Tuskegee University

Archives

2014 AAAM Conference,

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute,

August 7, 2014

Dana R. Chandler

University Archivist

Tuskegee

University Archives:

A Brief History

“The Archives,” to many people, seems to conjure up an image of a dark, musty building located in some obscure place, on the bottom floor in a building nobody seems to know, where old men and women come to search out inconsequential information from forgotten people and organizations.

But, that is not our archives• The Tuskegee University

Archives seeks, not to be the best HBCU archives, but to compete with many of the major archives in academia.

• Although small in size, we will seek to be large in our web presence and our ability to provide for researchers within our school and beyond.

Tuskegee University

Archives: A Brief

History

Monroe Nathan Work

1. Work was the first to actively seek out materials to be archived at T.U.

2. Responding to an invitation by Booker T. Washington, Work came to Tuskegee in 1904 where he subsequently established the Department of Records and Research.

3. Work collected many items such as the Lynching Records (1881-1953) and Race Relations Reports (1954-63) and published The Negro Year Book (1912-51) and the Bibliography of the Negro in Africa and America (1928).

Tuskegee

University Archives:

A Brief History

Ralph N. Davis and Jessie P. Guzman1. Work retired in 19462. Continued Work’s legacy of

collecting, analyzing and disseminating all materials relating to all aspects of the black experience, with particular emphasis on the role of Tuskegee University.

3. Amassed one of the largest and most comprehensive newspaper clipping files in America, including 188 file cabinets containing approximately 550,000 items (according to notes left by Daniel Williams).

Tuskegee

University Archives:

A Brief History

Daniel T. Williams

1. Changed in 1968 from the Department of Records and Research to the Tuskegee Institute Archives

2. Materials were preliminarily inventoried and compiled within the library for ease of use by researchers

3. Housed in the Hollis Burke Frissell building

4. Excelled as a collector for approximately 30 years

Tuskegee University

Archives: A Brief

History

Cynthia Wilson

1. After Williams retirement, Cynthia Wilson occupied the de facto role of archivist for approximately 10 years.

2. Under Wilson’s watchful eye, the collections were maintained and continued to grow.

3. Wilson saw the archives through two important events, the initial move of the archives from the Library in 1999, and the subsequent move from Drew Hall, a converted residence hall, to the Bio-Ethics Building (old John A. Andrew Hospital) in 2005.

Tuskegee

University Archives:

Current Projects

• Photographic Preservation Project:

a. Process, preserve and digitize photographic media

• Year long grant period highlighting the work of Booker T. Washington during the one hundred year anniversary of his passing.

a. Working with teachers and scholars to re-examine the life and work of BTW

• Daily finding many more photos, negatives, etc. that were not identified in the original grant survey.

The Appeal of Our Archives

Many different items for a variety of disciplines.

Tuskegee University

Archives: Current

Projects

Digitization

1. Important Individuals

2. Periodicals

3. Events

4. Documents

5. Audio

6. Video

Tuskegee University

Archives: Current Projects

Current Websites

1. www.alabamamosaic.org

2. http://www.hbculibraries.org/

Tuskegee University Archives:

Current Projects

Website: www.tuskegee.edu/ArchivesRepository

• Decision to make things available

• Website contains a variety of media (including photographs, audio and visual), online yearbooks, finding aids, lists of independent files and FAQs regarding Tuskegee related historical, architectural and biographical information.

• It is a full service website, highlighting some of the most important items collected in our 125 plus years.

• Uses D-Space

• Over 500,000 hits in 4 years

• 45% from abroad!

Public Presentations

Teaching Opportunities

Cheryl Ferguson

Archival Assistant

The University Archives includes material documenting the history and growth of Tuskegee University. Books (including faculty publications), manuscripts, Tuskegee University periodicals and newspapers, ephemera, photographic images, disc and tape recordings, and other archival items are available for research

The Tuskegee University Archives Repository

The mission of the University Archives is to identify, collect, preserve, arrange, and describe records having permanent legal, fiscal, and/or administrative value in documenting the history of the administrative offices, the academic departments, and Tuskegee University related organizations, as well as the activities of its faculty, staff, and students.

Our Mission

Our Collections

• We currently have over 600 Collections and Artifacts

• Collections we are Known for:Booker T. Washington PapersGeorge Washington Carver PapersThe Tuskegee Newspaper & Lynching ClippingsMilitary and Civilian Pilot Training Program

Our Collections

Hidden collections that we have are:Southern Courier NewspaperNational Committee to Abolish the Poll TaxNational Negro Health WeekNational Negro Business LeagueSouthern Conference Human WelfareClinton J. Calloway (Rosenwald Schools)Monroe Nathan Work

Currently Seeking More

Collections received this past year Civil Rights Activist, Dr. Amelia Boynton Dean Emeritus of University Chapel-Dr. James E.

