This collection showcases the rich legacies of HBCUs through ephemera and material objects, including maps, blueprints, audiovisual materials, newspaper articles, buttons, collectibles, memorabilia, clothing and accessories, scrapbooks, speeches, photographs, brochures, and posters.
Date Modified
2025-12-17
About This Record
The HCAC public history focused digital archive cataloging is an ongoing process, and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. We welcome your comments and feedback if you have more information to share about an item featured on the site, please contact us at: HCAC-DigiTeam@si.edu
A newspaper article from The Black Panther. Connie Matthews interviews Black Panther Party Member and assistant professor Angela Davis following her dismissal from the University of California in September 1969 after she had been fired by the Philosophy Department on the basis of her membership in the Communist Party.
This is an invitation to Texas Southern University's Fall 1995 convocation and the dedication of the John T. Biggers Art Center. Biggers founded the university’s art department in 1949 and taught classes until 1983. The invitation features a detail shot of Biggers’ mural Family Unity, which is located in the cafeteria of the Sterling Student Life Center on TSU’s campus. The invitation is printed in TSU’s maroon and gray colors.
This is an invitation from William Reaves - Sarah Foltz Fine Art gallery to the exhibition Protégés: The Legacy of John Biggers As Viewed Through the Artworks of Thirteen Students. The featured artists - Charles Criner, Geraldine Crossland, Karl E. Hall, Earlie Hudnall, Jr., Harvey Johnson, Earl S. Jones, Josie Mendoza Postel, Robert Meyers, Elizabeth Montgomery Shelton, Kermit Oliver, Jesse Sifuentes, Charles Thomas, and Roy Vinson Thomas - are all Texas Southern alumni and students of Dr. Biggers.
A postcard serving as an invitation for an event at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. The event on November 5, 1995, is a celebration and concert in honor of Kathryn Talalay's book “Composition in Black and White: The Life of Phillipa Schuyler.”
Postcard serving as an invitation for an event at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. The event is a members preview exhibition opening and book signing on November 9, 1995, at 7:00pm for Tom Feelings' "Middle Passage," which would go on to be the author and cartoonist’s most famous work.
A newspaper article from The New York Times about the espionage case against Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and the judicial issue that had arisen in recent years: whether alleged contacts between the trial judge and the prosecution were proper judicial contact. The couple were convicted of espionage against the U.S. in 1951 and executed in 1953.
This is a brochure for Sampson’s senior art exhibition. The culmination of the Texas Southern art curriculum is a senior exhibition where students showcase artwork created over the course of their undergraduate studies. The brochure features a photo of Sampson, a brief biography, a catalog of the artwork featured in the exhibition, a photo of one of his tapestries, and photos of two of his paintings.
A photograph of the old Jackson Advocate offices near Farish Street in the Farish Street Historic District. The Jackson Advocate is an African American weekly newspaper founded in Jackson in 1938 by Percy Greene, a World War I veteran and Civil Rights leader in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
A newspaper article from The Home News about a 133 page report from American Foundation, Inc., Institute of Corrections that finds the conditions of Middlesex County Jail, specifically the basement where Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) is being held while on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, to be "grossly inadequate."
In this photograph, Dr. John Biggers opens the door to Texas Southern's art building, which was dedicated as the John T. Biggers Art Center in 1995. Dallas-based artist Jean Lacy stands to the left of Dr. Biggers. Biggers founded the university's art department in 1949 and retired in 1983.
A black and green button for Jericho '98: Amnesty and freedom for all political prisoners. At the top of the button is a quote from Ho Chi Minh: "When the prison doors open the real dragon will fly out." Jericho 98 was a protest held in Washington, D.C. on March 27, 1998. The 5,000-7,000 attendees called for the release of all political prisoners.
Jerome Wyatt started working at Head Start in Jones County, Mississippi, in 1972 as Area Director. Mr. Wyatt talks about his time working with Head Start, including the internal and external problems he had to deal with when coming into the job. He says that White politicians were actively working to take control over the program.
Jerome Wyatt talks about his work at Head Start, primarily in Jones County, since starting in 1972. He discusses the economics of being employed there, community reaction to the program, and his vision for the future of Head Start. The transcript contains handwritten edits.
Attorney Jess Brown moved to the Farish Street District in 1948. He talks about his education and his legal career. He discusses his recollections of businesses on Farish Street and the effect that integration had on them. He also talks about the Civil Rights Movement and the NAACP and some of the cases he was involved with as a lawyer.
