History & Memory | Today at 麻豆视频 | 麻豆视频 /u/news Thu, 05 Nov 2026 20:25:42 -0500 en-US hourly 1 麻豆视频 Committee on History and Memory to launch walking tour mobile app /u/news/2026/09/23/elon-committee-on-history-and-memory-to-launch-walking-tour-mobile-app/ Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:35:05 +0000 /u/news/?p=1057160 麻豆视频鈥檚 Committee on History and Memory will soon launch a mobile app to help the 麻豆视频 community better understand its history with race. The app, available through the Bloomberg Connects platform, is part of the committee鈥檚 work, launched in 2018 by President Connie Ledoux Book, which released a full report in Fall 2020.

Bloomberg Connects is a free, easy-to-use platform that is accessible in more than 50 different languages. Its goal is to remove barriers to accessing information, and tours through the app can be used on or off site. The app will allow students to not just learn about 麻豆视频鈥檚 history, but also explore outside museums, libraries, art collections and more.听

The committee offers tours of campus, particularly around Black history. The idea for the app started with member Keshia Gee, director of the Black Lumen Project and associate professor of dance, who thought it would help make the tours more accessible. Archivist, Assistant Librarian and fellow member on the committee Emma Powell knew of Bloomberg Connects from previous work and, from there, the 鈥渂all started rolling,鈥� she said.

The app was created through collaboration between faculty and students, including Liya Rike 鈥�27, Brooks Riley 鈥�27 and Patrick Fales 鈥�28.

鈥淲e got an 麻豆视频 Innovation Grant and were able to hire three students as part of that, who helped us do a lot of the research and the writing and all the interviews,鈥� Powell said. 鈥淚t’s been really cool to see them learning these stories for the first time. They always have a lot of questions, but they bring a lot of good insights.鈥�

The app will have three digital walking tours. One on Black student activism, one on Black labor and the last will cover 麻豆视频鈥檚 complex history with racism. Each tour will touch on different spaces and locations at 麻豆视频 that connect with unknown histories.

鈥淭here are a lot of spaces that we cover on campus. Some are more loosely related than others,鈥� Powell says. 鈥淔or example, we talk about Alumni Gym and the several Black athletes who led the way for more integration on campus. There’s not an explicit tie to their stories with that space in particular, but it’s more thematically related to what we’re talking about.鈥�

Lynn Huber is the co-chair of the committee and a professor of religious studies at 麻豆视频. She believes the app is essential for improving students鈥� awareness and acknowledging 麻豆视频鈥檚 complex past.

鈥淜nowing where we’ve been helps us understand where we are and can help us think about where we’re going,鈥� Huber said. 鈥淭here’s still a lot that we don’t know and the more people we have investigating and thinking about it, the better.鈥�

The committee plans to launch the app Sept. 29, and will host a celebration from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the Snow Family Grand Atrium of Schar Hall.

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AAASE Fall 2026 event speaker discusses intergenerational mobility among Black and white families /u/news/2026/09/21/aaase-fall-2026-event-speaker-discusses-intergenerational-mobility-among-black-and-white-families/ Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:41:46 +0000 /u/news/?p=1056855 On Thursday, Sept. 17, Janeria Easley presented her research for the African and African-American Studies at 麻豆视频 (AAASE) Interdisciplinary Minor Program鈥檚 Fall 2026 Invited Speaker Event in LaRose Digital Theatre. The AAASE minor coordinator, Jessica Carew, briefly introduced Easley, who is currently an assistant professor of African American Studies at Emory University. Easley’s research and teaching expertise centers around racial disparities in economic well-being, as well as demography, social stratification, urban studies, and media studies.

Headshot of Janeria Easley with a green background
Janeria Easley, assistant professor of African American Studies at Emory University

In Easley鈥檚 presentation titled 鈥淏eyond the Starting Point: Holistic Mobility Among Black and White Families,鈥� she discussed the concept of intergenerational mobility and identified the degree to which racial disparities exist across several influential factors, such as wealth accumulation.听 Easley argues that to best understand what explains whether families experience intergenerational mobility, it is important to use measures that account for the interaction between and among multiple influential factors.

She and her co-authors utilize long-running national survey data to build a more complete picture of where families start and where they end up 鈥� combining occupation, income, education, wealth, and neighborhood quality into two composite measures, which they call an 鈥渙rigin profile鈥� and a 鈥渄estination profile.鈥�

Rather than asking 鈥淒oes parental education predict child education?鈥� they ask, 鈥淒oes someone’s overall starting position predict their overall ending position?鈥澨� The data presented from this more holistic approach shows that the gap in mobility between Black and white families is stark, particularly at the high and low ends of socioeconomic status. Black families are more likely to encounter difficulty increasing their socioeconomic status, while the children of Black parents with a higher status encounter barriers that lead to them being less likely to maintain that status in adulthood (as compared to similarly situated White families).

