IDA Creative Group: Archive Collection
Living Memory in Progress
IDA Creative Group is a cultural and archival initiative based in Flossmoor, Illinois, rooted in the belief that Black family collections are vital records of American history.
At the heart of our work is a growing archive of fine art, photographs, books, analog media, and heirlooms held within a historic Black household that has long served as a site of intellectual, spiritual, and cultural stewardship.
As the founding Collections Manager and a member of Chicago Area Archivists, I’m leading the development of this archive while shaping a long-term vision for public access and intergenerational engagement.
What We’re Doing
IDA Creative Group is actively preserving and reimagining the legacy of Dr. Sandra L. Gadson through the care of her extensive fine art, book, and media collections. Our current work centers on building a living archive ; one that honors the intellectual, spiritual, and cultural contributions of African American communities.
We’ve begun cataloging over 5,000 books, archiving decades of magazines and analog media, and appraising a fine art collection representing generations of African diasporic creativity. Through pilot initiatives like the Archivist in Residence program and Archive Pack Project, (launching spring 2026) we’re inviting emerging archivists and cultural workers to participate in documenting and interpreting these materials.
At the same time, we’re laying the groundwork for an artist and archivist residency model rooted in intergenerational care, research, and creative storytelling. IDA’s mission is to ensure that what has been collected, created, and lived does not disappear ,but instead continues to inform and inspire the future.
Collection Overview
The Dr. Sandra L. Gadson Collection, managed under IDA Creative Group, spans over six decades of cultural, intellectual, and artistic history. Highlights include:
• Fine Art Collection: Works by African American and African diasporic artists such as Jacob Lawrence, Elizabeth Catlett, and Allen Stringfellow, among others.
• Personal Library: Over 5,000 volumes focusing on medicine, theology, Black religious studies, African and African American history, women’s studies, and visual culture.
• Archival Media: Historical newspapers, magazines (Jet, Ebony, Essence, Architectural Digest), and analog recordings including VHS, cassettes, CDs, and vinyl.
• Cultural Artifacts: Sorority memorabilia (Alpha Kappa Alpha), family photographs, and personal papers documenting civic, religious, and cultural contributions.
• Ephemera: Church programs, travel documents, correspondence, and community event materials reflecting six decades of Black cultural life and faith traditions.
Together, these items form a comprehensive and personal record of Black intellectual, spiritual, and creative history, preserved within the home that has housed them for generations.
