Opening historic preservation programs to African-American communities

Where did Bert Williams live?
He was a combination of Michael Jackson, Denzel Washington and Michael Jordan at the end of the 19th century as the star of the duo of Williams and Walker.
But in San Francisco, where Williams lived, there is no evidence that he ever set foot here.
His home still stands.
A team of historians and architects has begun a context statement study to chronicle the extent of the central role of African-Americans in California history. They will begin to discuss their methodology on Sunday, Oct. 7 and Monday, Oct. 8 at Ingleside Presbyterian Church, 1345 Ocean Ave. in San Francisco, perhaps the oldest building used by a black church in the state and the site of the Great Cloud of Witnesses mural.
John William Templeton, author of Our Roots Run Deep: the Black Experience in California, leads the study team along with Dr. Susheel Bibbs, producer of the upcoming PBS documentary on civil rights leader and Underground Railroad conductor Mary Ellen Pleasant and architect Miles Stevens, AIA. Advisors include Pulitzer prize winner Dr. Leon Litwack and former NLRB chair William Gould, Esq.
They will also present evidence siting the first jazz clubs in the world in San Francisco, not New Orleans or Kansas City. A team of 14 convention and visitors bureau staff, planners and policy makers took a five-hour bus tour Oct. 3 to see potential and current African-American historic sites throughout the 49-square mile city.
Within six months, the team will produce a context statement study for presentation to the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board and the Planning Commission.