A once in a lifetime opportunity awaits you inside Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center. Located just a stone's throw from the State Capitol building, its just walking distance of principal businesses and attractions in downtown Jackson. Through art, artifacts and photography, the work, lifestyle and artistic contributions of African Americans are celebrated, evoking a greater understanding of the African American experience in the Deep South.


The museum is housed in the former Smith Robertson School, the first public school built for African Americans in Jackson. The school opened in 1894 and served the African American community until 1971. The original building was a two story wood structure that burned in 1909. Being replaced that same year, a brick structure was erected by a local African American contractor. In 1929, the prominent architectural firm Hull and Mulvaney enlarged the building and enhanced it with its Art Deco facade. The school was named for Mr. Smith Robertson, who was born a slave in Fayette, Alabama in 1847. After the Civil War he migrated to Jackson where he operated a successful barbering business. He was also in local politics and became the first African American Alderman in the City of Jackson.

Smith Robertson School 1912

One of the most notable graduates of Smith Robertson School is internationally known writer and 1925 graduate Richard Wright. Though he spent only a few years of his life in Mississippi, those years would play a key role in his two most important works: "Native Son", a novel, and his autobiography, "Black Boy".

RICHARD WRIGHT

 

 The school closed in 1971 because of integration and was abandoned. Concerned citizens within the community wanted to save the building from being torn down. Dr. Jessie Mosley and Dr. Alferdteen Harrison organized a petition to save the experience; it would be the first in the state. The museum opened in 1984. Dr. Jessie Moseley was the museum's first director and was eventually named "Director Emeritus".

Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center is dedicated to increasing public understanding and awareness of the historical experience and cultural expressions of people of African descent. Artifacts highlight the contributions of the African American Mississippian through struggle and achievement. From Slavery to America 1670-1864, Hall of Fame (personalities in Mississippi), which include politicians from the state that are pioneers in their respected positions such as; Robert Clark, elected in 1967, he was the first African American elected to serve in The Mississippi Legislature since 1894. Unita Blackwell was the first African American woman elected as mayor of a city in the State of Mississippi. Ruben Anderson became the first African American to serve on the Mississippi Supreme court. There is also the Honorable Harvey Johnson, Jr., who was elected in 1997 as the first African American mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, the state's capitol and largest city. The museum also houses on a permanent basis the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Services organized exhibition, Field to Factory-The Afro-American Migration 1915-1940. This exhibition interprets African Americans moving in great numbers from the rural south to the urban north. The larger version of this exhibition is housed at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Other permanent exhibitions include: History of Smith Robertson School, Works from the Visual Collection, Works From the Master Collection, Treasures of Africa, Historic Farish Street District (1910-1970), African American Lifestyle In Mississippi, Mississippi Negro Scholars, Mississippi Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Mississippi African American Folk Art, Civil Rights Gallery (Jackson, Mississippi Movement) and Mississippi Black Doctors Gallery.



DOCENTS 
You are invited to volunteer at the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center. For more information please contact the museum at (601) 960-1457. All volunteers learn art history, specifically African and African American, observation and evaluation, script writing, and presentation. Docents lead tours, assist in museum activities and act as an ambassador to the museum.

SCHEDULING TOURS

Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center offers tours Monday through Saturday. You can request an overview of the museum or a guided tour. The museum must receive your request two weeks prior to the date of your tour. A confirmation letter will be sent to the person making the request. Please present the confirmation to the museum staff when you arrive. Because of scheduling, a group arriving late will forfeit their guided tour and will be offered an overview as an alternative.

Tours are for groups with a minimum of ten persons. All school groups must be accompanied by an adequate amount of chaperones
Tours generally last for 45 minutes, but remember that the visitors determine the length of the tour.
*School discount: For every 10 students 1 chaperone will get into the museum free of charge.




RESERVATIONS

All reservations must be approved by the museum manager, please send a letter requesting the use of the museum for your event.
SMITH ROBERTSON MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER
GIFT SHOP
Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center has a variety of items to purchase: African Masks, books, paintings, t-shirts, mugs and many more items to complete your visit to the museum.

 

The Gift Shop is open during regular business hours.
For more information please call (601) 960-1457.


Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center
528 Bloom Street
Jackson, MS 39202-4005
(601) 960-1457

MUSEUM HOUR: MONDAY-FRIDAY 9:00 A.M.- 5:00 P.M.
SATURDAY 10:00 A.M.- 2:00 P.M.
SUNDAY 2:00 P.M.- 5:00 P.M.



ADMISSION PRICES: ADULTS $ 4.50
CHILDREN UNDER 18 $ 1.50
SENIOR CITIZENS $ 3.00 (over 62)


MUSEUM STAFF MEMBERS

Museum Manager Pamela D. C. Junior pjunior@city.jackson.ms.us
Curator/Archivist Vaccant
Research Historian Owen Brooks
Secretary Sharon Ceaser sceaser@city.jackson.ms.us
Art Gallery Attendant Mary Funchess