Business Details
32 Years
experience
Preserving African-American History & Culture in Chicago
The Vivian G Harsh Society, Inc. has been dedicated to preserving and promoting African-American history and literature since its founding in 1994. As stewards of the Vivian G Harsh Research Collectionthe largest archive of Afro-American history in the Midwestwe work to protect, expand, and provide public access to this invaluable cultural resource. Our organization partners with institutions like the Chicago Public Library to support exhibitions, educational programs, and community initiatives that highlight the rich legacy of African-American contributions to Chicago and beyond.With decades of collective experience in historical preservation, our team ensures the collection remains accessible to researchers, scholars, and the public through modernization efforts and outreach programs. We maintain accreditation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, adhering to the highest standards of transparency and accountability in our operations.
Services
Collection Preservation
Educational Programs
Community Events
Research Support
Volunteer Opportunities
Details
- Year established: 1994
Highlights and features
- We have over 30 years of experience preserving African-American cultural heritage
- Our partnerships with major institutions ensure collection accessibility
- We offer unique educational programs focused on Chicago's Black history
- Our team includes experts in archival preservation and African-American studies
- We provide free public access to rare historical materials and exhibitions
Services
Collection Preservation
We specialize in preserving rare books, manuscripts, and historical documents related to African-American history. Our team employs modern conservation techniques to protect materials from deterioration while maintaining their historical integrity. This service ensures future generations can access primary source materials documenting Chicago's Black community development.
Educational Programs
Our educational initiatives include lectures, exhibitions, and research fellowships that explore African-American history and culture. These programs engage scholars, students, and the public through interactive learning experiences focused on Chicago's civil rights movements and cultural evolution. We collaborate with academic institutions to develop curriculum resources for educators.
Community Events
We organize public events celebrating African-American heritage, including author readings, historical discussions, and cultural exhibitions. These programs foster community engagement with local history while creating spaces for dialogue about contemporary social issues. Events often feature prominent historians and cultural figures.
Research Support
Our research services provide scholars access to over 75,000 rare books and 15,000 reels of microfilm documenting African-American history. We offer specialized assistance for academic researchers and maintain finding aids for manuscript collections. The Timuel D. Black Fellowship supports in-depth research using our archives.
Volunteer Opportunities
We engage volunteers in collection cataloging, event planning, and outreach initiatives. This service provides hands-on experience in historical preservation while expanding community participation in cultural stewardship. Volunteers work directly with staff to enhance collection accessibility and public programming.
Questions
What is the Vivian G Harsh Society's primary mission?
We preserve, expand, and promote access to the Vivian G Harsh Research Collection, the largest African-American history archive in the Midwest.
How can I access the Harsh Collection materials?
The collection is housed at Chicago Public Library's Woodson Regional Library and available to researchers by appointment during regular library hours.
What types of materials are in the Harsh Collection?
The archive contains over 75,000 books, 15,000 microfilm reels, 4,000 clipping files, and 175 manuscript collections documenting African-American history.
Are there educational programs for students?
We offer history workshops, exhibition tours, and research fellowships for students and educators focusing on Chicago's African-American heritage.
How can I support the Vivian G Harsh Society?
Support preservation efforts through donations, volunteer participation, or attending fundraising events like our annual Timuel D. Black lecture series.
Does the society offer research grants?
We provide the annual Timuel D. Black Short-Term Fellowship, a $4,000 award supporting research using materials from the Harsh Collection.