Massey John H. Pickle Sr. (one of Carver’s Boys)

Archival Processing • Some collections at Tuskegee

University are unprocessed.

• The collections’ documents are currently kept in what is assumed to be their original folders.

• Arrange each collection chronologically and alphabetically by folder subject matter.

• Folders are labeled, either following the original labeling, or in the case of missing or incorrect labels, assigned folder titles.

• Folder titles are assigned by the processors as indicated in the inventory enclosed in square brackets.

• All metal fasteners are removed.

Archival Processing

• The finding aids serve as a description of the arrangement of the collections and their potential interest for researchers.

• They indicate related subjects and collections that may lead a researcher to additional sources.

• They assist researchers in their search for information and aid the repository staff in managing their holdings and easily locating materials.

• The finding aid is encoded in EAD format for ease of accessibility on the Web.

• Finally, important records are tapped for inclusion into the three websites already indicated, described thoroughly, and converted to digital format.

Standards

Use a wide variety

Wei Beach

Scan Technician/Graphics Photo Specialist

Photo Preservation

Photo Preservation is used to improve the conditions of

our historical photograph collection by stabilizing,

sorting, housing and labeling the University’s media

collection. Included in the collection are negatives,

photographs and prints.

The Photographic Collection

• Between 75,000 and 100,000 images (not including born digital)

• Approximately 50,000 born digital images

• From Tin Type and Glass Plate Negatives

• Because they were housed in a variety of environments, with a variety of problems

Photo Preservation

Photo Preservation

Process and Digitize

Process and Preserve

Process and Identify

Problems Are Many:

1. Damaged photos and negatives:a. Determine formatb. What needs to be done?c. Using right resources

Problems Are Many:

1. Be careful:a. Image may be uniqueb. It may be severely

Damaged!2. Must:

a. Digitizeb. Preserve in cold storage

3. Outcome: Amazing

Problems Are Many:

Large Format and Damaged

Rewards Are For A Lifetime

Keri Hallford

Archival Intern

Tuskegee University Archives: Outreach and service is in our Mission

Statement!

• Serve researchers and scholarship by making available and encouraging the use of the collections by members of the community at large• The Archives works cooperatively with other libraries, archives, and museums

Booker T. Washington ‘Lifting the Veil of Ignorance’Photo courtesy of The National Park Service

Goal: Increase foot traffic and public awareness for our vast collections

We house collections that are vitally important to understanding national and local history:• African American history

Especially:- Civil Rights movement- The Voting Rights Act- Famous individuals such as Booker T. Washington, George W. Carver, and the

Tuskegee Airmen (to name a few)- Education- Early health and wellness initiatives- The Negro Yearbook- Race relations

• The National Lynching Records• Agriculture• And so much more

Therefore, you need to know about us if you want to know about any of these!

So… how do we get you in our door, on

our phone, or in our inbox?

Social Media PresenceFind us on Facebook!

Grants and Lectures: Getting our name out there

Grants for 2013-2014:• 2 with the Alabama Department of Archives and History• 1 with the National Endowment for the Arts• 1 with the Mellon Foundation/ Lyrasis Corporation

Lectures:• Grand Re-opening of the Tuskegee University National Historic Site and

Carver Museum• Dana was the keynote speaker for the National Association of

Agriculture Extension Agents• Weeklong Booker T. Washington teacher’s workshop• And many more!

Professional Organization Involvement

Digital Initiative

Digital presence + digital resources = hits from across the internet

Don’t forget that most of this is available from the Tuskegee Archive’s website as well!

Customer Service

The key is word of mouth.

• When word gets out about how helpful and polite staff is, then others will come

• Offer tours – Everyone likes to see things that they have read about in history books, things that they have never seen before

• Make yourself and staff as available as possible to faculty and staff, students, outside researchers, history lovers, curious people, etc.

Our ‘Museum’ –and other displays

Glenn Drummond

Macon County Archivist

Concluding Remarks

What does all of this mean?This year:• We had over 81 researchers (not counting those that came

through campus without an appointment). Researchers came from Senegal, England, Australia, and several from around the nation.

• We have had over 500 visitors to the archives in the form of tours. Tours include visitors from a variety organizations and locations.

• We had 18 collections donated to the archives.• We have had over 300 email requests for research, not

including items that were quickly answered. • Provided workshops for other HBCU archives including Vorhees

College, Universities of Arkansas Monticello and Pine Bluff, Oakwood University.

• Developed the archives for the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute.

What does all of this mean?

During the past few years:

• Provided workshops for other HBCU archives including Vorhees College, Universities of Arkansas Monticello and Pine Bluff, Oakwood University.

• Developed the archives for the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute.

Know your Collections!

Tuskegee University

Archives

We seek, not to follow, but to lead and, like our first President, Booker T. Washington, to provide our students with the best tools to

compete in any situation, during any time and in any country.

The End