‘Digging Up the Past’ highlight’s rich African American history from University Libraries’ collections

Historical material documenting the lives and culture of African Americans is represented in a new exhibit at the University of Minnesota’s Elmer L. Andersen Library.

On display through May 18, the exhibit includes photographs, manuscripts, slave manifests, letters, and works of art from more than 160 collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries, including the:

• Givens Collection of African American Literature
• Andersen Horticultural Library
• Tretter Collection of GLBT Studies
• Children’s Literature Research Collections

Some materials profoundly racist; others liberatory 

Some profoundly racist and others liberatory, the materials in Digging Up the Past demonstrate how African American history shapes not only our archives of the past, but also an understanding of our present.

The materials featured in Digging Up the Past were unearthed as part of Umbra Search African American History’s effort to digitize nearly 500,000 African American history materials from across the University Libraries’ collections.

About Umbra Search

Umbra Search brings together hundreds of thousands digitized materials from over 1,000 libraries and archives across the country and makes African American history more broadly accessible through a freely available widget and search tool, digitization of African American materials across University of Minnesota collections; and support of students, educators, artists, and the public through residencies, workshops, and events locally and around the country.

Exhibit Information

What: Digging Up the Past: An exhibit
When: Through May 18, 2018
Where: Elmer L. Andersen Library Gallery
222 21st Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

NOTE: An event to celebrate the exhibit will be held March 19, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., in Elmer L. Andersen Library.