People Activity Radio

Althemese Pemberton Barnes founded the John G. Riley Museum in 1996, serving as the executive director; in 1997 she established the Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network, a statewide professional museum association. She had a career of 30 years with Florida’s Departments of Education and Labor, retiring in 1995. Her works include: several oral history and cultural development projects, historical publications, heritage trail maps, guides, and documentaries. She is a member of the American Alliance of Museums, the Florida Association of Museums, the National Association of African American Museums, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Ms. Barnes received a B.S. and an M.S. from Florida A&M University. In 2013, Ms. Barnes oversaw the construction of a $300,000 Visitors Center addition to the Riley Museum property. She left a $900,000 Endowment Fund invested for the upkeep of both the Center and Riley House for the future upon her retirement as Executive Director in October 2014