A woman speaks in a lecture hall setting behind an 麻豆视频 labeled podium
On Thursday, Sept. 17, Janeria Easley presented her research for the African and African-American Studies at 麻豆视频 (AAASE) Interdisciplinary Minor Program鈥檚 Fall 2026 Invited Speaker Event in LaRose Digital Theatre

After the presentation, students and faculty in the audience participated in an engaging question-and-answer session that ranged from better understanding the measures used in the study to a consideration of other influential factors that are difficult to measure. Subsequently, Carew noted that Easley鈥檚 research is especially timely, given both the continuing rise of economic inequality in the U.S. and the increasingly hostile rhetoric challenging the merits of and belonging of Black Americans in higher education.

Easley鈥檚 findings demonstrate the strong influence of Black parents鈥� educational attainment on socioeconomic outcomes for their children. This research highlights what is at stake for the long term outcomes and prosperity of African American populations today and in the near future, in the context of the increasing barriers to education and employment that many encounter.

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麻豆视频 to host Inclusive Excellence Summer Development Series honoring American anniversaries /u/news/2026/06/11/elon-to-host-inclusive-excellence-summer-development-series-honoring-american-anniversaries/ Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:21:34 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049829 This summer, 麻豆视频 faculty and staff are invited to engage in meaningful dialogue, reflection and community-building through the Inclusive Excellence Summer Development Series 鈥淎merican Anniversaries: 250 Years, Over 160 Reasons to Heal.鈥�

The series connects two significant milestones in American history 鈥� the nation鈥檚 250th anniversary and the 161st anniversary of Juneteenth 鈥� through opportunities to explore the ongoing pursuit of freedom, equality and justice.

“This series offers our community an opportunity to reflect on the diverse significance of two historical celebrations during a complex contemporary moment. As we commemorate 250 years of American independence, it is a joyous yet complicated time,” said Carla Fullwood, director of inclusive excellence education and development. “Many communities, particularly historically marginalized communities based on race, have not experienced our nation’s principles of freedom, equality, and justice in the same way across the past 250 years. That is evident in the significance of Juneteenth, which marks the moment enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were notified of the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been signed years earlier. And that declaration on June 19, 1865 does not account for the many enslaved people who remained in bondage across the South, and in several Union states,听for months after.

Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion

Faculty and staff participating in the Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion series will gather June 9-18 for facilitated conversations inspired by “The Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing” by Anneliese Singh.

Through the lens of racial healing, participants will explore how race and racism have shaped Americans鈥� experiences of foundational democratic ideals and consider what concepts such as freedom, equality and justice mean in their own lives and communities.

Registration for the Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion series is now closed. Registered participants should have received their copy of 鈥淭he Racial Healing Handbook.鈥� Additional details will be shared directly with participants.

Juneteenth Commemoration Activities

The Inclusive Excellence Summer Development Series culminates June 18 with a day of educational experiences, reflection and celebration.

Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum & State Historic Site Tour

From 9 to 11:30 a.m., faculty and staff can visit the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum & State Historic Site, home of the historic Palmer Memorial Institute, a pioneering educational institution for African American students in North Carolina. Participants should begin boarding the bus at 8:45 a.m.; transportation will depart campus promptly at 9 a.m. from the 麻豆视频 sign near the Inman Admissions Building.

Freedom Footprints

Beginning June 8, members of the 麻豆视频 community can explore Black history, activism and achievement at 麻豆视频 through . The self-guided experience includes campus walking tour stops marked by lawn signs featuring QR codes that connect visitors to additional historical information.

On June 18, Shaunta Alvarez, interim coordinator of University Archives, Digital Collections & Systems Librarian and associate librarian, will lead a guided version of the tour. Weather permitting, participants will depart from Lakeside 213/214 at 1:45 p.m. following the Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion session. No registration is required.

Emancipation Celebration

The day concludes with Together@麻豆视频鈥檚 Emancipation Celebration from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in McKinnon Hall within Moseley Center. Community members are invited to enjoy a Juneteenth exhibit, music, sweet treats and games while celebrating freedom, resilience and community. Participants can compete in a Spades tournament for prizes or join casually to learn or teach the game. Individuals and teams of two are welcome to

The Inclusive Excellence Summer Development Series is a collaborative initiative supported by Belk Library, Black Lumen Project, the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE), the Committee on 麻豆视频 History and Memory, 麻豆视频 Archives and Special Collections, HealthEU Initiatives, the Office of Inclusive Excellence Education and Development (OIEED), the Office of Leadership and Professional Development (OLPD), Together@麻豆视频/Staff Advisory Council and other campus partners.

