Arizona African Americans

United StatesArizona African Americans

Archives and Libraries

Pioneer Museum (Flagstaff)

2340 N. Fort Valley Road
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: 928-774-6272
Email: AHSFlagstaff@azhs.gov
Website

Hours: Mon. – Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday: Closed except during special events.

The Pioneer Museum has a few collections documenting African American pioneers. See Black Genesis for reference to Beppie Culin Papers (1850-1900) on page 64 which contain 324 bills of sale for slaves.

Churches

Tucson

African Americans are represented mainly in five categories: Baptist, Methodist, Church of God in Christ, Church of Christ, and Apostolic.

• African American Churches in Tucson 
• Photographic Exhibits African American Churches in Tucson, Arizona, 1900 - 1990

History

The bibliography, Trailtones: The African-American Heritage of Arizona, compiled by Gloria L. Smith contains materials that highlight African-American heritage in Arizona.  

Probably the first person of African heritage who came to this area was a member of a Spanish expedition.  Esteban was originally from Morocco, and was a slave to a Spaniard. He first arrived in the New World in 1528.  See Esteban, a 16th Century Explorer.

Also see:

• Early Settlers
• African American Soldiers
• Establishing Neighborhoods
• Dunbar School and Educational Opportunities

Other Sources

• Harris, Richard E. The First 100 Years: A History of Arizona Blacks. Apache Junction, AZ: Relmo Publishers, 1983.

Websites

• Black History in Arizona:  People, Places, Events
• African American Multicultural Museum
• In The Steps of Esteban: Tucson's African American Heritage