The Margaret Walker Center is an archive and museum dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, and dissemination of African-American history and culture.

Founded as the Institute for the Study of the History, Life, and Culture of Black People by Margaret Walker in 1968, the Center seeks to honor her academic and artistic legacy through its archival collections, exhibits, and public programs.

On July 7, 2017, the Margaret Walker Center will host its annual Jubilee Picnic to celebrate her birthday. The picnic is free and open to the public.

The Margaret Walker Center houses significant records like the papers of the late Margaret Walker; those of the former U.S. Secretary of Education, Roderick Paige; and a large oral history department that includes nearly 2000 interviews. It also offers museum and exhibit spaces that highlight the Centers collections and the history of Jackson State University.

The Margaret Walker Center continues to collect living memories, archival records, and personal papers for scholarly use; advocates the preservation of the built environment such as historic 1903 Ayer Hall, which is the oldest structure on the Jackson State University campus and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977; engages the community through public programs, literacy projects, and educational workshops; and works with other JSU departments, including its partners: Fannie Lou Hamer Institute @ COFO and Gallery 1.

Margaret Walker Center Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

For more information please call 601-979-3935 or send an email to mwa@jsums.edu.