Beck Cultural Exchange Center

The Beck Cultural Exchange Center, named in honor of James G. & Ethel B. Beck, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 1975 as a result of Knoxville’s Urban Renewal projects.

The projects relocated and displaced many black families, churches and businesses. Absent of the establishment of Beck, these places and the people may never have existed. Beck is the storehouse of African American history and culture and is designated by the state as a primary repository of Black history and culture in East Tennessee. 

The Beck archives are filled with over 50,000 objects spanning over 200 years of African American history and culture. Beck's team of archivists are digitizing and cataloging our important collection. They are dedicated to making these important materials available online.