Our Mission
The Association’s primary mission is “to preserve historical sources that pertain to Afro-Americans in Western New York and to promote research and scholarship that has to do with the life and history of Afro-Americans in New York State.” AAHANF conduct activities for the advancement of public knowledge by locating and preserving primary source materials pertaining to the history.
Afro Americans in New York Life and History
Since 1977, the AAHANF has published Afro Americans in New York Life and History, a scholarly journal that is cataloged in libraries throughout the country and is subscribed to by a national and international readership.
Buffalo Afro-American Oral History Project
The AAHANF taped interviews of local persons to gain insights into their lives and activities as well as their perceptions of what it was like being alive in Buffalo during certain periods of time. The Association has transcribed a number of these interviews and has a transcript collection which can be used by researchers in doing historical writings.
Microfilm Collection
The AAHANF has saved and preserved historical records of local African American organizations and individuals. Our collections total over 600,000 pages of documents. All of our microfilmed collections are deposited at three locations: the Frank E. Merriweather Library William A. Miles Center for African and African-American Studies (1324 Jefferson Ave., Buffalo, NY 14208); the Butler Library Archives of SUNY College; and the Monroe Fordham Regional History Center, Buffalo State College. There is no charge for the use of those materials which are available for public use.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Speaker’s Program by AAHANF
The Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier, Inc. presents the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Speaker’s Program featuring keynote speaker Dr. Yohuru Williams, Founding Director of the Center of Racial Initiative.