Jackson State University is one of five HBCUs participating in The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s ground-breaking, five-year, $12 million pilot program to strengthen member archives and museums and to bring most of their over 3.5 million rare and unique collections into the public eye, many for the first time.
“The HBCU consortium is an exceptional enterprise, which will enhance and elevate the significant work of HBCUs like JSU where we pride ourselves on a history of academic and public programming connected to the Black experience,” said Thomas K. Hudson, president of JSU.
Led by NMAAHC’s Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP), additional HBCU partners in this pilot phase are Clark Atlanta University, Florida A & M University, Texas Southern University, and Tuskegee University.
The History and Culture Access Consortium (HCAC) will create lasting benefits to member organizations by securing the cultural legacy of HBCUs and greatly enhancing resource availability to make known the under-told history and culture of African Americans and their essential role in the story of America.
“We are honored to be a part of this HBCU initiative with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and we look forward to all the ways we’ll be able to expand access to the Margaret Walker Center’s collections and ensure their availability for generations to come,” said Dr. Robert Luckett, director of the Margaret Walker Center.
The HCAC objectives are to:
Significantly increase open access to the knowledge embedded in these collections for students, scholars, curators, and others;
Promote the use of the collections and knowledge in learning environments throughout and among their institutions;
Foster a greater understanding and appreciation of African American life, art, history, and culture by the widest possible audiences;
Create stronger, sustainable museums and archives within HBCUs;
Train a new generation of approximately 75-95 museum, archives, and academic professionals from traditionally underrepresented groups.
