Greater Kansas City Black History Study Group
ABOUT THIS BRANCH
President: Larry Lester
The Greater Kansas City Black History Study Group (GKCBHSG) was organized in October 2013 and has provided Black History programs since inception. In September of 2015, we received official Branch status at the ASALH Centennial Convention in Atlanta, Georgia.
in March of 2018 and 2019 and 2020, the branch featured 31 biographies daily on our FaceBook page during Women History Month, showcasing prominent African American women from the metropolitan area. We also published a 14-page list of books related to Kansas City Black life.
Our standard annual programming includes 1) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., celebration, 2) Founders’ Day, and 3) Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s birthday. Traditionally our programs are aligned with the national theme.
Our membership includes scholars and authors; Dr. Antonio Holland (our branch historian), Dr. David Trowbridge, Dr. William Tuttle, Dr. Ian Munro, Dr. Shawn Alexander, Glenn North and Larry Lester.
Occasionally we do a motor coach tour of historic sites in metropolitan Kansas City.
Deborah Dandridge was the 2020 Dorothy Porter Wesley Award winner. Recently, in 2025, student member Marlee Wash received a four-year Dr. Carter G. Woodson Scholarship from Berea College. While president Larry Lester is the recipient of the 2025 Mary McLeod Bethune Service Award.
MEETING INFO
Our primary in-person meetings are at the Black Archives of Mid-America. Security is provided. Occasionally we do hybrid meetings with Zoom. We traditionally meet on the third Saturday of the month, from 1 to 3 pm, from September through June with time off during July and August for program and financial planning. Parking is readily available as is mass transit. Refreshments are served.
HOW TO JOIN
Contact:
Dr. Cecelia Robinson, V-P of Membership, [email protected] 816-591-6199
Dr. Tony Holland, Historian, [email protected] 573-864-3045
Joanne Collins, Program Coordinator, [email protected] 816-506-5488
Gwendolyn Hawks-Blue, Secretary, [email protected] 816-506-1845
Brenda Vann, Corresponding Secretary, [email protected] 913-669-7297