MSR National Register Nomination | Minneapolis Honors Black History
MSR National Register nomination: The City of Minneapolis has nominated the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, and the former home of civil rights leader Harry Davis Sr. for placement on the National Register of Historic Places. The move caps a year of research led by the city’s African American Heritage Work Group and 106 Group, whose 223-page study documents Black contributions across the city. If approved, the designation would honor MSR’s nearly 90 years of coverage and unlock preservation tools for all three sites.
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR), the state’s oldest Black-owned newspaper, is on its way to receiving national recognition. Along with the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center and the former home of civil rights leader Harry Davis Sr., the MSR has been nominated by the City of Minneapolis for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.
For nearly 90 years, the MSR has chronicled the lives, struggles, and triumphs of African Americans in Minnesota. If approved, the designation would place MSR among the few Black-owned newspapers nationwide recognized as sites of national historic significance.
“This would shine a long overdue light on the decades of work the MSR has done to uplift African American voices and secure its place on the national stage,” said Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO and publisher of MSR, and granddaughter of founder Cecil E. Newman.
Honoring Black Institutions
The other nominated sites reflect the enduring legacy of Black life in Minneapolis:
- Phyllis Wheatley Community Center – For more than a century, the center has provided youth programs, family support, and leadership development in North Minneapolis.
- The former home of Harry Davis Sr. – Davis broke barriers as a community leader, civil rights advocate, and the first Black candidate for mayor of Minneapolis.
“These sites don’t just tell the story of Minneapolis, they are the story,” said Mayor Jacob Frey.
A Year of Research
The nominations are the result of a year-long process led by the city’s African American Heritage Work Group and researchers from 106 Group. Their 223-page African American Historic and Cultural Context Study documents the contributions of Black residents, institutions, and neighborhoods from the 1800s to the present.
A place on the National Register not only honors history but also opens access to preservation grants and tax credits. Consultants will now prepare formal applications, gather oral histories, and build a framework for additional nominations.
Community Pride
“Phyllis Wheatley Community Center is honored to be nominated,” said Interim Director Valerie Stevenson. “This milestone affirms the resilience and impact of our community and ensures future generations can continue to thrive within these walls.”
Current owners of the Davis home, Keith Dorsett and Melissa Kadlec, also shared their excitement. “This house—and Mr. Davis—will have a cemented place in Minneapolis history.”
MSR’s Enduring Legacy
For the MSR, the nomination affirms what generations of readers already know: the paper is more than a publication. It is a cultural institution that has amplified Black voices, preserved community memory, and stood as a trusted voice for nearly a century.