As the museum's inaugural exhibition, the collection of the National Portrait Gallery represents African American resistance across 150 years of U.S. history.

This year-long initiative will strive to gather and preserve the life stories of African American families by recording their oral histories.

Current and future exhibitions including For All the World to See.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings explore the rich African American musical and oral heritage through sound.

Beverly Thompson of Topeka discusses a 74-year old photo of her as an infant in her mother’s arms with Rex Ellis, associate director for curatorial affairs for the museum.

Ellis and other museum professionals provided one-on-one professional consultations on how to care for personal items as part of the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s “Save Our African American Treasures” program in Topeka, KS in August 2010. The event provided opportunities for northeastern Kansas-area residents to identify and preserve items of historical and cultural significance they have in their homes. The program has been held in Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Charleston, SC, St. Helena, SC, Atlanta, Topeka and Detroit.

NMAAHC is pleased to continue its collaboration with the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage in producing Rhythm and Blues: Tell it Like Is, for the 2011 Folklife Festival.