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Daphne Rice-Allen | Black American West Museum & Heritage Center

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The Museum grew out of Paul W. Stewart’s personal passion for collecting materials that would document the stories of African Americans living in the West. Since finding a home in the historic Dr. Justina L. Ford house in 1988, The Black American West Museum & Heritage Center (BAWM) has become a must-see destination for visitors from around the world. Now each year thousands of people visit the museum to experience a facet of the West not recorded in history books. The Museum's role is to promote an understanding of the role African Americans played in the settlement and growth of the western United States through its collections, programs, and exhibits. BAWM & HC seeks to become the leading American museum in sharing information about the unique experiences and contributions of African Americans in the West.

Daphne H. Rice-Allen has been a leader in the African American arts and culture community since 1989. Her parents attended historically Black colleges in the South and encouraged her to be always be curious . Leading the museum is part of that tradition. During her tenure as the Chair she is motivated to strengthen the museum’s volunteer and membership base. Mrs. Rice-Allen has held positions as an Arts Coordinator for Art Reach after school program and a former board member of the Denver Black Arts Festival now the Colorado Black Arts Festival. She was recently inducted into the Circle of Wisdom by the Colorado Kwanzaa Committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Technical Communications/Public Relations from Metro State College and an associate’s degree in Applied Science, Fashion Merchandising from Arapahoe Community College.

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Daphne Rice-Allen | Black American West Museum & Heritage Center
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What role do you play in your Industry?

  • The Black American West Museum & Heritage Center emerged out of the late Paul W. Stewart’s personal passion for “Storytelling,” Through his collections, materials, and personal interviews that document these stories of African Americans in the West. The museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and disseminating information pertaining to the contributions of African Americans in the settlement, growth and development of the Western United States. Historical traditions within the African American community transcend centuries and generations dating back to the days of enslavement when Africans were not allowed to read, write or retain their cultures. The inability to learn, read and write was and is the catalyst that drives the art of “Storytelling.” For enslaved African’s the art of “Storytelling” was the only way to teach history, heritage and knowledge. Imparting to generations the stories of strength, pride and perseverance of a people was how they learned to survive, as well as keeping these stories and history alive.

What year did you start in your industry?

  • The Museum incorporated in 1971.

What Certifications, Degrees, Titles and Experience do you have in your industry?

  • I am the current chair of the board of directors.

Why & How did you get involved in your industry?

  • Art, culture, history and education were always a part of my life growing up. Both my parents came out of South and graduated from historically Black Colleges: Talladega College, and Tuskegee Institute. My Father was an original TAI with the 99th Fighter Squadron, the Class of 1942 I. and my mother was a teacher of African American History and Music.

What do you love most about your role in your industry?

  • Through the museum I get to eliminate the myth that there were no black people involved in the development of the West. And, to preserve the materials and culture that helps tell the story of Black Americans in the West.

What is the best advice you have received about how to impact your industry?

  • That there is no such thing as saturation.

What do you think are the top 3 things that help people excel in your industry?

  • The top three things are passion, dedications and a willingness to work behind the senses.

What encouragement would you give to those who are interested in being in your industry?

  • Be excited about learning new facts.

What do you think is the most important qualities for people to have in your industry?

  • The top three things are passion, dedications and a willingness to work behind the senses.

What obstacles have you overcome, or are you overcoming to excel in your industry?

  • The Black American West Museum & Heritage Center turns fifty-one years old as of 2022. And, for these fifty plus years the museum has stood a beacon for the African American population of North East Denver, Five Points and the surrounding cities in the state of Colorado as the primer place to learn about the role that African American men, women and children played in the settling and development of the western United States through its collections, programs and exhibits. The Museum is normally open two days a week Friday and Saturday for four hours those two days, with periodic special programs, exhibits and presentations. Having to close due to COVID-19 has been devastating. The museum still has to cover the operational costs even while we are closed. For the past ten and a half years the museum has been operational by a volunteer board of directors, no paid staff. So, the impact of the COVID-19 closing has put a tremendous strain on the museum’s major source of revenue general admissions/walking tours/presentations, memberships and gift shop sales. The museum still periodical receives membership applications, and a donation to be applied to general operating, the Restoration Bricks, or the Birthday Celebration. In general all of the normal revenue streams have gone.

What accomplishments are you most proud of in your life?

  • The Black American West Museum is the location of one of, if not, the premier Museum of African Americans in Colorado, if not the entire American West. It is the only museum that depicts and conveys the history of African American who contributed to the settlement and development of the western United States. It is historically designated nationally and listed on the National Register of Historic places as of November 23, 1984 with a Site Number of 5DV, 1493. It is in the Five Points, Curtis Part district. Five Points was considered the “Harlem of the West” in the 1920s to the 1950s. From the 1950s through 2010 the Five Points, Curtis Park neighborhood was predominantly African American. The neighborhoods demographics have changed and currently the museum is one of the few properties owned by African Americans. Eighty percent of the African American owners are female.

Who is is one person that has influenced your direction in life? Explain How.

  • My mother, her creativity was amazing.

What advice would you give to the younger generation?

  • That "old stuff" is cool. Question everything and be willing to get your hands dirty. Be passionate and dedicated.

What do you want your legacy to be?

  • that I was a women that believed in her race, her family, and community. That I am the person anyone could talk to and trust to be honest, fair and hard working.

What else would you like people to know about you?

  • That this document is about the Black American West Museum & Heritage Center, not me.
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