February 2025

Frederick Douglass never knew his birthday and so he chose to celebrate it each year on February 14. The Douglass Day organization marks the date by inviting people to participate in a transcribe-a-thon, a drop-in event where anyone can engage with Black History materials and help make them more accessible.

This year, you’re invited to the LibLab, located on the first floor of McCabe Library, to try your hand at transcribing materials from the Library of Congress’ African American Perspectives Collection. No experience is needed for this, simply bring your own device and we’ll help you get started. You'll enjoy Douglass Day cupcakes (vegan and gluten-free options available) made by a Black-owned bakery, additional treats from the MakerSpace, and a specially curated playlist for the event.

Come help make history and celebrate Douglass Day with the Libraries!

This event is co-sponsored by Swarthmore Libraries, the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility, and the Black Cultural Center.

Friday, Feb. 14, 1-3 pm.
McCabe Library LibLab (1st floor)

Stipends are available to support research in the Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College Peace Collection, or Swarthmore College Archives. There is a short-term opportunity for students ($400-600 for 20-30 hours of research) and medium-term opportunity for faculty ($1,500-6,000 for 1-4 weeks of research). Applications for both are due Monday, March 31.

The Libraries provide free, online access to The Wall Street Journal to all students, staff, and faculty. For instructions on setting up your account, check out Newspapers and Magazines Libguide. Once you have your account, you can log in directly to The Wall Street Journal’s website. 

The Libguide also has instructions on setting up free, online accounts for other popular newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Economist.

Exhibition: Queer Artists’ Books

Artists' books are books created by artists, where the artist has total control over every aspect of the creative process. They are often illustrated with original artwork. Artists' books can take any format, from traditional codexes to tunnel books to sculptural works. This exhibition features works from our growing collection of books by queer artists, housed in McCabe Library’s Rare Book Room.

Until Sunday, Mar. 23
McCabe Library Atrium (1st floor)

Exhibition: Ed Ruscha – Books and Homages

Ed Ruscha had a huge impact on the development of artists’ books, publishing 16 of them between 1962 and 1978. He published these books in multiples—highly visible, accessible, and inexpensive. His works established a new paradigm for artists’ books, and his influence continues to this day. This exhibition features Ruscha books in our collection displayed alongside works that were inspired directly by them.

Until Sunday, Mar. 30
McCabe Library Cratsley Lounge
(2nd floor)

Exhibition: Revive, Restore, Reimagine, A Celebration of the Public Domain through Comic Art

This exhibition celebrates the public domain and all of its creative affordances, including reprinting, revising, and re-envisioning works without needing to secure copyright permissions from the creators. On display are seminal works in the field of comics as well as creative reinterpretations by comics artists of public domain works.

Until Friday, Feb. 28
McCabe Library LibLab (1st floor)

Pop-Up Exhibition: Printing the Underground Rail Road

The engine of the Underground Railroad was freedom seekers, and William Still was their record-keeper. His book, The Underground Rail Road: A Record, first published in 1872, told the stories of more than 600 freedom seekers that passed through his network. He was a businessman and a publisher, deeply engaged with his book and its readers, and this display looks at the world of 19th-century abolitionist print.

Until Sunday, Mar. 2
McCabe Library LibLab Hallway (1st floor)

Visit our website or reach out to us at librarian@swarthmore.edu. Follow us on social media for more.