Tribute to Mama Gerri Oliver, PALM TAVERN- Historical location Bronzeville

Bronzeville Historical Society, Sherry Williams, unveiling the mural as part of the 

An iconic photograph of Mama Gerri Oliver in her youth.

The mural project was funded by the Building Community Foundation, Inc., the philanthropic branch of Gallery Guichard, located in Chicago's Bronzeville community, with support from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events' DCASE Neighborhood Arts Program. 

  Great Migration Sculpture Garden features a mural that serves as a backdrop wrapped around shipping containers in shrink wrap.

Tribute to Mama Gerri Oliver, "Palm Tavern," 30' X 80", diptych. 2024.

This note introduces Judge Joseph Harrington and artist Ms. Alpha Bruton. PRIVATE Event to celebrate Timuel D. Black. We will also unveil Alpha Bruton's artwork. Her tribute to MaMa Gerri Oliver is a fantastic honor. Festivities took place on Sat. Dec 7, 2024, 2pm -4pm. Hosted at Bronzeville Historical Society 4455 S King Drive Suite 103, Chicago, IL.

Sherry Williams, President

Bronzeville Historical Society 

312 428-8033

The Bronzeville / Black Chicagoan Historical Society was founded in 1999 by a small group of enthusiastic Black Family History researchers.

Sherry Williams has been listening to stories about black life in Chicago for as long as she can remember. Her mother has been providing her with personal recollections of moving to Bronzeville in 1942 for many years. These life experiences taught patience, fortitude, and most African American history in Chicago.

In looking at her early beginnings in documenting Chicago’s black history, Sherry fondly remembers that activism was never hidden in her home. Black families openly displaying leadership and good citizenship were familiar to many African Americans who moved here from the South during the Great Migration from 1900 through 1950. But, life experiences for black people in Chicago often included racial tensions. A move for Sherry’s family in 1971 to West Englewood meant that her brother was going to enter Gage Park High School, and racism met black kids at this school head-on. These experiences, documents, and photographs that focus on black history too often have not been preserved.

In 1999, Sherry began the Bronzeville / Black Chicagoan Historical Society due to her increasing role as a mother to share an accurate description of Black Life in Chicago with her daughters.  What started as a library research project in 1995 became a full-blown mission to preserve, protect, and provide Chicago black history. Sherry thought it was best to keep her daughters from depending on the television to learn about African Americans' contributions to this country. To keep the research personal, she requested that each daughter find information about African American doctors, lawyers, and educators in the neighborhood (all three girls had grown tired of her pointing out Bronzeville historical sites).  By 1999, the library research published 100 Notable People and Places in Bronzeville – (Black Chicago).

The organization has provided historical presentations, exhibits, and seminars in schools, churches, libraries, and park districts.  To date, 80% of Bronzeville / Black Chicagoan Historical Society holdings are documents, photographs, obituaries, memorabilia, and books that have been donated by family and friends. The immediate goal of the Society is to digitize their holdings and to make them accessible via the internet or library visits.

“Being a storyteller (griot) is a responsibility and a gift that my elders decided for me… I also understand that being a griot is what I LOVE.” – Sherry Williams.