At 85 years old, Vivian Washington Filer, a prominent figure in Gainesville for decades, stands as the driving force behind the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center. Filer founded and now chairs the museum, which occupies a 60-year-old historical building and serves as a testament to her dedication to preserving and promoting Black history in Alachua County.
Filer grew up in Gainesville during the Jim Crow Era, and her lifelong commitment to civil rights and empowering the local Black community is now embodied in the museum's mission. Filer also boasts a nearly four-decade career in the health sciences field, serving as a nursing professor and interim director of health sciences at Santa Fe College.