Many persons and artifacts rekindle our recollections and reflections of events and people that have played a role in shaping our local African American community. Some are big, glaring, sensational. They demand recognition in local media; others are small, but are equally important and significant in the understanding and the appreciation of our rich heritage. These are the everyday happenings that invoke nostalgic memories in the elderly and challenging exploration of the past in the young and the young at heart.

Early man utilized drawings and pictures to preserve accounts of their existence. We still continue this form of historical preservation of memorable occasions and events. Remember that box of old photos stacked and stored in attics, basements, under the bed and other out of the way places - most families have them.

Each photo shows a location, event or person that provides a small piece of our history, our past, our perceptions. Each photo captures a quantity of information and is a valuable resource concerning the history and culture that has shaped our community.

The Champaign County African-American History Committee is continually searching for photos, help them fulfill their mission "to gather, chronicle, and preserve the heritage" - to pass on our history so that it will never be forgotten. We encourage our readers to share their photos with us.

The selected photos shown here are courtesy of Gene Suggs, Photography. For over 50 years, Suggs has used photography both as a hobby and as a profession. Some older photos have been collected and accumulated from other sources. Some of these we share with you.

Many youths received positive exposure in the Boy Scouts. Early scout troops were sponsored by American Legion Post 559. This is a picture of a later scout troop and their scout master, Charles Phillips.

The Royalettes and one of those memorable "Christmas in July" formal galas held in the Champaign Armory. The decorations were beautiful and the participants decked out in their finest attire.

Salem Baptist Church Tot Lot under the direction of Helen Johnson. Champaign- Urbana. The kindergarten and early childhood experiences were provided through our neighborhood groups and organizations prior to their presence in the public school systems.

In 1915, these nine young ladies of Gamma Chapter of Alpha Kappa are shown on the steps of Altgeld Hall on the U of I campus. The national organization was founded in 1908. The local chapter chartered in Champaign in 1914 is still in existence fostering educational excellence and community service.

The War Mothers of World War II, a unit of the national organization was organized to support their sons in service. These women were very active in the war effort as well as civic and defense and war related activities.