The events offered through this summer series give us an opportunity to explore that complexity with honesty and care,” Fullwood said. “The Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion series creates space to unpack our understanding of these complexities through dialogue and storytelling. The Freedom Footprints tour and Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum tour center narratives about Black experiences that are often untold or minimized in the context of American history. Closing the series with the Together@麻豆视频 event allows us to root all of this learning in community-building. We are proud to offer 麻豆视频 faculty and staff opportunities to learn, reflect, and heal together.”

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Black History Month: Keshia Gee brings West African dance to center stage at 麻豆视频 /u/news/2026/02/11/black-history-month-keshia-gee-brings-west-african-dance-to-center-stage-at-elon/ Wed, 11 Feb 2026 14:25:27 +0000 /u/news/?p=1038485 As one of only a handful of full-time professors in the United States who focus on traditional West African dance, Assistant Professor of Dance Keshia Gee has made emphasizing the importance of the dance form a major part of her work at 麻豆视频.

Traditional West African dance is unique by giving dancers the ability to work with live musicians and introduces them to polyrhythm, Gee said, but it goes beyond just live music and rhythm. Knowing, understanding and practicing traditional West African dance can help dancers understand other forms as well, as it is the foundation of many other dance forms.

Keshia Gee, assistant professor of dance

As 麻豆视频 honors Black History Month in February, Gee notes that her work showcasing West African dance and expanding access to the art is more important than ever, but is also something she does year-round.鈥淢y overall goal (for Black History Month),鈥� Gee said, 鈥渋s to make people aware of Black greatness and the things that Black folks are doing.鈥�

During her undergraduate dance studies, Gee had a difficult time connecting to her alma mater鈥檚 modern dance program, partially, she said, because of the culture of the program at the time.

鈥淟ater in my dance journey, I also came to understand that I am neurodivergent, which has deeply shaped the way I approach teaching and research,鈥� said Gee. 鈥淏ecause of that experience, I make it a priority to learn every student鈥檚 name, build genuine personal connections and create tools and resources that support multiple ways of learning. My goal is to ensure that students who may share similar challenges, or who simply learn differently, are able to engage with the course material in ways that feel accessible and affirming.鈥�

Artificial intelligence has been a tool Gee has used to make the dance form more accessible. She published an interactive textbook that blends tradition with technology, inviting users of the online resource to learn West African dance moves and music using a digital avatar named 鈥淎mma.鈥�

鈥淚 wanted to make it easier for everyone 鈥� whether you鈥檙e totally new to dance or already have experience 鈥� to connect with this powerful art form and understand how deeply it鈥檚 tied to the history and rhythms of the people,鈥� Gee said.

During Gee鈥檚 undergraduate experience, it was a West African dance course with her future mentor and mother-in-law, Robin Gee, where things began to click: 鈥淚t was one of the first times that I felt like a professor really saw me,鈥� said Gee.

Keshia Gee, assistant professor of dance

She now tries to help her students similarly, hosting her 鈥渕entoring research circle,鈥� bringing together her research mentees for collaborative work: 鈥淚 love being connected to students in that way. I feel like we learn and grow together, and I just love to see the growth.鈥�

鈥淲orking with Keshia has taught me how to challenge my thinking as well as collaborate with others,鈥� said Lucy Burk 鈥�27, a dance performance & choreography major who is working with Gee on her 麻豆视频 College Fellows research. 鈥淪he frequently allows her mentees to share ideas with each other about their projects, which leads to insightful discussions and helps builds strong relationships. Keshia is always there for support and guidance, and she makes sure her mentees get the most valuable information and resources available.鈥�

In 2025, Gee was also named the director of The Black Lumen Project: An Equity Initiative, which works to enhance the Black experience at 麻豆视频 in pursuit of equity and move the institution further in its commitment to inclusive excellence.

Gee is working to make the Committee on History and Memory Fall 2020 Report more accessible to alumni and the surrounding community through the by development of a mobile app. Her work also includes producing a film about Black women at 麻豆视频, such as Mary Carroll Robertson and Wilhelmina Boyd, associate professor emerita of English and founder of the African/African-American Studies program.

鈥淲e’ve been interviewing (some of these women) to create this living documentary about Black women being at the heart of 麻豆视频,鈥澨� she said. 鈥淚ntersectionality can cause us to slip through the cracks at times, and perhaps not be acknowledged for the work that they’ve done.鈥�

Black History Month

As part of Black History Month, 麻豆视频 is sharing stories through Today at 麻豆视频 that highlight Black students, faculty and staff who actively contribute to a campus environment where cultural histories and identities are celebrated year-round. In February, 麻豆视频 is also recognizing the month through a series of events and programming.

