Store Front Museum

The museum continued to have exhibits but the success was not duplicated until the museum’s elaborate and acclaimed “Early Photographs and Documents of African-Americans in Queens County, New York,” in 1985.The visual documentary focused on the life styles, deeds, and attitudes of slaves and freedmen from 1683-1941 This exhibit stemmed from the major research project and book entitled A Study in Triumph: African-Americans in Queens County, New York 1683-1983 organized by Tom Lloyd and researched and written by Prof. James Rose.

In conjunction with its exhibitions, the museum began to develop a permanent collection containing works of art, books, artifacts, photographs and documents.

Among those teaching classes and workshops at the museum were playwright Ed Bullins and actor Roscoe Orman, both working at the New Lafayette Theater in Harlem, NY at that time.

Drumming classes were taught by the noted pioneering "free" drummer Milford Graves, who lived in the Jamaica, NY community where the museum was located.

Began in 1971 the two-day festival included live performances and displays of arts and crafts by New York City organizations to promote the different cultures of Africa.

The institution was also host to a range of special programs and meetings “to accommodate activities that expand community awareness and promote civic betterment.” The programs included "a conference on the Juvenile Justice System;; a workshop on Black Ancestry; a seminar on Housing, Education, Health and Job; A Child Care Symposium; a Sickle Cell Anemia Blood Drive; and meetings of local business groups and professional organizations.” Ironically the institution, with its mission to enlighten and improve the communities of southeastern Queens, became a victim of New York City’s efforts to improve these same neighborhoods.

Dr. Timothy P. Mitchell of Ebenezer Baptist Church began the effort to save the Lewis Howard Latimer house at 137-53 Holly Avenue Flushing, New York.

During the first few months of 1988 the committee began soliciting support garnering a number of prominent advocates including Claire Shulman the Borough President of Queens.

Also during the summer the committee began a dialogue with Professor James H. Wyche, PhD of Brown University to create the African-American Museum of Science and Technology, eventually this endeavor petered out.

To solidify the committee articles of incorporation were drawn up to form the Lewis H. Latimer Fund, Inc., in 1989 and on April 21, 1990 they held its first significant event for the house called the “Celebration Luncheon.” However, during 1990 a rift between board members developed and in November Mr. Lloyd and others accused Queens Historical Society members of mishandling funds and solicited the investigative services of the New York State Department of Law’s Charities Bureau.