Social Groups

EXHIBITIONS:

"ELegance, Class & Circumstance"

The History of African American Social Groups & Clubs in North Omaha

Panel of Omaha Elders

Panelists included John Harris Pat Brown, Mercedes Bullard, , Katherine Fletcher and Virgil Chandler.

Love’s Jazz and Art Center in collaboration with Metropolitan Community College, presented a Kick-Off Celebration for Black History Month featuring a night to honor African American Social Organizations on Thursday, January 29. The packed house Learned about the history of social, fraternal and community organizations in the African American Community. Elmer Crumbley, Retired Educator, facilitated a discussion by a panel of elders sharing the history of social, fraternal and community organization in the local African American community.
The event highlighted the opening display of photos and articles related to Omaha’s historic African American social organizations. Musical entertainment was provided by The Daryl White Quartet from Lincoln, Nebraska. White's performance experiences include as guest soloist with the Omaha Symphony, Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, Mesa Chamber Orchestra, Grand Junction Symphony, Lake Forest Chamber Orchestra, Roaring Fork Jazz Festival, University of Nebraska Faculty Brass Quintet and the University Faculty Jazz Quartet. A hearty buffet reception was prepared by Metropolitan Community College’s Institute for the Culinary Arts any accompany desserts from Big Mama’s Kitchen.

History of Social Groups in North Omaha

Loves Jazz & Arts Center (LJAC) is featureing this exhibition that chronicles and documents early social groups in the African American community in Omaha.

The North Side YWCA was created in 1920. A residence at 2306 North 22nd Street became the "Y" Community Center and offered classes, lectures, and space for club activities of all kinds. A garden Club was organized to take care of the grounds and building, and after a few years. the group evolved into the Quack Club. This organization, composed of the "most active young colored women in the community," presented a yearly operetta and annual Christmas and summer dances held at Brownelt Hall, social events which raised money for the "y"in

White the civic organizations concentrated on community betterment, there were also a variety of fraternal and social clubs functioning. In 1926, the Masons had their club rooms in the Frenzer Block at 1902 North 24th Street, and later met at 26th and Btondo, while the Elks met at Columbia Hall, 2420 Lake Street. Founded in 1919, the Theodore Roosevelt Post of the American Legion was organized to help ex servicemen adapt to civilian life and find employment. The group was also involved in relief and social welfare work, and organized an auxiliary for women relatives of members."

Among the first social clubs in the black community was the Pleasant Hour Club, formed in the late nineteenth century. It was later followed by the Aloha Club, the Entre Nous Club, Trojan Club, Quack Club and Beau Brummels Club. Certainly the highlight of the social scene, however, was the annual Coronation Ball, with the announcement of King and Queen Borealis. Sponsored by St. Philip's Episcopal Church, the celebration was modeled after the Ak‑Sar‑Ben festivities and each year honored an outstanding man and woman of the community. The pageant, frequently held at Dreamland Hall, began in 1930°

Curated by Neville Murray this exhibition also includes the creaton of a documentary examining the role of these groups and how they affected civil society in the African American community in the 20^th century.

To this end LJACcontinues to seek oral histories, photographs, uniforms, and other relevant information pertaining to this important time period. If you have any information that you would like to share with the center please contact Neville Murray @ (402) 502-5291 More

Download Poster

Online Exhibition
Catalogues
“Islands of Spirits”
“Anonymous African American Portraits”
“Lamentations & Celebrations”

"African American Quilts from the Robert and Helen Cargo Collection,"

past exhibitions

click on the photos for more infomation