The Chicago Gospel Music Heritage Museum was organized in April 2002 by Rev. Dr. Stanley Keeble. The Museum was established for the purpose of celebrating all traditional gospel artists past and present, and curating Chicago's rich historical legacy in relation to Gospel Music.
The Museum's main thrust focuses on those we refer to as "The Magnificent 8." They are;
Professor Thomas A. Dorsey;
Sallie Martin;
Professor Theodore R. Frye;
Mahalia Jackson;
Roberta Martin;
James Cleveland;
Reverend Milton Brunson; and
Roebuck "Pops" Staples
These all hail from Chicago, Illinois, and have all had a profound impact on the field of Gospel Music. The Museum highlights these and their outstanding contributions to Gospel Music, as well as many other Chicago-based artists who have helped shape the legacy of traditional Gospel Music.