This year, The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center celebrates its 65th Anniversary as the nation’s first independent Black history museum.
THE LEGACY OF
MARGaRET BURROUGHS
Founded in 1961 by visionary artist, educator, and activist Dr.
Margaret T. Burroughs, The DuSable has long served as a cultural beacon on Chicago’s South Side and a national leader in collecting, preserving, and sharing the history and culture of people of African descent. As a proud Smithsonian Affiliate, the Museum connects local histories to a broader national and global narrative, ensuring these stories remain visible, relevant, and accessible for generations to come.
Grown directly from community vision and action, with a proud legacy grounded in resilience, innovation, and purpose. The DuSable has welcomed millions of visitors, stewarded a collection of more than 15,000 objects and some of the nation’s richest archives, and delivered transformative exhibitions and educational programs that serve students, families, and communities across Chicago, the United States, and globally.
DuSable 65 Years Celebration
February 16th, 2026
Dr. Margaret T. Burroughs’ dedication, creativity, and unwavering belief in the power of Black history continue to guide The DuSable’s mission six and a half decades later. We celebrated her enduring impact with cake, community, and took a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come and where we’re headed next.
Later this year, we will celebrate our anniversary by honoring two community leaders.
The Corporate Citizen Award
Recognizes a company and leader whose impact extends beyond profits, demonstrating an enduring commitment to community, responsibility, and shared prosperity. This award will be presented to Bob Clark, President and CEO of Clayco. Clark led the launch of the Clark Family Foundation and is engaged as a longtime trustee of several institutions, including the University of Chicago Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, SLU, Washington University, and Central Institute of the Deaf.
The Gladiator Award
Honors a national advocate whose work embodies courage, truth-telling, accountability, and an unwavering fight for justice. The award will be presented to Ben Crump, renowned civil rights attorney and founder of Ben Crump Law PLLC. Crump’s firm remains devoted to advocating for the voiceless no matter whenever or whatever kind of harm may have befallen them. The firm represents the families of Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, Martin Lee Anderson, and Breonna Taylor, helping their clients get the justice they deserve.
Born in 1917 in Saint Rose, Louisiana, Margaret Taylor-Burroughs quickly moved to Chicago with her family during the “Great Migration” of African Americans in 1920. With a strong passion for education and learning, she attended the Chicago Teachers College and earned a BA and an MA from the Art Institute of Chicago. During this time, Burroughs helped establish the South Side Community Arts Center and began her teaching career at DuSable High School on Chicago’s south side.
“Although this museum may not be the first or the biggest African American museums in the world, but it is the only one that grew out of the African American community, started by ordinary people” – Margaret Taylor-Burroughs.
On February 16th, 1961, Dr. Margaret Taylor-Burroughs founded the Ebony Museum of Negro History and Art, creating the nation’s first independent museum dedicated to the collection, preservation, and study of the history, art, and culture of African Americans and people of African descent. Housed entirely within the Burroughs family home, the museum would later be renamed for Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, Chicago’s Black founder. To this day, the museum remains steadfast in its original mission of educating the public about Black history, culture, and art.
Throughout her life, Burroughs received several honors and awards marking her achievements, including the President’s Humanitarian Award from Gerald Ford, The Paul Robeson Award, and a Legends and Legacy Award from the Art Institute of Chicago. As we celebrate 65 years of The DuSable, we continue to recognize the irreplaceable contributions and impact of our founder Dr. Margaret Taylor-Burroughs.
Dr. Margaret Taylor-Burroughs was an artist, writer, and educator who always strived to connect communities. Burroughs’s story continues through the work of The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center. As a testament to her legacy, we would like to pay tribute to the visionary behind The DuSable.
WHAT SHALL WE
TELL OUR CHILDREN?
“What shall we tell our children?
The men and women of the future?
We shall tell them the truth”
From What Shall We Tell Our Children? An Addenda, 1973
By Margaret Taylor-Burroughs
