Black History Month

Art Gallery at Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library

In addition to the public art display the Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library is pleased to feature a small art gallery, sponsored by the Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Library Foundation, featuring local African American artists.

First Exhibit Artist: Ladale Lloyd

February 1, 2019 - March 8, 2019

The first exhibit begins February 1 and features photo-real portraits and landscapes of award-winning artist Ladale Lloyd. It is located in the front lobby and is open during hours of operation, from February 1 to March 8.

A reception for Mr. Lloyd will follow on Tuesday, March 5 at 6 p.m. and is funded by the Ada T. Payne Friends of the Urban Libraries. All are welcome to attend.

Explore African American Art & Artists

Black History in the Tampa Bay Area

Group at private banquet with Mary McLeod Bethune (seated front right) [1945]

Workers unloading bananas from cargo ship, Louis Geraci, to Fruit Growers Express [1929]

C. Blythe Andrews, secretary and treasurer, Central Life Insurance Company, seated at desk [1936]

Staff and children in front of Helping Hand Day Nursery and Kindergarten [1925]

Principal with Ms. Blake and teacher at Middleton High School [1954]

Man seated in wagon as his horse drinks on Madison St. in front of Hillsborough County Court House [1912]

Booker T. Washington High School graduating honor students in caps and gowns outside of building [1946]

Boy Scouts raising flag in front of Tampa Urban League building at 1615 Lamar Avenue [1942]

Teacher and students in classroom at Howard W. Blake Senior High School [1956]

Farm workers working in celery field [1945]

Crowd attending revival meeting in tent on Nebraska Avenue [1948]

Children and staff in front of Tampa Urban League, Harlem Branch Library Tampa Public Library [1923]

African American men departing from Union Station for Emergency Relief Council forest camp [1933]

Group in library at Middleton High School [1954]

Middleton Senior High School girls basketball team [1949]

These and more can be found in the Burgert Brothers Photographic Collection, a unique record of Tampa Bay spanning the late 1800s to the early 1960s.

Our Lives, Our Legacies: The Hillsborough Black Experience

The goal of this online collection is to record and preserve the stories of African American residents in Hillsborough County.

St. Peter Claver 9th grade graduation class of 1948

This project began when the library was awarded a grant from 'StoryCorps @ your library,' a national program designed to encourage multi-format public programming on broad themes of oral narrative, local history and heritage.

View the collection

AfroCon: A Celebration of Diverse Superheroes

Saturday, March 30. AfroCon is a celebration of diverse superheroes. This free family-friendly event will highlight superheroes of color through crafts, a fan art contest, photo ops, an escape room, gaming, a cosplay contest, and more.

More about AfroCon

Black History Reads

Explore our titles to learn more about the important contributions by African Americans to art, science, sports, and pop culture.

Assorted book covers

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Upcoming Events

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