African American History and Culture

Our African American collections recount the beginnings of people of African descent in North America and extend through the present. These materials reflect the development of social, political, and cultural movements, literature, visual arts, dance, and sports. They document individuals, organizations, and events that celebrate the efforts of well-known public intellectuals and scholars, writers, and religious leaders. They also affirm the contributions of lesser-known, though equally important, community activists, cultural workers, and African Americans representing divergent backgrounds and perspectives.

Whether you flip through the pages of Grace DeLorme's scrapbooks from her freshman year at Atlanta University, study Alice Walker's manuscript of The Color Purple, examine W. E. B. DuBois's copy of David Walker's Appeal, watch outakes of a documentary on writer Margaret Walker, peruse Carter G. Woodson's library, or click through more than 12,000 photographs of African American life—the Rose Library can connect you with an extensive variety of resources to explore.

Please visit our African American History and Culture Research Guide.