Alice M. Windom is remembered as a St. Louis icon for her activism, and work as a historian, educator and community organizer.
Her legacy is now further enhanced after her family gifted her personal Black history collection to the Griot Museum of Black History.
To acknowledge the gift and launch of the Alice M. Windom Initiative, the museum held a reception on March 30 (Windom’s birthday) with Windom’s family and friends in attendance.
Lois D. Conley, Griot founder and CEO, called the gift and initiative “a pivotal moment for The Griot Museum.”
“It allows us to continue our mission of preserving and sharing the rich history of the Black diaspora. Ms. Windom’s contributions are invaluable, and we are honored to be entrusted with preserving her legacy.”
Windom’s brothers, Jackson and John Windom, said in a release, “Our decision to entrust our sister’s collection to The Griot Museum is rooted in our belief in the Griot’s commitment to her philosophy of education and her life-long dedication to inspire and educate future generations.”
“Working with the Griot on this project has given us a heightened appreciation for the importance of having a place in our community to receive our memories.”
According to the museum’s website, “A professionally managed archival storage and retrieval system, ground by Alice Windom’s extensive and meticulously documented global experiences, will ensure the Griot’s ability to share these resources effectively and efficiently with the public.”
Windom was instrumental to the growth of the “Pan African Movement,” and was an inaugural board member of The Griot.
Her impact on the St. Louis community and across several African countries, was immeasurable.
A relentless champion for the freedom and progress of Black people, Windom was a member of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Omicron Theta Omega Chapter and the National Association of Black Social Workers.
She helped lead the 1963 March on Washington in Accra Ghana; and in 1964 coordinated Malcolm X’s visit to Accra Ghana. During that visit, she captured the iconic photograph of Malcolm X that appears in several scholarly works and publications.
A Social worker, Alice Mary Windom was born on March 30, 1936, in St. Louis. She graduated from Sumner High School in 1953 and was offered half tuition at Central State University (CSU) in Wilberforce, Ohio.
At Central, she collaborated with African American historian and school president Dr. Charles Wesley and heard lectures by Thurgood Marshall, J.A. Rogers and others.
She organized a successful sit-in at Xenia, Ohio’s Geyer’s Restaurant in 1957. Graduating that year with her B.S. degree in social work, Windom went on to earn her M.S.W. degree from the University of Chicago in 1959.
From 1962 to 1964, Windom lived and worked in Ghana, West Africa. Working as a secondary school teacher and secretary to the Ethiopian Ambassador, Windom was a part of an historic group of diverse African American expatriates in Ghana which included John Henrik Clarke, Maya Angelou, Curtis “Kojo” Morrow and the elder W.E.B. DuBois.
She served as administrative assistant for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa from 1964 to 1968, organizing international conferences in seven countries. From 1969 to 1972, Windom was a social welfare organizer for the Department of Social Welfare in Lusaka, Zambia. In the United States, she served as director of social services for the St. Louis Medium Security Institution from 1973 to 1974. In 1977, Windom sued the City of St. Louis for racial and sexual discrimination and the denial of free speech.
Known for her many well-documented excursions to the African world, Windom served as coordinator for the James T. Bush Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, initiating research and workshops in employment, education, housing, and law.
