At the Vanguard : Collections from Historically Black Colleges and Universities

The first volume in a major new series which offers a compelling glimpse into the transformative and revolutionary world of HBCUs, to uncover the complex stories that their collections tell us.

This book use objects from five collections—Jackson State, Tuskegee, Florida A & M, Clark Atlanta, and Texas Southern—to attest to the aesthetic value of African American cultural production on university campuses, the persistent development and expansion of HBCU academic programs, and the dynamics of student-led activism on campuses and throughout surrounding communities. Organized into four main sections, focusing on the arts, academics, and activism, this remarkable assembly of images will inspire readers to engage with, reflect, and examine the unforgettable stories they represent.

Of the five HBCUs included, each one’s museum archives tell a unique story, from detailed community histories and accounts of civil-rights era activism to premiere collections of African American art. Together, these institutions paint a powerful and multifaceted picture of African American academia and beyond.