themselves through artistic and social outlets.