Black Americans have played a crucial and prominent role in the formation of this nation since its earliest days, despite the lack of documentation contained in official records. Black Americans have worked in numerous industries that helped build this country; proudly and courageously served in the U.S. armed forces, especially in times of war; and been a powerful and peaceful force for change to ensure the Founding Fathers words that “all men are created equal” are realized and respected.
We invite you to visit the Northampton County History & Genealogical Society’s (NCH&GS) Sigal Museum and other sites throughout the greater Lehigh-Northampton region that have sought to preserve the important history of Black Americans through art, historical records and sites, and genealogy, and celebrate their many contributions and achievements.
Black History and Community: From the Early 18th Century through the 1950s
A permanent exhibition at the Sigal Museum in Easton presents the history of slavery and eventual abolition in Northampton County. It shows the history of enslavement by the Moravian Church (the founders of Bethlehem and Nazareth) in the 1700s and the role of Black soldiers in the Civil War. It also presents the story of Black Americans in the coal, canal, railroad, slate, and other industries throughout the country’s industrial revolution.
The exhibition features many previously unseen images, documents, and stories. Visitors to the museum are invited to engage with three oral histories featuring local stories including a canal boat captain and the 2022-2024 Bethlehem PA NAACP President, Esther Lee. The NCH&GS seeks to continuously add historically unheard stories from the Black community into this exhibition, which is designed to "never be finished."
Petrucci Family Foundation’s Collection of African American Art
The Petrucci Family Foundation collects and lends artworks by African Americans for exhibits at museums and other institutions throughout the country. In 2022, the foundation in collaboration with the Sigal Museum presented an exhibition entitled, “Another American’s Autobiography,” featuring artwork by Black artists who have grappled with questions of American identity, allegiance, and belonging. The selected works explored American patriotism and identity as it relates to the Black American experience and featured a wide variety of media including film, sculpture, textiles, and photography. While the exhibition has ended, you can still take a virtual guided tour of the exhibition.
You can also visit the Petrucci Family Foundation’s website to see the more than 500 pieces of African American art that comprise the foundation’s current and growing Collection of African American Art; find out about the foundation’s current and upcoming exhibitions; and learn the stories of the 250+ amazing Black artists whose works are included in the foundation’s collection, many of whom have their work on permanent display in various prestigious museums and institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the National Gallery of Art.
Esther M Lee African American Heritage Center (EMLAAHC)
You can learn more stories about the history and experience of African Americans in the Lehigh Valley going online to the Esther M Lee African American Heritage Center’s (EMLAAHC) website. With a mission and vision is to document and preserve historical information integral to the region’s African American community, they have developed an online digital archive available for research and exploration, including biographical profiles of Ms. Lee and several other Black residents and organizations. The center hosts various events throughout the year, such as a High Tea with Ms. Lee and children’s story-time hour.
Looking for more inspiring stories of the African-American experience and historic sites to explore in PA? Be sure to check out the Underground Railroad page to learn more about the journey to freedom on the visitpa website. Follow us on Facebook, X , YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on even more great ideas and historic places to visit around the commonwealth. Don’t forget to sign up for our monthly PA travel e-newsletter so you never miss an update!