HBCU Library Alliance and Harvard team up to expand access to Black history

When Harvard documented its entanglements with slavery last April, it pledged to make amends through a series of impactful recommendations, one of which called for the University to develop enduring partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

On Wednesday, the HBCU Library Alliance and Harvard Library announced a project to sustain and deepen capacity for the digitization, discovery, and preservation of African American history collections held in HBCU libraries and archives across the U.S.

"Historically Black college and university archives document and preserve the histories and accomplishments of African Americans. Their archives are rich with artifacts for scholars to understand the past in preparing for the future," said Tiwanna Nevels, chair of the board of the HBCU Library Alliance. "The HBCU Library Alliance is delighted to be in partnership with Harvard University as we advance our mission to preserve and make accessible the historical legacies of these institutions. This is an exciting time for HBCU libraries as the alliance continues to further our overall mission."

The four-year, $6 million project aims to develop strategies and methods for HBCU libraries and archives to scale up the processing and digitization of their collections. The partnership will add to work that already exists in the HBCU Library Alliance's digital library.

"HBCU libraries have deep connections to African American history and expertise in records that are incredibly important," said Vice President for the Harvard Library and University Librarian Martha Whitehead. "This partnership will open and preserve access to many significant research collections held in HBCU libraries while ensuring they retain ownership of the collections. Students, scholars, and researchers around the world will benefit from the preservation and digitization of these materials. Harvard Library aspires to expand world knowledge and intellectual exploration, and we're grateful that we can partner with the HBCU Library Alliance as they share and preserve their cultural resources and research."