Carl Maxey Center Digital Archives: Preserving Spokane's Black History

The Carl Maxey Center (CMC) is a Black-led and Black-centered non-profit, 501c3 organization, based in the East Central neighborhood of Spokane, Washington. CMC is both a neighborhood cultural center and gathering place, as well as a community based organization that provides programs and services focused on addressing the needs of Spokane's African American/Black community. On October 14, 2023, the CMC partnered with the Spokane Public Library, Eastern Washington University, the Museum of Art and Culture, and the Spokane Historic Preservation Office, to hold a Community Scanning Day. This event was centered on founding a Digital Archive dedicated to preserving Spokane’s Black history, by inviting members of the community to bring in items to be scanned and added to the digital collection. The Carl Maxey Center is excited to build an archive to help share the stories of the rich Black History in Spokane, and to showcase all of the amazing people that have come before us who have helped to establish and improve the lives of African Americans in the Inland Northwest.

Help us grow the archive! If you have items you would like us to scan and add to the collection, please reach out at [email protected].