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Voices of 麻豆视频 Oral History booths debut at Homecoming celebration /u/news/2025/10/20/voices-of-elon-oral-history-booths-debut-at-homecoming-celebration/ Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:40:22 +0000 /u/news/?p=1030949 For the first time, the Committee on 麻豆视频 History and Memory hosted the Voices of 麻豆视频 Oral History Booths as part of the 2025 Homecoming & Reunion Weekend on Oct. 17-18.

The booths provided an opportunity for alumni to share their 麻豆视频 stories on camera in 10-15 minute interviews, which are to be preserved in the University Archives. In total, 23 interviews were recorded across three locations: the Black Community Room in Moseley, the 麻豆视频 Black Alumni Network Tailgate and at Belk Library.

The History and Memory Committee aims to find stories that are not currently reflected in the archives. While the committee was created in 2020 with Black history in mind, Kelly Policelli, committee co-chair and coordinator of University Archives & Special Collections, says they want begin branching out to other areas, including the LGBTQ community and other minority groups that have been historically underrepresented on campus.

鈥淚t鈥檚 also just fun,鈥� Policelli said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important for our committee especially, because we are working on some very hard histories, to sometimes stop and just celebrate some of the students, the stories, and the experiences that 麻豆视频 students have had.鈥�

While the committee often researches and tells stories about the more challenging aspects of 麻豆视频鈥檚 history, they believe it is equally important to highlight achievement.

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Tours honor freedom and reflection on Black history at 麻豆视频 /u/news/2025/06/19/tours-honor-freedom-and-reflection-on-black-history-at-elon-university/ Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:08:29 +0000 /u/news/?p=1020683 Juneteenth, a federal holiday observed each year on June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

In recognition of Juneteenth, 麻豆视频 has organized programs for students, faculty, staff, and community members, including a self-guided walking tour that highlights locations on campus marked with informational signs offering historical context.

Signs at each location听feature a QR code linking to a webpage with expanded details about the site.

Organizers hope that through the tour experience, participants will gain insight into the lesser-known histories of 麻豆视频’s Black community. Those insights, they said, will foster reflection, education, and commemoration of the holiday鈥檚 significance.

“Our understanding of the historical and contemporary significance of Juneteenth helps us grow into a community that embraces shared responsibility to act deliberately toward equitable outcomes,鈥� said Carla Fullwood, director of inclusive excellence education and development in the Division of Inclusive Excellence.

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Juneteenth serves as both a celebration of emancipation and a solemn reminder of the long struggle for racial justice, Fullwood said, and that 麻豆视频 鈥� as an institution committed to inclusive excellence 鈥� engages the community through events that reflect values of justice, critical inquiry, and shared humanity.

鈥淛uneteenth is also a time to honestly reflect on our nation鈥檚 history of independence, recommit to the work of justice, and create space for both rest and joy,鈥� she said.

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麻豆视频 to honor Juneteenth with variety of activities /u/news/2025/06/13/elon-university-to-honor-juneteenth-with-variety-of-activities/ Fri, 13 Jun 2025 12:56:03 +0000 /u/news/?p=1020040 Juneteenth will be observed on June 19 with online resources and main campus programs throughout the day that reflect on the significance of the holiday and the history of Black achievements, activism and influence at 麻豆视频.

Freedom Footprints Self-Guided or Virtual Tour鈥�
All Day | In-person and Online鈥�
麻豆视频 community members are invited to explore Black history, activism and more at the university through a self-guided walking tour鈥攊n person or online accessible beginning on Juneteenth.

Juneteenth Reflection Hour鈥�
9:30-10:30 a.m. | McBride Gathering Space鈥痮f the Numen Lumen Pavilion听
Come as you are for a quiet, interactive, reflective hour with light refreshments. A short remembrance will be offered by the Rev. Donna Vanhook ’07.

Juneteenth Lunch and Learn Conversation鈥�
12-1 p.m. | Oaks Commons 212 | Register 贬贰搁贰鈥�听
Join us for lunch and a guided conversation on the significance of Juneteenth, past and present.

Freedom Footprints Guided Tour鈥�
1:15 p.m. | Meet outside Oaks Commons鈥�
Led by Assistant Professor Amanda Kleintop, a member of the Committee on鈥槎故悠� History and Memory, this walking tour will offer more context and broader stories of Black activism and contributions at 麻豆视频.

Commemoration events are sponsored by the Black Lumen Project, , Committee on 麻豆视频鈥檚 History and Memory, HealthEU Initiatives, and the Office of Inclusive Excellence Education and Development.

An 麻豆视频 Juneteenth Q&A

In honor of Juneteenth, two members of the 麻豆视频 community 鈥� Assistant Librarian Shaunta Alvarez, a member of the Committee on鈥槎故悠� History and Memory, and Carla Fullwood, director of inclusive excellence education and development 鈥� share personal reflections, historical insights, and perspectives on the significance of the holiday.

