Our Mission

Research, Collect, Compile, Document and Educate/Inspire.  Its mission is to inspire the accumulation of an expansive archive depicting the fertile history of African-Americans in Chesterfield County. 

     

         Castlewood                 Magnolia Grange          Old Jail               Museum

For a larger view of all photographs on this page, click on the photograph.

See the New Black History Exhibit at the Chesterfield Museum - opened February 4, 2012  This exhibit was made possiblewith the generous support of the Dominion Foundation.

This photograph shows members of the African-American History Committee (Sarah Gregory absent) at the Feb. 4^th opening of their exhibit on oral histories entitled FourScore and More, Part II at the County Museum. The exhibit will continue through April 29, 2012.  The African American History committee is currently comprised of ten (10) members and the membership is opened to persons who will embrace and promote the mission and share the following core values: Collaboration, Commitment, Compassion, Humility, Innovation, and Integrity.  The committee meets monthly at Castlewood, the third Monday at 10am, unless otherwise notified by the scheduler. Meetings are informal yet professional, productive and efficient, which sets the tone in fostering respectful discussions with decisions based on consensus and wisdom.  The African American Committee is chaired by Cornelia Owens Goode and she can be reached via email at  Midlo63@verizon.net . New members are always welcomed.

A photograph of the Rev. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, and Hattie Mae Trent Carter.  Ms. Carter’s history is one of those depicted in the Chesterfield Museum exhibit.  In the background of the photo is Mrs. T. Ann Walker.  Developed by the African-American History Committee of CHSV, this oral history project began in 2005 with the first interviews of African-American Chesterfield County residents aged 80 and older.  Their words speak fervently to us as they describe the life experiences of African Americans who were born or lived in Chesterfield County from the first 30 years of the 20^th century through the first decade of the 21^st century. The exhibit reflects many common themes and challenges they faced growing up in a mostly rural and segregated environment. The stories include their early education, families and community life, military service and chosen fields of work. This year’s exhibit adds new interviews to compliment those exhibited in February 2011.  Artifacts depicting the era and culture of these African-American elders will also be included. Click on the photo for a larger view.

On June 2010,  a notebook binder was donated to the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia Library:   Early-African-American Churches in Chesterfield County Binder – written histories of local churches.  This is an excellent history of local African American churches.         

Available are books for researching your family history in our library

The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia is a 501 (c) (3) organization. Your tax-deductible donation funds the continued projects, programs, exhibits, and collections of the Society. For more information, please call our office at 804-796-7121. Donations may be mailed to the Chesterfield Historical Society of VA, PO Box 40, Chesterfield, VA  23832 or use the safe Paypal link in the left sidebar.