Milan Uzelac, 2022-05-12

Containers:

Box 1

Scope and content:

Afua Ferdnance interviews Milan Uzelac on May 12, 2022 at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC). Milan Uzelac was born on November 2, 1939 to parents Guro and Milka in Serbia. He discusses his father's background in the military and the family's move to Skopje, Macedonia. Milan Uzelac recounts his childhood and education in Serbia and Macedonia. He became an architect and met his wife Constance "Connie" Porter Uzelac in 1963 in Macedonia. He describes their long-distance courtship, meeting the Porter Wesley family in the United States, their marriage, and move to Washington D.C. and later Los Angeles, California.

Milan Uzelac explains his relationships with Dorothy Porter Wesley (mother-in-law), James Porter (first father-in-law) and Charles H. Wesley (second father-in-law). He provides background on their lives and legacies in libraries, art, and American history. He details his experience moving Connie and Dorothy Porter Wesley to Fort Lauderdale, and the apartments they held to store Dorothy's archival collection. Milan and Connie worked in the real estate business. After Dorothy Porter Wesley's death in 1995, Milan assisted Connie with packing the archival collection and sending materials to auction. He explains a portion of the collection was acquired by Yale University and another portion donated by Connie to the African American Research Library and Cultural Center while under construction. He recounts the groundbreaking and opening ceremonies of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, and his participation in these events.

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