The Booker Washington Community Center was founded in 1916 as a war camp community center during World War I and II. It was founded as the Colored Soldiers Club at 218 South Main Street, by Dr. Richard S. Grant to serve African-American Soldiers from Camp Grant who were excluded from other community centers. Dr. Grant developed a coalition of volunteers to staff the Center and each week more than 300 soldiers found entertainment, recreation and relaxation at the Center. The Advisory Committee to the Colored Solder’s Club recognized that there was a need for a center of this nature for African-Americans in Rockford.
In December 1936 the Center moved from South Main to the former home of Kent School, the city’s third school building. This historic structure dates to 1857. It was renamed in 1936 for Booker T. Washington, an educator, author, political leader and the first president of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee University). The club evolved into the Booker Washington Center in 1918 and was incorporated in 1942 as the Booker Washington Association. Thus, the organization known as the Booker Washington Association, Incorporated began. It moved to 524 Kent St. in 1936 and has under gone several renovations. This included serving as a USO Club during the two world wars, housing a War Day Nursery School for working families and housing the Sorelle Library in 1945. Throughout the decades, the Center has consistently been a resource hub and a place for innovation, education, recreation and cultural enrichment. On July 1, 2015, Booker Washington Association officially turned over the operation of its programs, fiscal affairs and its facilities to the African-American Resource Center at Booker; founded by Jessie Bates (entrepreneur & professional leader). BWA and AARCB have worked together to bring this merger. In December 2015, the Center obtained landmark status; a designation signifying that the property should be preserved. The historical significance of Booker is its use as a social and cultural gathering place for African-Americans.
1/5
1005 South Court Street, Rockford, Illinois 61102, United States
Copyright © 2024 AARCatBOOKER.COM - All Rights Reserved.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.