Join us for a birthday party for Frederick Douglass in honor of Black History Month! Though Douglass did not know his real birthday, each year he chose to celebrate it on February 14. Join us as we partner with the Colored Convention’s Project (coloredconventions.org) to celebrate Black History Month by honoring Douglass’ work!
When: Tuesday, February 14, 2017 • 11 a.m – 1 p.m.
Where: Klarchek Information Commons, 4th Floor
What: A party! A transcribe-a-thon! Talks on the importance of Douglass and 19th-century African American political agency! Attendees can stop by to enjoy some treats, listen to speakers, or transcribe works for the Colored Conventions Project.
Why: The Colored Conventions Project works to “bring nineteenth-century Black organizing to digital life.” Post-1830, Black individuals gathered to strategize, discuss, and plan how to achieve greater civil rights. These works were often written down, but have since been forgotten. By transcribing these documents, we are learning more about and giving credit to the individuals involved in this movement. We transcribe to educate ourselves and the world about the obstacles that Blacks are still working to overcome. Learn more about the Colored Conventions Project: coloredconventions.org.
If you would like to support the transcription efforts to build this great digital resource, please bring your laptop. You can register in advance for a free account on the Colored Conventions Project website to store your transcriptions (coloredconventions.org/transcribe-minutes). Or you can register when you get to the party. If you do not have access to a laptop, don’t worry! We will have alternate options for those without personal computers. We welcome everyone to come stop by and celebrate.
Many thanks to our generous sponsors: the Center for Textual Studies and Digital Humanities, African Studies and the African Diaspora, English Department, History Department, the Joseph A. Gagliano Chair in American Urban History, and the Loyola University Libraries.
