The First African American Woman Historian in Buffalo

Joyce Lewis Allen

I was trying to find the name of the first African American woman to serve as City Historian in Buffalo. I researched and then I remembered a woman who used to plan events in the city for African American History every year. I remember that she used to stand on the steps of City Hall and announce programs in celebration of Black History in our city. I recently found her name and a brief bio about her.

Her name was Joyce Lewis Allen. Many people reading this column might remember her. She was very prominent in the late 1970s and early 1980s. I was able to find information about her on the Uncrowned Community Builders Website founded by Dr. Barbara Nevergold and Dr. Peggy Brooks-Bertram. This website contains the biography of hundreds of women and men who have made outstanding contributions to our city.

Joyce Lewis Allen was born on March 18, 1928. She was the Founder and Executive Director of the Black Historian Foundation of Buffalo and Erie County for 27 years!! Her husband, Rev. Adolphus Allen, was the pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Irving, New York before moving to Buffalo.

Joyce Allen received the William Wells Brown Award from the Afro-American Association of the Niagara Frontier in 1977. This award was given to her for a 20-year period sponsoring the annual African American History month programs in the city of Buffalo.

The city also established a scholarship in her name. The Afro-American Association presented an award in her name every year for her work to preserve African American History in the city of Buffalo. Mrs. Joyce Lewis Allen was 55 years-old at the time of her death. She passed away on December 24, 1983. She is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery. There is a photo of her at the Uncrowned Community Builders website. This columnist wanted to remember Mrs. Allen for her contributions to our history. She laid the foundation for the many programs on African American history that we see today in the city of Buffalo.

I would also like to thank Mr. Kerry Saunders for in voting me to speak on his radio show called “A Senior Moment” in observance of Women’s Month on Saturday, March 30, 2024 on WUFO 96.5 FM. His radio show comes on every Saturday at 11AM. I discussed Mrs. Joyce Lewis Allen at the beginning of the show as well as the contributions of other women in the history of Buffalo!!