Our Stories.
Our History.
Inspire
Tampa
A Benefit Dinner for the Dr. Walter L. Smith Library
December 21, 2024
5PM • Tampa, FL
Join us for an elegant evening in support of the Walter L. Smith Library and our dedication to preserving Black history and empowering our community's future. This dinner is a fundraiser to support critical renovations and repairs from damage sustained by Hurricane Milton.
Central Florida’s home for black history, culture & education
The Dr. Walter L. Smith Library & Museum is dedicated to preserving Black history and heritage while serving as an educational hub for the Tampa community. We have a rare collection of books and historical artifacts that honor the accomplishments, contributions, and struggles of Black individuals throughout the African Diaspora.
Our Story
The Dr. Walter L. Smith Library & Museum is a non-profit in Tampa, Florida that was established in 2005. The facility was developed as a safe space for children and adults to educate themselves in preparation for a better quality of life.
Our library is a repository of knowledge. It consists of rare pieces of literature, including a signed first edition of Booker T. Washington’s Up from Slavery, as well as unique artifacts collected in Africa.
Our Museum & Library
Our Community
We provide a variety of resources and programs that inspire all ages. We offer continuing education classes, programs for children, and more. We are committed to fostering lifelong learning and community engagement.
“We stood on the shoulders of giants. People have open ladders and we have gone step by step by step. People have built bridges. It didn’t just happen — it was made to happen.”
— Dr. Walter L. Smith
Community research initiatives
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BLACK & NINETEEN IN VIETNAM
A documentary about Black Vietnam Veterans who enlisted and fought at the age of 19; the average age of soldiers drafted to the war.
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BLACK TAMPA LOST
Stories about disappearing Black communities in Tampa Bay. Information on what happened to them and the effects of their displacement.
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ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
The untold stories of Florida's Black communities impacted by industrial operations and environmental injustices.
Contact
Feel free to contact us with any questions.