Both answered questions they hope will provide a deeper understanding of the holiday鈥檚 legacy and its relevance in both academic and community spaces today.

What does Juneteenth mean to you?鈥�
Carla Fullwood: Juneteenth represents the ongoing journey toward liberation. It commemorates the delayed emancipation of enslaved people and reflects how Black and African American communities continue to fight for equity in our society.

Shaunta Alvarez: Juneteenth is a grand and uplifting moment in the history of Black people in the United States. It鈥檚 a time for both celebration and embittered reflection.

The photo shows a woman posing confidently in front of a neutral gray background. She has a warm, friendly smile and is wearing a dark, sleeveless dress. Her hair is styled in neat braids pulled back. She's adorned with a vibrant, multi-strand beaded necklace that features a mix of blue, green, red, and gold tones, and she's also wearing dangling earrings. The lighting and background suggest this is a professional portrait, possibly for business or academic use.
Carla Fullwood, director of inclusive excellence education and development

Why should Juneteenth be celebrated and recognized?鈥�
CF: Juneteenth should be observed because it represents a significant part of American history. When we honor Juneteenth, we acknowledge the value, contributions and culture of Black people. These narratives and lived experiences were not fully recognized on July 4, 1776, and deserve to be uplifted as part of a more complete American story.

SA: Commemorating Juneteenth offers opportunities for education about the nation鈥檚 history and to acknowledge the significance of freedom for all Americans. We take this time to study the history of Black people at 麻豆视频 to remember that working toward freedom and inclusion is ongoing and that emancipation from enslavement was just a beginning.

What are some of the benefits of raising awareness and understanding about Juneteenth?鈥�
CF: Raising awareness about Juneteenth creates space for truth-telling, racial healing and solidarity. As an educator, I see this as a meaningful way to live out our 麻豆视频 values, particularly our commitment to respecting human differences and inclusive excellence.

SA: While I鈥檓 a fan of personal or individual study and reflections, community recognitions and discussions create safe spaces to ask questions like 鈥淲hat was it like when鈥�?鈥�,鈥� 鈥淗ow did they feel about鈥�?鈥�, or 鈥淲hy did it happen that way?鈥濃�� and discuss what we know and don鈥檛 know about.

What is something you learned while celebrating Juneteenth?鈥�
CF: I鈥檝e learned that Juneteenth is not only about resisting inequitable systems, but this day is also about rest and restoration. These practices have long been part of Black liberation and civil rights movements. The fight for liberation can coexist with moments of physical or mental rest, meditation, storytelling, music, food, fellowship, or engaging in physical activity that helps restore the body and spirit for the continued work ahead.

The photo shows a woman facing the camera directly, with a neutral expression. She has medium-length black hair styled to frame her face, and she is wearing small hoop earrings. Her attire is a white collared shirt, and the background is a plain, light color, likely intended for a professional or formal portrait. The lighting is even, highlighting her facial features clearly.
Assistant Librarian Shaunta Alvarez, a member of the Committee on鈥槎故悠� History and Memory

SA: The most important thing I鈥檝e learned is that I must make time to study the complexity of historic events such as Juneteenth and how both the events themselves as well as the narratives about them shape our experiences. What I was taught about was limited; Juneteenth was simply the day all the enslaved people in the U.S. were freed. Over the years, I鈥檝e learned there is so much more to that period that includes what the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 meant up to the ratification of the 13th Amendment in December 1865.

Members of the 麻豆视频 communities are invited to share your thoughts and reflections by submitting them for a possible feature on the 麻豆视频 Instagram page.

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Celebrating Black history in the 麻豆视频 Archives & Special Collections /u/news/2025/02/11/celebrating-black-history-in-the-elon-university-archives-special-collections/ Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:54:48 +0000 /u/news/?p=1006926 Fifty years ago, in February 1975, 麻豆视频 College鈥檚 Black Cultural Society鈥攁n organization founded in 1974 鈥渢o promote understanding and a sense of unity among Black students鈥濃�攃elebrated National Black Heritage Week, the precursor to Black History Month, for the first time on 麻豆视频鈥檚 campus. The BCS sponsored a program of hymns and poetry; a talk by Raymond McLaughlin, a professor of history at NC A&T University, titled 鈥淲hat It Means to be Black in the Twentieth Century鈥�; and a talk by alumnus Rev. Marvin Morgan 鈥�71, a Burlington minister, titled 鈥淭he Standpoint of Theology in the Black Society.鈥�

These days, February brings a wealth of opportunities for learning, reflection and advocacy around Black history and the legacies of anti-Black racism on 麻豆视频鈥檚 campus and around the country. While you鈥檙e likely to see pop-up exhibits around campus this month that utilize materials from the 麻豆视频 Archives & Special Collection, this seems a particularly appropriate time of year to remind the campus of the records, papers and artifacts related to 麻豆视频鈥檚 Black history that the Archives makes available to students, faculty, staff and the public year-round.

