Negro Southern League Museum

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The Negro and Southern Leagues Hall of Fame is a proposed educational museum and hall of fame honoring the Negro Leagues of professional baseball, of which the Birmingham Black Barons were a part, and the Southern League, which included the Birmingham Barons for most of the team's history.

The idea of building a Negro Leagues museum in Birmingham was proposed independently by the American Negro League Baseball Association, which secured a contract on the Booker T. Washington Building at 17th Street and 3rd Avenue North and the Alabama Negro League Association, which secured a promised donation of memorabilia from the Center for Negro League Baseball Research.

In May 2008, both groups agreed to combine their efforts and work with a city-authorized board to develop the museum. In April 2009 Mayor Larry Langford unveiled a proposal to build a museum encompassing all of Birmingham's baseball history adjacent to historic Rickwood Field in West End. Further restoration of the baseball park, would be included in the $7.5 million proposal. The City Council passed a resolution supporting the project, and promised to find funding for it in the 2010 city budget. Under pressure from the Mayor, the Council approved a motion to fund the project with unspent capital funds at their May 5 meeting. On July 14 the Council approved a $310,000 contract with Exford Architects to complete design and construction documents.

References

  • Wolfson, Hannah (December 23, 2007) "Baseball veterans and supporters want to build a Negro Leagues museum in downtown Birmingham." Birmingham News
  • Norris, Toraine (April 15, 2008) "Group wants to build museum to honor Negro League veterans from Alabama." Birmingham News
  • Oberholzer, Kristin (May 14, 2008) "Groups unite to develop Negro Leagues museum." Birmingham News
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (April 2, 2009) "Birmingham considering museum, restoration at Rickwood Field." Birmingham News
  • Archibald, John (April 12, 2009) "John Archibald: Behind gunk, a diamond of an idea." Birmingham News
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (May 5, 2009) "Birmingham City Council OKs $7.5 million for museum, Rickwood Field improvements." Birmingham News
  • Spencer, Thomas (July 14, 2009) "Birmingham City Council gives OK on Rickwood Field work." Birmingham News
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