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Founding of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Celebrated
Online Collection Includes More Than 1,000 Scanned Items from HBCU Institutions
First Normal graduating class, 1886. Virginia Normal and Collegiate
Institute later, Virginia State University
Ithaca, NY (BlackNews.com) - The first digital collection of documents and materials chronicling the founding of America's historically black colleges and universities is now available online at contentdm.auctr.edu
"A Digital Collection Celebrating the Founding of the Historically Black College and University" includes more than 1,000 scanned photographs, manuscripts, letters and publications from 10 institutions designated as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).
The project, which was funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, represents the first collaborative effort by HBCU libraries to make a historical collection digitally available. The online collection, which is hosted by the Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, is the product of a partnership between the HBCU Library Alliance, HBCU institutions, the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET) and Cornell University.
The contents of the collection date back to the early 1800s and include campus charters, student yearbooks, early campus architectural drawings, and a rich assortment of photographs featuring first presidents, graduating classes, famous alumni and churches, which often served as the first
classrooms at several of these institutions.
"This is an excellent resource for scholars and others interested in understanding the importance of institutions of higher learning founded by African-Americans. It offers direct access to original documents and images chronicling the story of these institutions, which are usually only available to researchers by travel to the institutions themselves," said Dorothy Autrey, chair of the history and political science department at Alabama State University.
"The HBCU digital library collection opens the door to an area of the African-American experience, which can now receive the study and attention it deserves -- the amazing contributions of historically black colleges and universities in the general struggle of a people for freedom and equality."
The online collection features materials from Alabama State University, Atlanta University Center, Bennett College for Women, Fisk University, Grambling State University, Hampton University, Southern University, Tuskegee University, Tennessee State University and Virginia State University.
To view materials from the collection, go to contentdm.auctr.edu. For more information about the partnership and the HBCU Library Alliance digital library initiative, visit www.hbculibraries.org/html/programs.html
About HBCU Library Alliance
The HBCU Library Alliance is a consortium that supports the collaboration of institutions dedicated to providing resources designed to strengthen the libraries of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their constituents. The purpose of the HBCU Alliance is to ensure the excellence in HBCU Libraries and the development, coordination, and promotion of programs and activities to enhance member libraries.
CONTACT:
Ira Revels
607-255-1569
ir33@cornell.edu
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