Margaret Walker Center 🇺🇸

Located in historic Ayer Hall—the oldest building on the Jackson State University campus in Jackson, Mississippi—the Margaret Walker Center is a dedicated public archive and museum preserving the rich history and culture of the African American community. Founded in 1968 by renowned English professor Dr. Margaret Walker Alexander, this center invites you to explore an incredible depth of Black heritage.

Inside, you can discover standing and rotating exhibits that bring history to life. The centerpiece of the collections includes over 130 of Margaret Walker’s personal journals alongside her literary and administrative papers, forming one of the largest collections from a modern Black female writer anywhere in the world. As you browse, you will encounter nearly 1,000 individual oral histories, photographs, scrapbooks, artifacts, textiles, and dozens of significant manuscript collections.

Beyond its exhibits, the center preserves historic architecture, having helped place 1903 Ayer Hall on the National Register of Historic Places. You can also engage with community history through annual gatherings, such as the MLK Convocation, the CASE Festival, and the Gibbs-Green Commemoration. Visit the Margaret Walker Center to experience an inspiring space committed to education, reflection, and honoring African American legacy.

What to see at Margaret Walker Center

• Standing exhibits inside historic 1903 Ayer Hall
• Over 130 personal journals and papers of Dr. Margaret Walker
• An archive featuring nearly 1,000 individual oral histories
• Annual gatherings like the MLK Convocation and Jubilee Picnic

Visiting tips

Visit on July 7 to attend the Jubilee Picnic, which offers a free afternoon of food and fellowship open to the public.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: July 7 (Jubilee Picnic)

How to get there & what’s nearby

Margaret Walker Center is easy to reach on Jackson’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle and Jackson Zoo. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Jackson travel guide.