By Ron Penh
The Mayme Clayton Library and Museum, an institution that holds more than two million books, films, and artefacts related to African-American culture and history in the United States, is currently storing a mass of its collection at the West Los Angeles College as a temporary space while the pursuit for finding a permanent home is still ongoing.
Originally occupying the former Culver City Courthouse since 2006, the museum was forced to find a new space for its collection following a controversial decision to cancel its lease in October 2018. Despite multiple petitions and rallies against the decision, L.A. County still followed through with the eviction.
Because of the significant historical relevance that many of the artifacts have in ties to Culver City, the museum’s board says it is within their best interest to remain in the greater Los Angeles area. Institutions around the area have put a helping hand forward in support of providing a temporary space for the vast collection held by the Mayme Clayton Library and Museum, the West Los Angeles College being the first institution to provide a physical space to hold a large mass of the MCLM’s collection.
“West Los Angeles College is acutely aware of the importance of the Clayton collection, and
we’re glad that we can be good neighbors and provide the necessary space to store
the museum’s artifacts and archival materials while a search is conducted for a permanent
location.” Dr. James Limbaugh, president of West Los Angeles College, said in a press release.
The Wende Museum of the Cold War, an art museum and educational institution that focuses on the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe during the Cold War, is a local partner to the MCLM and has supported the museum during its search for a new spot.
The Wende has pushed forth a proposal to Culver City to utilize a vacant building nearby as a “creative cultural space” which they would allow MCLM full access to, a move that would help MCLM recover a firmer establishment within Culver City. Using the space as a public display would pose as a viable option for the museum to actively showcase some of their collection as they search for a permanent home still continues.
“As neighbors, friends, and fellow collectors of important historical artifacts, the Wende is
thrilled to join with the MCLM to keep this vital institution in Culver City forever, ensuring
diverse constituents from our community will continue to be represented here. Innovative,
strategic partnerships like this will serve as a powerful model for equitable access to
knowledge, culture, and history,” Justin Jampol, executive director of the Wende Museum, said in a press release.
The Mayme Clayton collection holds the largest collection of African-American literature, memorabilia, and artifacts west of the Mississippi River, museum officials said. The collection began as the late Dr. Mayme Clayton, a historian, and librarian that worked for USC and UCLA, independently amassed more than30,000 items for over 40 years and stored in a 3-room garage in her home.
By 2002, many of her items were damaged due to the collection not being properly stored in a setting that would ensure its preservation. Her eldest son, Avery Clayton, began a campaign to find a proper home for the collection which reached success in 2006. A press conference announced that the Culver City Courthouse would be the new venue for her collection in which Mayme Clayton passed away hours after.
The collection today currently stands at over 2 million historical items, still in pursuit of a permanent home.