20,000 pieces of African American history to go up for auction

For the past 60 years, Elizabeth Meaders has been assembling artifacts that document the entirety of the African American experience. Meaders' "African American History Trust Collection" features over 20,000 individual items. The collection is set to go up for auction in March and is expected to go for millions. Dana Jacobson has more.

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[m.layfette]

The African American History Museum in DC needs to purchase everything she has in her collection, so that this Huge contribution to American History is preserved for countless generations to come. Sadly she's right that even in 2022, we're having a debate on whether or Not this part of American History should be taught in schools. History is history. The only dividing line is the time stamped on the calendar.

[thesmileyeffect]

I got chills from moment to moment! I really hope that the full collection gets a large purchase price. This is fantastic! This is American History!

[kathysanchez]

AMAZING and PRICELESS!!!
This woman had so much fore thought!!! I hope that all of her items go to a large museum who will care for it all and share by showing/teaching about each of it's value!!!
Blessings to this AMAZING woman!!!

[nyieshahopkins]

I can hear the strength and the love in her I am I am in awe of her accomplishment. I hope this can stays fully in tact as a collection and she receives the recognition that should come with this. Her name too shall not be forgotten.

[philipciaffa]

Great work, Dana Jacobson! Hopefully, this incredible collection will be safeguarded and find a wider audience. Ms. Meaders is to be commended for her vision and dedication. Well done!

[m.coleman]

Wow! This is amazing! Can't wait to hear where this collection lands-- hopefully its new home's purpose will be to educate and inform for generations to come... much like its current owner. What a queen! ❤

[donnah]

Wow. I can’t believe she is 90 years old. Beautiful 💗

[melissabrown]

This woman is amazing. I pray where this collection lands that it is valued, loved and treated with the same care she put in holding on to our history. Bless you and Thank you Ma'am.

[EasyGenie]

This is awesome. Hope the collection ends up in a good museum.

[JenniferSerenity]

Someone please reach out to Robert F Smith who gave $20 million to the Smithsonian's National African American History & Culture museum. I think he would buy it and donate it to the museum or even create a museum just for her collection which I think would be the way to go!! Thanks for sharing!! God Bless her!

[thekeith-donovanexperience]

This lady is amazing for this! We thank you!

[TheColorofLight]

Wow, unbelievable, way to go Elizabeth!

[tonyagabriel]

90 where? She looks absolutely beautiful! Where are all of the celebrities with millions of dollars to waste on cars and jewelry? No one will place value where we as a people don’t place value. I pray this amazing collection goes for more than 10 million and it finds a worthy home.🙏🏾

[haywardmccullough]

Why wouldn't a African American history museum purchase this collection? White people will buy it and get rich off of it!

[tigerlilly]

Wow, bless her for doing this! MY GOD! I pray those do not fall into the hands of hate groups. The DC museum must have this ALL OF IT.

[GratitudeGriot]

Thank GOD she had the foresight to sell and give the collection a new life while she is still of sound mind and body!!! $10M sounds like an undervaluation especially if ONE Marilyn Monroe dress sold for $5M. Ms. Meaders has decades' worth of priceless history. I hope the Smithsonian or Schomburg Center purchases her collection. ❤️🖤💚

[NBflame]

So much rich History, I hope that a good African American Museum purchases her treasures and holds tightly to them to teach every generation.

[Marigold]

Amazing!! I am excited to see who will purchase this. Would love to view every piece. Thx for sharing this wonderful story. Hoping for an update.

[jamesdaple]

Black peoples have really enriched our country!!Me being White born in 1963 I always found them mysterious loved there music dance style!! and cultural differences !! Hopefully they will continue to thrive and pull out of disproportional poverty!!

[shenaepps]

May I ask a question? Would it be possible to instead of an auction? Maybe there could be a fund set up to create a place for where all would be able to come and observe? With a reasonable fee.
The funds would then help to create books for all to see. I'm just asking?
Also maybe that could also help other grand elders to maybe want to share their treasures to the same said place and to me that would be so great, because then their never forgotten... We're Never Forgotten
I'm just asking a question?