Fort Lauderdale Historical Society Launches the Broward 100 Lecture Series with Samuel F. Morrison's talk on the History of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, October 13, 2014 at 6 p.m., Fort Lauderdale Historical Society will host Samuel F. Morrison at the New River Inn Museum of History for a talk about the history of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, which he founded, for the start of their Broward 100 Lecture Series.

The Fort Lauderdale African American Research Library and Cultural Center might have happened without Samuel F. Morrison – but it would not be the gem that it is today.

"I had to convince my superiors at the county to build a larger library than they had planned," said Morrison, the former director of the Broward County Library system.

In 1996, Morrison got the library's location construction approved, "with the understanding I would raise the rest of the money." In 2002, he saw his goal achieved when the facility opened.

But while the size and scope of the library and cultural center was Morrison's idea, he says it was the entire African American community – clubs, organizations and church groups – that came together to raise money.

The library also put Fort Lauderdale among a very select group of cities. "At the time it was conceived, it was only the third public library of its kind in the U.S," said Morrison. "And today, there are still only about five or six of them."

Now, the facility, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., boasts literary collections of African-American authors, books and artifacts from Africa, the Caribbean, and North and South America, a Small Business Resource Center, resources for information on local history, and a 5,000-square-foot art gallery.

"The building itself provides a great service point for the community," said Morrison.

Morrison's talk will be the first in the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society's Broward 100 Lecture Series celebrating the 100^th anniversary of Broward County. The New River Inn Museum of History is located at 231 SW 2nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit www.FortLauderdaleHistoricalSociety.org.

About the Ft. Lauderdale Historical Society
The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society (FLHS) brings the history of greater Fort Lauderdale to life through education, research and preservation for the enrichment of present and future generations. Believing that a sense of history is fundamental to understanding human experience, the FLHS collects, preserves and shares material from our community's past, so that present and future generations can comprehend more fully their predecessors, their community and themselves.

With education as the primary focus, FLHS offers public lectures and workshops; publishes teacher resource materials; arranges school and general group tours and activities; supports scholarly research through significant research assistance; maintains a 1907 pioneer house museum and three other 1905 historic structures in addition to a museum of changing and permanent exhibitions; and operates a research center that has functioned uninterrupted for more than 50 years.

CONTACT: Laurie Menekou, (954) 732-0754 (or) [email protected]

SOURCE The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society