Story+ Project

The Allen Building Takeover @ 50 Exhibit

(2018)

Students who participated in the Allen Building Takeover @ 50 (or ABT@50) worked with archivists, researching a wide variety of records, papers, and publications from the University Archives, to identify secondary sources and learn the ins and outs of a major research project. They worked with exhibits librarians to learn how to translate a complex story into context with our world today, finding ways to connect with the thousands of visitors who will walk through the gallery. The students created an online digital exhibit as well as a physical exhibit that will be mounted February 2019 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Allen Building Takeover.

Project Sponsor(s): 

Valerie Gillispie, University Archivist

Meg Brown, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation Exhibits Coordinator

Arianne Hartsell-Gundy, Head, Humanities Section & Librarian for Literature & Theater Studies

Yoon Kim, Library Exhibits Technician

Amy McDonald, Assistant University Archivist

Hannah Rozear, Librarian for Instructional Services 

Graduate Mentor(s): 

Ellen Song, PhD Candidate in English

Undergraduates: 

Alexandra Kadis, Alan Ko, Zara Porter

Outcome: 

allen building exhibit sketch

The students worked closely with their team of mentors to map the layout, formats, and content for Duke Library's "2019 Black Students Matter: Taking Over Allen in '69" gallery exhibit. They also created an online exhibit, "Black Students Matter: Taking Over Allen in '69" to accompany their forthcoming physical exhibit.

 
Allen Building Takeover Supporters Being Tear-Gassed, February 13, 1969. Source: Duke University Archives.

Topic(s)

  • Civil Rights
  • Archives
  • History
  • African American Studies

Skills required

  • Collaborative Work
  • Exhibit Design
  • Website Design
  • Working with Primary Sources & Archival Research
  • Writing & Editing