The First Lady---of the BSNM

If this story does not get told, many people will not know. I didn’t know. The museum founder didn’t tell me. The First Lady of the museum didn’t tell me. But, someone else did.

They were childhood sweethearts. She knew about his passion about the Buffalo Soldiers from his college days at Prairie View A&M University. When he served in Vietnam, she knew about his passion. His passion continued as he became a key figure in the pharmaceutical industry. Their home became his place to stash his Buffalo Soldier memorabilia. When he retired, everywhere she looked, there was his collection. The collection spilled over into a garage; into a rented facility; and it just kept growing.

Although Bobbie Matthews shared the passion of her husband, the Matthews’ Buffalo Soldier collection became too much for one family, especially one wife, to share. She suggested to Captain Paul J. Matthews that he find a place to share his passion with the public. She suggested he open a museum. Thus was born the beginning of the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum. She had no idea what running a museum would entail, but she would soon find out!

When Cherrie Washington, a cousin of the Matthews, found a facility for the museum to begin, more work was required. Since it would take quite a bit of money to begin and run the museum, the family decided to take the retirement funds from Captain Matthews’ job and start the museum. This meant the plans many retirees have of traveling and enjoying their hard work would be tabled. This was an unproved idea. While there were some Buffalo Soldier space in other museums, and some other Buffalo Soldier collectors had some things to show in their home, no one in the world had established a National Buffalo Soldier Museum---the one established by the Matthew Family would be the first in the world!

Renting a facility and exhibiting one’s collection is one thing; developing suitable exhibits and getting people to come by---6 days a week---was quite another. A museum had to have a bookstore and gift shop. Somebody had to help keep the museum open. Somebody had to greet the public. Somebody had to research and display the $1 million-plus Matthews’ Family Buffalo Soldier Collection. It soon became evident that while Captain Matthews was developing a non-profit organization, setting up a board of directors, encouraging educators to bring students, sharing the vision to keep funds coming in, that this “somebody” would be Mrs. Bobbie Matthews.

Between the two of them (sometimes their children and grandchildren) and some volunteers, 80+ hours a week became 4,000 hours a year. Plus, the Matthews had to visit other museums and holders of Buffalo Soldier memorabilia. There were people coming and going daily. There were artifacts to be written up and stored. The bookstore and gift shop had to be opened. Errands had to be run. Mail had to be taken to the post office. Mrs. Matthews became the unofficial “go-to” person. And then there were the receptions to organize; funds to raise; an annual gala to be organized; phones to be answered; and on and on. Thus, the legacy of The First Lady of the Buffalo Soldier National Museum began and continues.

The "Unofficial" Buffalo Soldiers National Museum Thoughts

I will be making some comments from time to time.

Find out more by going to the OFFICIAL web site at: www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com

See you soon!

Ed

Info on Buffalo Soldiers

Thank you, Bob Marley!

His song "Buffalo Soldier" has been around for awhile. However, many who hear/heard the song still don't know much about the Buffalo Soldiers. Therefore, in 2001, Captain Paul J. Matthews and his family took his retirement money from his civilian job and opened up the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum. Go there and learn more about the Buffalo Soldiers. And, then consider making a donation by buying a brick from me.

Later, check out http://www.buffalosoldier.net/.