Uncrowned Community Builders Website 3.0

Twenty-five years ago, on February 15th, 2001, like tonight, Drs. Peggy Brooks-Bertram

and Barbara Seals Nevergold invited the community to join them for a program that

launched a project they had begun two years earlier, in 1999. As a focus group of the

Women’s Pavilion Pan Am 2001, they created an archive of biographies and historical

vignettes titled Uncrowned Queens, African American Community Builders. They drew

inspiration from the poem “America’s Uncrowned Queens,” written by Drusilla Dunjee

Houston, an Oklahoma clubwoman, social justice advocate, historian, and journalist. Dr.

Bertram has written about the life and activities of this remarkable woman, who was

born in the nineteenth century.

Initially, Drs. Nevergold and Brooks-Bertram focused on a group of early “community

builders”, Black women, who demanded a voice for their community at the Pan-

American Exposition of 1901. But they quickly realized that African American women

have continued through the generations to advocate, build community, and contribute

more than they’re given credit for. So, they expanded the archive to include these

women, who continually add to the vitality of our community as educators, health care

providers, religious and political leaders, artists, journalists and authors, grandmothers

and aunties, and much more.

And then Brooks-Bertram and Nevergold did something pioneering! They used the

internet to host their archive and coined the term “techno-pedia” to describe this virtual

library. They put the biographies, photos, and histories online! Even the vocabulary was

new then; how many of us used the word “online” 25 years ago?

They were fortunate to work with Lisa Francescone, a brilliant young woman who

translated the founders' ideas into reality by creating a website that was aesthetically

pleasing and easy to navigate. Lisa helped earn recognition from Webpage evaluators

for the Uncrowned Queens’ content presentation and accessibility.

February 15th, 2001, was a dark, cold, stormy night! Yet the community gathered at the

Butler Mansion for the official launch of the Uncrowned Queens’ website. Many of the

women arrived on walkers, with canes, and even in wheelchairs, needing help up the

icy walk. But inside, the atmosphere was warmed by the excitement and enthusiasm.

Not a seat was empty. Many of the women who attended that evening were among the

project's inaugural Uncrowned Queens. As their photos and bios flashed across the

screen, several women were heard to exclaim, "How did I get up there?" It was truly a

phenomenal night. A number of those women are attending this event.

Nevergold and Brooks-Bertram were the first to acknowledge that they didn’t realize the

power of the Internet at the time, or how many doors it opened to collect, preserve, and

share the little-known and unappreciated history of Black women in our community.

That is, until Eva Noles—Buffalo’s first African American RN—told them she was

printing the bios and photos from the website and assembling a book! Wait! What?

They now credit Mrs. Noles with inspiring their first of four books on Uncrowned

Queens!

and culture is like a tree without roots.”

Garvey’s declaration reflects a core belief that has guided Brooks-Bertram’s and

Nevergold’s 25-year endeavor – to reclaim, document, preserve, and share the

individual and collective narratives that capture the historical assets of our African-

American community and sustain our connection to our cultural roots. They have

learned that this work requires many strategies, including tireless research, diligent

documentation, and diverse channels for sharing our results.

In 2007, the Institute welcomed Uncrowned Kings and launched Uncrowned Community

Builders, with a new web team led by Zack Sneider of Agency 15. His support over 15

years, beginning in 2011, has been remarkable, and the Institute is indebted to him and

his company.

2026 marks a new partnership with Odoo Buffalo, Inc., thanks to web designer Sam

Lieber, who has helped shape a new webpage. A very special thank you to Mayor Sean

Ryan, who, as a New York State Senator, supported a New York State initiative that

funded the development of the new website.

Finally, the history of this website, and indeed the Institute, is intertwined with the

integral role the community has played in its inception and ongoing viability. From the

beginning, the website has been this community’s site – not just the Institute’s - because

the community has been instrumental in collecting and preserving its own history. The

co-founders have asked individuals to become community historians, telling their own

story or their mother’s or father’s so it could be documented and preserved. Nevergold

said, “You have been our partners as individuals, organizations, businesses, faith-based

and educational institutions, and municipal and political groups. 
We thank you for your past support, and as we launch the Uncrowned Queens Institute’s website 3.0, we’re again asking for your support and collaboration going forward.”

In 2026, the Institute celebrates 25 years since the first Uncrowned Queens website

launched. Nevergold and Brooks-Bertram thank the community for recognizing 25 Years

of Purpose. They hope you agree that they have been purposeful, productive, and

contributive in maintaining and sharing an educational resource that will withstand