Allensworth

Portrait of Colonel Allen Allensworth wearing military uniform circa 1910
Portrait of Colonel Allen Allensworth wearing military uniform, circa 1910, Miriam Matthews Photograph collection, MS 19, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.
Historic image of Mr. Singleton and two women standing outside Allensworth store
Mr. Singleton and two women standing outside Allensworth store, undated, Royal E. Towns papers, MS 26, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

Prepare for a visit to AAMLO with these special topic resource guides.

This resource guide is intended to help users locate holdings at AAMLO related to Allensworth, the first town in California established exclusively by African Americans.

It highlights holdings in the following areas:

● Selected Library Material at AAMLO
● Selected Archival Collections at AAMLO

Other collections may contain relevant materials. Please contact AAMLO (aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org) with any questions or to schedule an appointment to view materials in person.

Marcella Ford and Ruth Lasartemay outside Allensworth School House attending a meeting of the Allensworth State Advisory Committee
Marcella Ford and Ruth Lasartemay outside Allensworth School House attending a meeting of the Allensworth State Advisory Committee, 1976, African American Museum & Library at Oakland Photograph collection, MS 189, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

Selected Library Materials

Battles and Victories of Allen Allensworth ... Lieutenant-Colonel, Retired, U.S. Army

Allensworth : California's Black Pioneer Community

Allensworth, the Freedom Colony : a California African American Township by Alice C. Royal

The Archaeology of the Allensworth Hotel by Beatrice Reynolds Cox

Out of Darkness: the Story of Allen Allensworth by Evelyn Radcliffe

The Spirit of Allensworth [California. Dept. of Parks and Recreation] 

Selected Archival Collections

Promotional handbill advertising Allensworth
Promotional handbill advertising Allensworth, California [reproduction], circa 1912, Miriam Matthews Photograph collection, MS 19, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park Advisory Committee Audio Recordings Collection. The Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park Advisory Committee audio recordings collection consists of 22 audiocassette of regional meetings and public hearings related to the development of Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, and oral history interviews with the townspeople of Allensworth, California. [Online items]

African American Museum & Library at Oakland Vertical File Collection. Includes unpublished material related to the town of Allensworth, California, and Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. Selected items include: biographies of Colonel Allen Allensworth, State Historic Park Advisory Committee meeting agendas and project files, Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park brochures and rededication programs, teaching resources, and the 1971 Allensworth feasibility study.

African American Museum & Library at Oakland Photograph Collection. Includes 67 photographs depicting the town of Allensworth, California, and activities of the Allensworth State Historic Park Advisory Committee. [Online items]

Alice Royal Collection. Alice Calbert Fauntleroy Royal (1923-2014) was born Alice Lucinda Calbert on January 15, 1923, in Allensworth, California. In 1933 the family moved to Alameda, California. Material in the Alice Royal Collection include correspondence regarding Allensworth from William E. Calbert to the Buffalo Soldiers Association, a 2011 Allensworth calendar of events, and a draft of the Allensworth State Historic Park salute.

MS189_0014
Marcella Ford, Royal Towns, and Eugene Lasartemay talking at Allensworth State Historic Park Advisory Committee table, circa 1970s, African American Museum & Library at Oakland Photograph collection, MS 189, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

Royal E. Towns Papers. The papers include brochures and 39 photographs related to Towns’ efforts serving on the Allensworth Advisory Committee. Photographs depict Allensworth Advisory Committee meetings, views of Allensworth, California, and portraits of Colonel Allen Allensworth. [Online items]

Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection. Includes photographs of a promotional handbill advertising Allensworth, California, and portraits of Colonel Allen Allensworth and Josephine Leavell Allensworth.

African American Museum & Library at Oakland Oral History Collection. Includes an oral history interview with nurse and historian Alice Royal recounting her family’s long history in California, growing up in Allensworth, California, and her experiences as a Black nurse. 

Faricita Hall Wyatt Papers. Includes a photograph of Alwortha Hall, the first baby born in Allensworth, California, and cousin of the Hall family.

Hackett Family Papers. Includes a photograph of William Wells and wife (Lillian Mae), among the founders of Allensworth, California. [Online items]

Jesse W. and Marcella Ford Papers. Includes Marcella Ford's 1973-1988 project files related to interpretive activities at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park.

Additional Information

Search the library using the catalog.

Consult AAMLO's finding aids in the Online Archive of California.

We are working to create new resource guides. Have an idea for a new guide? Contact us at aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org.