(Black PR Wire) MIAMI, FL -  Executive Director of the Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc., Timothy A. Barber, was recently selected as a new member of the Board of Directors for the Association of African American Museums (AAAM). AAAM was established to provide professional development and networking opportunities to its membership base and to African American and African Diaspora audiences broadly.

Barber, who began his career at the Black Archives more than 15 years ago, has been involved with AAAM  as a member for over a decade. Climbing the ranks from intern to assistant archivist, archivist and then executive director, Barber has developed a deep connection to Miami’s African American history, its preservation, and the preservation of the stories and histories of black communities nationwide.

As Director of the Black Archives, Barber successfully administered a ten million dollar GOB capital grant fund to expand and re-open the Historic Lyric Theater, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. He has also leveraged federal grants from the Institute of Museums and Library Services along with local county
grants to create sustainability for the organization’s operations and programming.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Association of African American Museums,” said Barber. “The work that I am doing here locally, and on a national level with AAAM is more than just a job to me. This is a large part of my life’s purpose, and I find great satisfaction in knowing
that the work I’m doing today will help to ensure that our stories live beyond my time on this earth.” AAAM membership of over 500 national and international institutions that include cultural organizations, historical societies and museums which not only collect, preserve, and exhibit objects valuable to art, history
and science, but also educational institutions, research agencies and cultural centers. AAAM and its Board of Directors support the goals of African American museums and museum professionals through professional development, member services, and annual national conferences.

“The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater is proud and honored that our Director has been selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Association of African American Museums,” said Patricia J. Braynon, Black Archives board Chair. “Mr. Barber will prove to be a valuable member of the AAAM Board, as he has shown
through his untiring work locally at BAHLT.”

Under Barber’s leadership, the Black Archives has become one of the leading black cultural institutions in South Florida; through the development of signature arts, culture and educational programming. Barber has also been influential in restoring Miami’s Historic Overtown as a destination for cultural entertainment, theater and events, working as a cultural partner of the Southeast Overtown Park West Community Redevelopment Agency. “Huge congratulations to Timothy Barber upon his appointment to the AAAM Board of Directors,” said Black Archives Board Member, Andrea Pelt-Thornton. “This is an awesome testament to his passion and
commitment to preserving the African American experience. We are proud of Tim, and celebrate this opportunity for him to serve the dynamic AAAM organization.”

About AAAM
The Association of African American Museums (AAAM) is a non-profit member organization established to support African and African American focused museums nationally and internationally, as well as the professionals who protect, preserve and interpret African and African American art, history and culture. Established as the single representative and principal voice of the African American museum movement, the Association seeks to strengthen and advocate for the interests of institutions and individuals committed to the preservation of African-derived cultures.

About The Black Archives
The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida is a photographic and manuscript archival research repository dedicated to documenting the history of people of the African Diaspora in Miami- Dade County from 1896 to the present. Founded in 1977 by Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields, the non-profit became
one of the largest repositories for the history of Blacks in South Florida. For information on how to support The Black Archives, please call 786-708-4610 or email kpritchett@bahlt.org.

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