Online Resources听

Not all of the materials in the 麻豆视频 Archives & Special Collections are available online. Still, there are several small collections and exhibits that represent a good start to exploring 麻豆视频鈥檚 Black history.

Andrew Morgan standing beside car in black and white photo
Staff member Andrew Morgan with his car, 1940s or 1950s. Photo featured in the History and Memory Collection online. EUA028 Photograph Collection

Since its inception in 2018, the Committee on 麻豆视频 History & Memory has worked closely with the Archives to uncover hidden, unsung, and sometimes difficult histories on campus, including the underdeveloped stories of Black contributions and Black excellence at 麻豆视频. After the release of the committee鈥檚 2020 report (see the Recommended Reading section below), the Archives created a special online collection that brings together some of the resources used to write the report, many of which document 麻豆视频鈥檚 Black history.

听and Freedom Footprints鈥�The Archives also created an interactive map exhibit that connects the campus鈥檚 physical spaces with the stories told in the 2020 Committee on 麻豆视频 History and Memory report, allowing users to walk through Black history on campus. In the summer 2024, the original tour was adapted to create a thought-provoking Juneteenth walking tour titled 鈥淔reedom Footprints.鈥澨�

This student project, researched and created by Emily Lange ’21, a 2019 recipient of the Lumen Prize, documents the origins of the African and African American Studies at 麻豆视频 minor. Starting with the first request for a Black studies course in 1969 and working through Wilhelmina Boyd鈥檚 successful launch of the minor in 1994, the exhibit highlights the importance of student advocacy in the long fight for academic recognition on campus.

Wilhemina Boyd sits with a student in front of foliage
Wilhelmina Boyd, founder of the African and African American Studies at 麻豆视频 minor program, with an unidentified student, 1990s. EUA028 Photograph Collection

This collection currently houses only a few interviews germane to Black history on 麻豆视频鈥檚 campus, but watch this space for new resources (see Expanding the Collections, below).

听and 颁辞濒濒别肠迟颈辞苍蝉鈥�A sampling of our total photographic and video holdings is available in our online collections and are searchable there, but we have many more AV resources in our collections. Contact an archivist at belkarchives@elon.edu for more information.

Physical Collections听

Within our physical collections, we are always working to identify entry points to Black history and the Black experience on our campus and beyond. What follows is a list of materials we know to be relevant to understanding Black history at 麻豆视频. These can be accessed in the Archives Reading Room at Belk Library. Email belkarchives@elon.edu for more information.

Books and Publications鈥擬oments in 麻豆视频鈥檚 Black history have been captured in a range of campus publications, including campus newspapers like the Maroon and Gold (1920-1970), the Veritas Liberated Press (1968-1970), Broadside Today (1972-1973), and the Pendulum (1974-ongoing); in the Phi Psi Cli yearbook (1913-ongoing); administrative publications like the 麻豆视频 College/University fact books; newsletters like Black Underground; in original research like L鈥橳anya Richmond鈥檚 master鈥檚 thesis, 鈥溌槎故悠碘�檚 Black History: A Story to Be Told鈥� (2005); and in recent campus reports like the Black Lumen report (2023). Many of these publications have been digitized and are now fully searchable online.

Emory Moore, one of the first Black student-athletes at 麻豆视频, late 1960s. Featured in Phi Psi Cli yearbook. EUA012 Athletics Collection

EUA012 麻豆视频 Athletics Collection, 1891-ongoing (13 archival boxes, 18 bound volumes, plus unprocessed material)鈥擜thletics represented a pathway to join the 麻豆视频 community for Black student-athletes, and Black athletes were at the forefront of the fight for equity on campus from the late 1960s onward. This collection includes a variety of materials and documents that relate to the history of athletics at 麻豆视频.

EUA040 麻豆视频 Biographical Files鈥擳his collection includes biographical information about individuals associated with 麻豆视频 and the Town of 麻豆视频, including some of the founders of the institution, faculty and staff, and alumni. Documents within each folder contain a variety of items, such as newspaper clippings, correspondences, essays and memoirs, and other types of printed materials.

EUA041 麻豆视频 Files (General and Administrative)鈥� This collection includes general information files about departments on campus, events, courses, organizations and other miscellaneous subjects associated with 麻豆视频. The files are arranged alphabetically and span eight file cabinet drawers. For example, the 鈥淏lack Cultural Society/Black Student Union鈥� folder was cited in the 2020 report by the Committee on 麻豆视频 History & Memory.

