The first volume in a major new series which offers a compelling glimpse into the transformative and revolutionary world of HBCUs, to uncover the complex stories that their collections tell us. This book, featuring objects from the museums and archives at five HBCUs-Jackson State, Tuskegee, Florida A&M, Clark Atlanta, and Texas Southern Universities, attests to the aesthetic value of African American cultural production on university campuses, the persistent development and expansion of HBCU academic programs, and the dynamics of student-led activism on campuses and throughout surrounding communities. Organized into four main sections, focusing on the partner institutions, arts, academics, and activism, this remarkable assembly of images will inspire readers to engage with, reflect on, and examine the unforgettable stories they represent. Of the five HBCUs included, each one's museum or archives tell a unique story, from detailed community histories and accounts of civil-rights era activism to premiere collections of African American art. Together, these institutions paint a powerful and multifaceted picture of African American academia and beyond. AUTHORS: Dorothy Berry is digital curator, Office of Digital Strategy and Engagement, NMAAHC. Kinshasha Holman Conwill is deputy director emerita, NMAAHC. Jelani M. Favors is Henry E. Frye Distinguished Professor of History and Director, Center of Excellence for Social Justice, North Carolina A&T State University. Jeanelle K. Hope is Caterpillar Curator of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, NMAAHC. Marion McGee is program partnership manager, Office of Strategic Partnerships, NMAAHC. Tulani Salahu-Din is museum specialist, Language and Literature, Office of Curatorial Affairs, NMAAHC. SELLING POINTS: . These collections speak loudly from quiet spaces, in storage boxes and bins, on hallway walls and moveable racks, telling inspiring stories of Black genius, creativity, resistance, and perseverance. . Riveting stories reveal aspects of American history that would otherwise be lost to the nation. 80 colour illustrations