Events and Programs

Let us help you celebrate African American History Month this February!

Reading about African American History | Programs and Activities | Local Historical Resources on the Internet | Researching African American Topics | African Americans in Madison and Dane County

Reading about African Americans

• African American Culture: 2008 to Present (nonfiction)
• African American Culture: A Retrospective Reading List to 2007 (nonfiction)
• African American Fiction
• African American History Month: Videos and DVDs
• African American History (children's resources)
• Coretta Scott King Award Winning Books (from the American Library Association)
• African American Bibliography: Books for Children (from the Internet School Library Media Center)

Programs and Activities

African American History Month 2010 Programs on Wisconsin Public Television

Minority Affairs Committee Display at the ARTspace gallery on the first floor of the Madison Municipal Building on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. The display will be available until February 28, 2010.

Local Historical Resources on the Internet

African Americans in Madison and Dane County
Developed by Librarian Romeo Dais, this site links to newspaper clipping information, subscription-based online content provided for free through the libraries, and reference and other books available through the library system.

Black History in Wisconsin
From fur traders to the Civil Rights era, 250 years of African American history in Wisconsin. See also: New black history manuscripts acquired.

Turning Points in Wisconsin History
Lesson plans and primary source material on a variety of Wisconsin history topics.

Researching African American Topics

Subscription-based resources available for free with your library card.

Use your library card to access these resources 24/7 anywhere you have internet access.

African American Biographical Database
The largest electronic collection of biographical information on African Americans from 1790-1950. From the famous to the everyday person, AABD includes profiles and full-text sketches providing both biographical detail and illuminating narratives chronicling the lives of Black Americans. Funded by the State of Wisconsin through BadgerLink.

Encyclopedia of African American Heritage. by Susan Altman. Facts on File, 1997. electronic book available through netLibrary Funded by Wisconsin Public Library System and Madison Public Library.

Literature Resource Center
Search the Literature Resource Center to find information about African American authors and their works. Funded jointly by South Central Library System and Madison Public Library.

LitFinder
Find Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, Maya Angelou's poem "Phenomenal Woman", and many more full-text poems, short stories, essays, speeches and plays. Funded jointly by South Central Library System and Madison Public Library.

 

Other Historical Resources on the Internet

African American History Month: Quest for Black Citizenship in the Americas
The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Inistitution and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum collective resources celebrating African American History Month.

African American History Month, 2010
Resources about places of interest to African American history from the National Register of Historic Places. Last updated 2008.

African American World
PBS's guide to African American history and culture, including timelines, reference resources, kids page, community leaders, and selected link to other sites.

African Voices Smithsonian Institution Online Exhibit
This gorgeous site introduces objects that celebrate Africa's diversity and long history. Web links, bibliographies, timelines and so much more is included.

Celebrate Black History Month
Find video clips, biographies, and information about the History Channel's TV programs.

Census Bureau's Facts for Features: African American History Month