The unknown photos that tell the story of the US’s Black colleges

Rare photographs tucked away in HBCU archives are being preserved and widely shared with the world for the first time

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), most of which were founded during the Reconstruction era following the civil war, hold invaluable historical archives full of documents, photographs and, in some cases, even films. The archives are a testament to the lasting importance and influence of Black American history in the US, documenting more than a century’s worth of history.

A lot of the priceless images, however, are in boxes or storage, usually inaccessible to the public and many times at risk of damage or being lost. The Getty Images photo archive grants program and its HBCU collection seeks to bridge the gap between helping HBCUs preserve their archives and getting both historical images and new ones to the wider public.
Continue reading...