Black Archives Museum of St. Joseph

06/25/2026

Thank you to Gary Smith at the CVB for making this excellent advertisement for our museum! Visit us all week long from 10am to 5pm (except major holidays).

06/23/2026

William Earl Robinson was born in Yazoo City, MS, in 1950 and calls Clarksdale, Mississippi, home. With no academic training, his individualistic style and unique artistic vision have enabled his work to be celebrated in many galleries, added to the permanent collection of the Cottenlandia Museum and the Delta Blues Museum, and captured in Hollywood cinema. Among the many collectors of Robinson's paintings is also Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman. For a limited time, you can see the original works of William Earl Robinson when you visit the Black Archives Museum of St. Joseph. Open everyday from 10am to 5pm (except major holidays)

06/20/2026

Juneteenth is happening right now at the Bartlett Center. See the Talent Show, Vendor Fair, Speakers, Fashion Show, Live Music, Food Vendors all day! Picnic tomorrow -

Celebrate freedom, family, and fellowship at the annual Juneteenth Family Picnic! This joyful afternoon brings together neighbors, friends, and community members for food, fun, and reflection in honor of emancipation and Black heritage.

What to Expect:

Free food and refreshments from Towanda Issac's Phat Kids Catering

Pan fried / Baked Chicken

BBQ Pulled Pork

Hot Dogs

Watermelon, Cucumber, Mint Salad

Coleslaw

Potato Salad

Live entertainment and music



A relaxed, welcoming atmosphere to connect and celebrate

This event is free, but RSVPs are encouraged to help us plan for food and seating. Whether you're coming solo or with your whole crew, we’d love to see you there!

Reserve your spot today and be part of this meaningful celebration of history, hope, and togetherness.

06/17/2026

The countdown to Juneteenth weekend is upon us. Celebrations open at the Juneteenth Gala on Friday, June 19th at the Bartlett Center. On Saturday morning the parade will begin at 10am at Bode Middle School and end at the Bartlett Center, with live music, DJs, Vendor Fair, and events into the evening. The picnic will be on Sunday, June 21st. See the website for a complete list of times and events!

https://www.stjosephmuseum.org/juneteenth

06/16/2026

The Giddy Up Riders of Kansas City is a nonprofit saddle club dedicated to teaching horsemanship, celebrating Black cowboy heritage, and fostering community through horseback riding. Come see the Giddy Up Riders this Saturday June 20th for the Juneteenth Parade - https://www.stjosephmuseum.org/juneteenth

www.giddyupriderofkansascitysaddleclub.org

06/14/2026

Grab your golfing friends and hit the greens for a cause! Join us for the Black Archives Golf Tournament on July 24, 2026, at Fairview Golf Course in St. Joseph, MO. Presented by The Black Archives Museum, this four-man scramble promises friendly competition, great prizes, and community spirit.

Entry is just $60 per player — sign up your team today and celebrate freedom, history, and camaraderie on the course. Let’s tee off in support of the Black Archives Museum!

06/12/2026

'Conversations' is an original play written by Loes Hedge, Gary Wilkinson, and JD Soil, and will premiere as a signature event of the Juneteenth St. Joseph celebration. This powerful new work weaves together personal stories, historical echoes, and modern reflections—inviting audiences to witness the ongoing dialogue between past and present in the pursuit of freedom, dignity, and community.

Join us for this moving theatrical experience at Spratt Theater, Missouri Western State University, with performances on June 13 at 6 PM and June 14 at 3 PM.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the site - https://www.stjosephmuseum.org/juneteenth

06/10/2026

From the archives of Mrs. Kelsy Beshears, pictured is her copy of an NAACP handout on the importance of voting, published in the same year as the Woolworth Counter Sit-in in Greensboro, NC. Kelsy Beshears was the president of the St. Joseph NAACP chapter in the 1960s, and helped organized local resistance to segregation around St. Joseph.

June 9th marks the day that put the First African Baptist Church on the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights Trail, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Known as "Bloody Tuesday", on this day in 1964, American racial terror groups terrorized over 500 protestors who organized to march against the segregation of new city facilities.