Amistad Research Center Appoints New Executive Director

The Amistad Research Center (ARC) proudly announces the appointment of Kathe Hambrick as its new Executive Director. Ms. Hambrick officially assumed her role in early September after serving as the Interim Executive Director for six months. The formal announcement was celebrated at the home of James and Elizabeth Williams.

Kathe Hambrick, a native of Louisiana, brings with her over 30 years of experience in both the private sector in Los Angeles and the non-profit sector in Louisiana. During this time, she has been dedicated to advancing the history of African Americans in the rural parishes along the Mississippi River. Hambrick is the founder and former Executive Director of the River Road African American Museum (RRAAM) and a past president of the Association of African American Museums (AAAM), making her a well-recognized figure in the field of preservation and public history. Ms. Hambrick views her new role at the ARC as an opportunity to shape the next generation of curators, digitization specialists, and archivists.

Under Kathe Hambrick’s capable leadership, the Amistad Research Center is poised to expand its influence and recognition as an international repository for the stories of marginalized communities. The Center remains steadfast in its mission to collect, preserve, and provide open access to original documents that highlight the social and cultural significance of America’s ethnic and racial history, the African Diaspora, human rights, and civil rights. The ARC has over 900 collections, including valuable works of art by globally acclaimed authors and artists such as Chester Himes, Countee Cullen, Elizabeth Catlett, and Jacob Lawrence.

The Amistad Research Center is the largest independent archive for the preservation of Black history in the world. Kathe Hambrick’s vision and her dedication to the preservation and accessibility of historically significant materials make her an exceptional leader for the Amistad Research Center. The organization is eager to embark on this new chapter under her guidance and is excited to witness the positive impacts she will bring to ARC’s future initiatives.

For more information about the Amistad Research Center, please visit www.amistadresearchcenter.org

Amistad Appoints New Director