At the Vanguard: Collections from Historically Black Colleges and Universities

This book, featuring objects from the museums and archives at five HBCUs-Jackson State, Tuskegee, Florida A&M, Clark Atlanta, and Texas Southern Universities-attests 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 partner institutions, arts, academics, and activism, this remarkable assembly of images will inspire readers to engage with, reflect on, and examine the unforgettable stories they represent. The museums and archives at the five HBCUs featured tell unique stories, 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.