Press Information for In Their Own Voices

Information and photos pertaining to In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives exhibition may be found below. Photos are strictly for press use and must include appropriate caption and credit information, as indicated below.

In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives celebrates the lifework and legacies of both famous and everyday Black women in their personal and professional lives—and draws attention to the way librarians and archivists advocated for these collections to become part of the Schlesinger Library’s archives. The exhibition presents featured collections from the graphic designer Louise E. Jefferson, the civil and women’s rights activist Pauli Murray, and the educator Rebecca Primus. Together, the photographs, letters, diaries, published works, and audiovisual materials illustrate the establishment of sisterhoods of friendship and belonging and the devotion of Black women to empowering and educating their communities and fighting for civil and human rights for all.

Visit the exhibition webpage for more information.

The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study gratefully acknowledges the Helen Blumen and Jan Acton Fund for Schlesinger Library Exhibitions for their support of this exhibition.

Exhibition curated by Petrina Jackson, Lia Gelin Poorvu Executive Director of the Schlesinger Library and librarian of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute

Schlesinger Library Exhibition Committee Members:

Lee Sullivan, head of printed and published materials, Schlesinger Library
Joanne M. Donovan, lead archivist, visual materials & recorded sound collections, Schlesinger Library
Rachel Greenhaus, library assistant for published materials, Schlesinger Library

We are grateful for the contributions to this exhibition of:

Joy Lindsay EdM ’24, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Elyse Martin-Smith ’25, Harvard College
Mariah Norman ’24, Harvard College
Sophia Scott ’25, Harvard College

This exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Ruth Hill and Emilyn Brown.

Please contact Mac Daniel at mac_daniel@radcliffe.harvard.edu with any questions.

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Installation view, In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives, 2023. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute
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Introductory text, In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives, 2023. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute
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Installation view, In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives, 2023. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute
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Installation view, In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives, 2023. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute
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Thematic wall: For the Black Collective, In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives, 2023. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute
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Thematic case: Identity, In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives, 2023. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute
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Thematic case: Work, In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives, 2023. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute
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Thematic case: Education, In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives, 2023. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute
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Thematic case: Activism, In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives, 2023. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute
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The Four Sisters Quilt, ca. 1986–1990, from the Papers of Dorothy I. Height. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute
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Thematic case: Black Women Oral History Project/Clementine Hunter, In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives, 2023. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute
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Thematic wall: Black Women Oral History Project, In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives, 2023. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute
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Selected pages from Iota Scrapbook: Report of the Who’s Who and Why Committee, 1943, from the Records of the Boston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute
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Installation view, In Their Own Voices: Black Women's Lives from the Archives, 2023. Photo by Kevin Grady/Harvard Radcliffe Institute

Press Information for In Their Own Voices

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