The 麻豆视频 Gospel Choir, ca. 1980s-1990s. EUA028 Photograph Collection

EUA095 Gospel Choir Collection, 1980-ongoing (three archival boxes)鈥擳he Gospel Choir at 麻豆视频 was founded in 1977 by a group of African American students in search of fellowship on campus. The Gospel Choir Collection includes documents about the organization from 1980 to the present day. Documents include materials such as correspondence, receipts or financial records, advertising flyers, programs and membership listings.

EUA098 African and African American Studies Collection, 1969-ongoing (four archival boxes)鈥� This collection consists of materials relating to the founding and continued work of the African and African-American Studies Program at 麻豆视频.

EUA134 Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education (CREDE) Collection, 1992-ongoing (one archival box)鈥擳his collection pertains to multicultural affairs across 麻豆视频’s campus, including the creation of the CREDE, as well as some information on the African and African-American Studies minor.

EUA155 Anti-Racism at 麻豆视频 Collection, 2020-ongoing (one archival box)鈥� This is a collection of correspondence, news articles, and reports related to anti-racism efforts at 麻豆视频, as well as events that took place at 麻豆视频 and in Alamance County in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020. The collection includes the report of the Committee on 麻豆视频 History & Memory released in October 2020.

Mary Carroll-Robertson ’81, the first Black Homecoming Queen at 麻豆视频, 1979. When this photo was omitted from the 1980 yearbook, it sparked a protest. EUA028 Photograph Collection

EUA159 Black Excellence Awards Collection, 1993- ongoing (one archival box)鈥擳his collection encompasses the history of the Black Excellence Awards from their creation in 1993 to the present day. It includes both programs and invitations from past Black Excellence Awards ceremonies and news articles discussing the Black Excellence Awards. Particularly of note are the programs and newspaper coverage relating to the inaugural award ceremony in 1993.

MSS005 William H. Maness Collection, 1957-2000 (two archival boxes)鈥擳he William H. Maness collection contains a variety of materials relating to his tenure as a judge in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as issues of racism, social inequality, the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the strides people took to promote the well-being and equality of the human race.听

Expanding the Collections听

Like all archives, the 麻豆视频 Archives & Special Collections represents the goals, values and priorities of its participants over the years of its existence. For much of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the history and experiences of those who identified as Black or African American were ignored, elided, or just plain excluded from official archives and records鈥攁nd 麻豆视频 was no different. Within the EUA&SC, we鈥檙e committed to making the Archives a place that reflects the histories of the whole community. In the hopes of filling in some of those 鈥渁rchival silences,鈥� we are always seeking materials that speak to the Black and African American experience on campus. In particular, we plan to begin an oral history program within the Archives that will focus on recovering Black voices, with input from the Committee on 麻豆视频 History & Memory. We also must acknowledge that, in some cases, evidence and information has simply been lost to history. It鈥檚 a difficult truth that keeps us motivated in our efforts to build a more equitable and accurate archive for the future.

References and Recommended Reading听

Alvarez, Shaunta. 鈥溌槎故悠碘�檚 First Black History Celebration.鈥� Under the Oaks (blog). February 1, 2012. .

Black Lumen Project. The Black Experience at 麻豆视频: A Black Lumen Project Report. 麻豆视频, NC: 麻豆视频, 2023. .

Committee on 麻豆视频 History and Memory. Report and Recommendations. 2020. 麻豆视频, NC: 麻豆视频, 2022. .

Richmond, L鈥橳anya. 鈥溌槎故悠碘�檚 Black History: A Story to Be Told.鈥� Master鈥檚 thesis, Duke University, 2005. 麻豆视频 Archives and Special Collections, 麻豆视频, NC.

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麻豆视频 celebrates Juneteenth with tour, discussion /u/news/2024/06/20/elon-celebrates-juneteenth-with-tour-discussion/ Thu, 20 Jun 2024 12:00:05 +0000 /u/news/?p=987322 麻豆视频 celebrated Juneteenth on Wednesday with various events throughout the day including a luncheon, panel discussion and a pop-up exhibit in LaRose Student Commons. Members of the university community were invited to participate in a self-guided campus tour.

The Juneteenth event in LaRose Student Commons opened with words from Carla Fullwood, director of inclusive excellence education and development. 鈥淭his day reminds us to commit ourselves to fostering an inclusive and equitable academic community for students, faculty and staff,鈥� Fullwood said.

Fullwood shared a brief history of Juneteenth and thoughts about how members of the campus community could commemorate the holiday, which marks the end of slavery in the United States. 鈥淎s a university we have a unique opportunity to commemorate this federal holiday with reflection and education while we are on campus,鈥� Fullwood said.

Participants explore a Juneteenth pop-up history exhibit.