Texas Southern art alumni Jesse Sifuentes and Earl Jones are pictured in this photograph from the mid 1970s. They are seen here in the ceramics room of the John T. Biggers Art Center, seated in the trash cans where clay was stored. Sifuentes later went on to teach ceramics at Texas Southern University.
This is a brochure for Sifuentes’ senior art exhibition. The culmination of the Texas Southern art curriculum is a senior exhibition where students showcase artwork created over the course of their undergraduate studies. The brochure features a brief biography, a catalog of the artwork featured in the exhibition, and photos of two of his paintings and several of his ceramics. Sifuentes later returned to TSU to teach pottery, ceramics, and sculpture classes.
Jessie Jelks began work as a teacher with Head Start in 1967 and by 1979 had worked her way up to Education Special Services Specialist. She talks about the improvements and growth of Head Start since she first began working. At the time of the interview she was still working as Education Special Services Specialist.
A newspaper article from the Daily News about the testimony of State Police Detective James Challender describing what he saw at the emergency room where Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) and wounded state trooper Werner Foerster were taken after he was fatally shot. Shakur was on trial for the 1973 murder of Foerster.
A newspaper article from The New Jersey Afro-American about Attorney Jerry Paul, whose appeal of contempt of court from his successful defense of Joanne Little in 1975 was denied by the 4th U.S. Court of Appeals. Little was the first woman in U.S. history to be acquitted for murder using the defense of using deadly force to resist sexual assault.
A newspaper article from The Afro-American about Lennox Hinds, president of the National Conference of Black Lawyers, speaking out against his critics for his support of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard), who was on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, after being cited by The Ethics Committee of the Middlesex County Bar Association.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about no-work action taken by around 170 employees of the Middlesex County Sheriff's Department over lagging contract negotiations. The missing officers are not expected to cause security issues at the Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper.
This photograph shows, from left to right, Dr. John T. Biggers, Dr. Alvia J. Wardlaw, and Roy DeCarava. Wardlaw, the founder of the University Museum at Texas Southern, previously served as a curator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, where in 1975 she organized the first retrospective of DeCarava’s photographs. Biggers and DeCarava were mutual admirers; DeCarava appreciated Biggers’ sense of African history, and Biggers praised DeCarava’s attention to the common man.
A commentary on the conflict between technology and progress, history and culture, Davis painted this mural in response to the destruction of several Hannah Hall murals to create windows into a new computer lab. Davis’ own mural was later damaged by subsequent construction, as foreseen in its design.
This is a brochure for Davis’ senior art exhibition. The culmination of the Texas Southern art curriculum is a senior exhibition where students showcase artwork created over the course of their undergraduate studies. The brochure features a self-portrait of Davis, a brief biography, a catalog of the artwork featured in the exhibition, and a photo of one of his artworks.
A button with a black and white photo of John Carlos and Tommie Smith giving the Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico after winning bronze and gold medals, respectively, in the 200 meter running event. The salute is considered one of the most overtly political statements in the history of the modern Olympic Games.
A newspaper article from The Black Panther about the free breakfast program in New Haven, Connecticut. The first free breakfast program in New Haven began on October 8, 1969, and is named after John Huggins, a Black Panther originally from New Haven who was murdered on January 17, 1969, in Los Angeles, California.
In this interview, Texas Southern art alumnus Johnetta Tinker discusses her experiences as a student in the class of 1972. As a student, she worked closely with Dr. Biggers and would sneak into his studio to watch him work. She recalls a strong sense of camaraderie with her classmates. After TSU, she was mentored by Boston artist Allen Crite.
Johnny Palmer was appointed in 1980 as the first Black sergeant at arms at the Mississippi State Capitol. He had worked at the House as a maintenance and inventory supervisor since 1959. He details the challenges that Robert Clark faced and also talks about the dynamics that the presidents of the major Black colleges had with the House.
Josephine Tibbs was born in Jackson and moved to the Farish Street District in 1910. Mrs. Tibbs talks about her early school days at Smith Robertson School and her religious activities. She also talks about some of the businesses in the district and some of the Black doctors who practiced on Farish Street.
Newspaper article from The News Tribune about Superior Court Judge Theodore Appleby barring the testimony of an FBI agent and senator. Chief defense attorney William Kunstler wanted to use the testimony to establish a police conspiracy against Black militants in the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper.
