Black heritage room
The Black Heritage Room areas of coverage are biography, philosophy, literature, the arts and history. This collection includes circulating and reference (non-circulating) materials on every phase of the African-American experience. The Black Heritage Room houses histories and personal stories of slavery. We have biographies of Martin Luther King, Jr., President Barack Obama, Medgar Evers, Rosa Parks, W.E.B. Dubois, Arna Bontemps, Colin Powell, and Condoleezza Rice. It also includes works of important authors, such as Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Langston Hughes, and Toni Morrison.
The Black Heritage Room has information on the African-American influence in medicine, politics, religion, science and technology, the Civil Rights Movement, performing arts, sports, entertainment, and foods. The Black Heritage Room also provides periodicals, CDs, DVDS, videos, and art. We have Reference sources such as The African-American Encyclopedia, Contemporary Black Biography, and, African American Firsts. The Black Heritage Room also displays the Willie Harris Photo Collection and the Clementine Hunter Art collection.
Our african american legacy
Leland College 1937 Annual Ministers Institute
- Baton Rouge Civil Rights Timeline Presents a timeline of important Civil Rights events that took place in Baton Rouge.
- People Biographies of significant local African Americans.
- Places Places of meaning in the African American community.
- Local Church Histories Histories of local African American churches.
- Local Social and Service Organizations Descriptions and histories of local African American service and social organizations.
Local African American Images
- Willie Harris Collection – Baton Rouge Digital Archive Photographer Willie Harris documented the Baton Rouge African American social scene for many years. These pictures are an invaluable record of the local Black community. Do you know any of these folks? Let us know!! Email our archivist, Melissa Eastin at meastin@www.ebrpl.com
- Photos from the LOUISiana Digital Library These pictures are found in the State Library’s Louisiana Historical Photographs Collection. Click on a thumbnail to enlarge the picture.