In honor of Black History Month, we want to highlight Black Clevelanders who have made significant contributions to Cleveland and beyond — starting with Icabod Flewelling.
Flewellen is the Cleveland resident credited with starting the first independent African American History Museum in the United States.
As a teen, the West Virginia native began collecting historical newspaper clippings about Black Americans. According to the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, Flewellen moved to Cleveland after White supremacists firebombed his family home.
From his house on Harkness Avenue in Hough, Flewellen chartered the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Society and opened the museum.
After differences between the museum board and Flewellen, he made an agreement with the East Cleveland Public Library to receive his collection upon death.
Flewellen died in 2001.
To this day, the library maintains a wing called the Flewellen Collection. There, the public can view ancient African artifacts such as vases, bowls, dolls and masks and see personal accolades and pictures of Flewellen.
See the Icabod Flewellen collection in this video
East Cleveland library hours
The East Cleveland Public Library is located at 14101 Euclid Ave.
Hours:
Monday – Thursday
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday
Closed
Saturday
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday
Closed