Using University Archival Materials to Teach Social Justice Topics

Sunday, January 21, 2024

4:00pm – 5:00pm EST

Location: Baltimore Convention Center, 341-342

Level of Participation: High

Content Leader(s)

Chris Anglim

University Archivist
University of the District of Columbia
Glen J. Benedict

Access Services Librarian
University of the District of Columbia
Tricia Clarke

Community College Engagement Librarian
University of the District of Columbia

Primary Contact(s)

Glen J. Benedict

Access Services Librarian
University of the District of Columbia

Social justice research has been an area of high student interest in the last few years. As primary sources, archives provide compelling, personal, and time-specific sources, which students find researching a rewarding experience. These sources provide rich documentation on social justice issues and provide insight into how researchers may wish to address these or similar issues. The presenters will draw on their experience as archivists and librarians at an HBCU to cover the value of archives and the importance of social justice in explaining how students and other researchers can effectively frame research questions, locate relevant archival sources, and analyze these sources by using analytical social justice frameworks. The presentation will conclude by discussing ways of how the effectiveness of student work can be evaluated.

Learning Objectives:

Identify and analyze archived material using a social justice framework.
Develop best practices for using archives in social justice research and initiatives.
Facilitate collaborations between scholars and archivists.
Enhance archival literacy for students and other library patrons.