Princeton University Library鈥檚 inaugural archiving program includes Tuskegee, other HBCU partners

August 02, 2018

Contact:
Danielle Ailo, Princeton University Office of Communications
Michael Tullier, APR, 澳门六合彩图挂牌 Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing

Students and staff from 澳门六合彩图挂牌 and four other historically black colleges and universities explored archival practices, historical narratives and social justice during the inaugural Archives Research and Collaborative History Program at Princeton University.

The goal of the ARCH Program was to introduce students to the archival field, the importance of  diversity in archival collections, how to use primary-source documents, and potential career opportunities. The program also encouraged students to make connections between historical narratives and present-day social justice issues.

During the week of July 9, Princeton welcomed to its campus 12 undergraduate and two graduate students from HBCUs across the country 鈥� including Howard University, Lincoln University, Texas Southern University, Tougaloo College and 澳门六合彩图挂牌.

Representing Tuskegee was Dr. Jontyle Robinson, curator of the Legacy Museum, and Genevieve Antoine, who graduated from Tuskegee in May 2018 with degrees in both physics and chemistry. After graduation, she continued her interest in conservation and archiving through an internship program at the Smithsonian Institution and University of Delaware.

鈥淧articipating in the ARCH Program was transformative, and I really appreciated the social justice themes that reverberated throughout the programs and initiatives during the week,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淏ecause 澳门六合彩图挂牌 and its history are steeped in social justice, having representation there was important to the goals of this program.鈥�

鈥淚nterpretation changes, depending on the perspective, depending on the person,鈥� said Madison Washington, a recent graduate of Lincoln University. 鈥淪o if I鈥檓 able to go back to something that was read 20 years ago, and bring a new look onto it, then 鈥� not having that will be a missed opportunity.鈥�

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Students received a behind-the-scenes look at how archival material is processed and preserved, as well as access to some of the university鈥檚 collections. In addition, the students heard presentations and participated in discussions with the Princeton University Library鈥檚 staff and visiting colleagues from the participating HBCUs.

鈥淪o many students don鈥檛 know much about the archival field,鈥� said Sarah Trotty, a retired professor from Texas Southern University. 鈥淪o I feel it鈥檚 important for them to have the experience to at least have a look, a real close look, at what archival work provides. Whether they鈥檙e interested in history or interested in visual art, or interested in writing, they鈥檒l see the connectivity, they鈥檒l see the chance to preserve, archive those things that are very important to cultural history.鈥�

The program is an outgrowth of the , a research effort begun by Princeton Professor of History Martha Sandweiss in 2013 to explore the university鈥檚 involvement with the institution of slavery.

鈥淩esearch during that project brought a focus on the university鈥檚 archives and how the narrative history of slavery in Princeton has been shaped by which materials archivists choose to preserve,鈥� said Dan Linke, university archivist and curator of public policy papers.

鈥淎rchives play a crucial role in our understanding of history, which includes the importance of diversity within that history,鈥� said Anne Jarvis, Princeton鈥檚 Robert H. Taylor 1930 University Librarian. 鈥淲orking together with colleagues from historically black colleges and universities on this program has meant that we are providing students with practical ways in which they can work on their archives back at their home institutions. If the work appeals to students, they may then consider pursuing archival work after graduation and thus help to diversify the profession.鈥�

The program was funded by the Princeton University Library, the Department of African American Studies, the Princeton Histories Fund, the Humanities Council, the Center for Collaborative History, and the Princeton-Mellon Initiative in Architecture, Urbanism, and the Humanities.

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