Attorney General's News Release

July 19, 2006

New date, location set for public hearing in Kansas City to address future of Black Archives

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon announced today that a new location and date have been set for a public hearing his office is holding on the status of the Black Archives, a non-profit corporation in Kansas City that is currently administratively dissolved. The public hearing will be held on Thursday, Aug. 17 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Gem Theater, located at 1615 E. 18th St. (18th and Vine).

“We want this hearing to be as fully accessible to the community as possible,” Nixon said.

Free parking for those attending the hearing is available in the area on 18th Street in front of the theater; at the Myra Taylor lot at 18th and Woodland, about two blocks east of the theater; and behind the Jazz Museum at the Gregg Community Center, 1600 John “Buck” O'Neil Way.

Members of the public who are interested in testifying at the hearing should contact the Attorney General's Office by phone at 816-889-5000 or by e-mail at ag@ago.mo.gov , and enter “Black Archives hearing” in the subject line.

The Black Archives is a collection of African-American historical items endowed from across the Midwest, including rare photographs, letters, documents and artwork. It was dissolved as a corporation by the Missouri Secretary of State's Office in January of this year for failure to file an annual report as required by law. Currently, the archives has only one board member and remains non-compliant with state law regarding reinstatement as a not-for-profit corporation in good standing.

In March, Nixon's office contacted the board of the Black Archives to advise them that the corporation had been administratively dissolved and that they had two options to become compliant with Missouri law. One option was to take the steps necessary to get reinstated as a not-for-profit corporation in good standing with the Secretary of State's Office; the other was to close down the operation and work with the State on a plan to distribute the assets. To date, the Black Archives has not gotten in compliance with the law as directed.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818