William Williams Research

Dresser Trunk Project

The Dresser Trunk Project documents eleven venues in eleven different cities along the Southern Crescent line, currently run by Amtrak. The Crescent runs from New York to New Orleans. These venues were places of refuge for black travelers during segregation. The research documents the hotels, nightclubs, and other destinations that were safe havens for black travelers during segregation. Many of these venues have been lost. Others, are in various stages of neglect. The purpose of the Dresser Trunk Project is to identify venues around the country, establish links between the different locations i.e. who traveled between where and when. Preserve images, stories, and documents that tell the story of each location. And lastly, to create a clearinghouse of information for significant venues in black business districts and communities. The collection of these national treasures will be used by scholars, music historians, preservationist, and community leaders.
www.dressertrunkproject.org