Wichita museum gets grant to record black history

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- The Kansas African American Museum will use a new $25,000 grant to establish a program to contribute to the state's black history.

The grant will set up a statewide history and genealogy program called "Knowing Me, Knowing You." It was awarded to the museum by the Chester and Ada Franklin Scholarship Fund and co-trustees Bank of America and Samuel L. Adams.

The Wichita museum's staff to set up video cameras in six Kansas towns with important African- American ties: Nicodemus, Topeka, Kansas City, Wichita, Hutchinson and Weir. The cameras will be used to collect stories and other information from residents and compile a permanent archive.

Museum director Mark McCormick says the program is designed to build bridges between cultures.

The grant, which is expected to begin next year, will also help fund upgrades to the museum's Web site, a public research area in the museum and genealogy workshops.

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Information from: The Wichita Eagle, http://www.kansas.com