Following Fullwood鈥檚 welcome was a panel discussion featuring Assistant Librarian Shaunta Alvarez and Assistant Professor Amanda Kleintop, with Kelly Policelli, coordinator of university archives & special collections and assistant librarian, serving as moderator. Policelli offered insights into the recent development of courses at the university that incorporate and highlight the findings within the 2020 report by the Committee on 麻豆视频 History and Memory. The courses aim to empower students to explore how 麻豆视频鈥檚 history connects to the present, Policelli said.

Alvarez is the digital collections and systems librarian 麻豆视频 and she served as the principal investigator for 麻豆视频鈥檚 contributions to the Locating Slaveries Legacies database.听An assistant professor of history, Kleintop focuses her research on topics including digital archival practices to reparative archival descriptions to appraisal and reappraisal of archival context.

Policelli noted that Juneteenth has roots in American history with the announcement of General Order Number Three on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, which informed the people of Texas that all enslaved people were now free. Policelli asked Kleintop to expand upon Juneteenth鈥檚 history and significance. Kleintop noted in her response that the origins of what we now call Juneteenth actually stretch back further than 1865. 鈥淛uneteenth arguably has origins from 1830 with the first of August celebrations that people across the African diaspora celebrated the abolition of slavery in England,鈥� Kleintop said.

Alvarez responded to questions relating to the Locating Slavery鈥檚 Legacies project, explaining that the initiative was launched by The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. 鈥淭hey decided to focus their project on American universities where there are memorials to the Civil War or to the Confederacy,鈥� Alvarez said.

Vice President Janet Williams offers remarks during 麻豆视频’s 2024 Juneteenth celebration.

Once the panel discussion concluded, the room was open for questions and comments. Members of the audience offered their thoughts about work that is still to be done, such as addressing the legacy of slavery more directly through anti-racist work. Others noted that the Juneteenth holiday should be used for reflection and learning, while others discussed a deeper examination of what freedom and emancipation mean in the modern context. Members of the audience were also encouraged to provide ideas about how they can make change.

In her closing, Fullwood introduced the self-guided walking tour and encouraged participants to take part. 鈥淲alking is symbolic to the liberation of Black and African American people in various ways,” Fullwood said. 鈥淪o, I encourage you to actually take part in walking to visit the different sites on our campus.鈥�

A member of the audience offers remarks during 麻豆视频’s Juneteenth celebration.

麻豆视频 members and community members were encouraged to engage in a self-guided walking tour on campus or review site information online. There were signs at six major stops on the tour in the heart of campus. The signs introduced the stopping point and a QR code that took people to a听web page听with all the information about the stopping point and the entire tour. The tour allows participants to learn some of the lesser-known histories of the Black community at 麻豆视频 to commemorate Juneteenth.

鈥淎s a newer employee, this was a great way to learn about the history of 麻豆视频 through the Black experience,鈥� said C. Rizleris, assistant director of marketing communications for graduate programs. 鈥淭hank you to everyone who helped put this together to celebrate and acknowledge Black students, staff and faculty throughout 麻豆视频 history.鈥�

This commemoration event was sponsored by the Black Lumen Project, 麻豆视频 Archives and Special Collections, Committee on 麻豆视频鈥檚 History and Memory, and the Office of Inclusive Excellence Education and Development.

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Freedom Footprints: A Juneteenth journey through 麻豆视频鈥檚 Black history /u/news/2024/06/12/freedom-footprints-a-juneteenth-journey-through-elons-black-history/ Wed, 12 Jun 2024 18:57:06 +0000 /u/news/?p=986763 Members of the 麻豆视频 community are invited to celebrate Juneteenth through in-person and online activities on this important federal holiday.

Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery. The holiday aligns with the moment enslaved people in the United States were finally freed 159 years ago. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people were free, more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. This year marks the fourth year Juneteenth has been recognized as a federal holiday.

麻豆视频 students, faculty and staff, along with community members can engage in a self-guided walking tour or review site information online. The self-guided walking tour will feature six major points with informational signs at each stop. Each sign will include an introduction to the stopping point and a QR code that will go to a webpage with information about the stopping point and the entire tour. Participants will learn some of the lesser-known histories of the Black community at 麻豆视频 to commemorate Juneteenth.

麻豆视频 will also host a Juneteenth lunch in LaRose Commons 200 featuring a听Q&A, pop-up exhibit and a panel discussion. The panel will include Assistant Professor of History Amanda听Kleintop and Digital Collections and Systems Librarian and Assistant Librarian Shaunta Alvarez. Coordinator of University Archives & Special Collections and Assistant Librarian Kelly Policelli will be moderating along with some prepared questions. This will also be an opportunity to get community feedback on History & Memory activities in the future.听Lunch will be provided and will be first come, first served. Registration听is recommended.

This commemoration event is sponsored by the Black Lumen Project, 麻豆视频 Archives and Special Collections, the听Committee on 麻豆视频 History and Memory听and the Office of Inclusive Excellence Education and Development.

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