STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- 1010Wins reported a Staten Island woman, 90-year-old Elizabeth Meaders, is set to auction off her 20k African American artifacts.
Meaders was a New York City teacher and heavily inspired by Jackie Robinson, the baseball legend and Civil Rights leader. Her ultimate mission was to have a more detailed and complete history of the African American experience.
Sixty years later, Elizabeth Meaders has now amassed over 20k African American artifacts and memorabilia in categories such as sports, politics, entertainment, education, and the military, according to 1010Wins.
Starting on March 15, Elizabeth Meaders’ collection will go up for auction in an unprecedented sale.
Elizabeth Meaders has collected artifacts that date back as far as the 16th century. (Photo by Islam Dogru/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
When speaking to 1010 Wins, Elizabeth Meaders explained her passion and love for collecting artifacts. She said, “This was like a 25 hour, an eight-day-a-week project for me because it’s something that I love.”
Meaders spoke to 1010Wins about the importance the collection by saying, “I have the entirety of the African American experience, and that is how and why my collection is so different and unique, and so vitally needed.”
Elizabeth Meaders will be putting her collection up as one piece rather than 20,000 individual items. While Meaders feels it will be hard to part with her collection, she knows it is for the greater good of society.
She plans to use the money from the auction and donate to different charities, especially the NAACP.
Prominent and historical figures such as Barack Obama and Harriet Tubman have commended Elizabeth Meaders on her extensive collection. (Photo by Islam Dogru/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The auction will be held online at liveauctioneers.com and invaluable.com, and conducted with Guernsey’s directly via the telephone at 212-794-2280 or written bids, as reported by 1010Wins.
Artifacts from the Civil Rights movement part of Elizabeth Meaders collection. (Guernsey’s)
African American's in the arts and entertainment memorabilia collection. (Guernsey’s)
African Americans in World of Sports section of artifacts from Elizabeth Meaders collection. (Guernsey’s)