Johns Hopkins University collection of Black Americana materials
Content Warning
This finding aid and the archival records it describes include content, images, and language that may be upsetting or triggering. Please take care when using the collection, and contact Special Collections with feedback or questions about the materials.
The Johns Hopkins University collection of Black Americana materials spans from approximately 1870 to the 1950s. The collection consists of postcards, broadsides, and other printed ephemera that depict African American people in ways that are often racist and caricatured. The term "Black Americana" is used to describe such materials which are generally viewed and sold today as collectors' items. This collection aims not to promote or otherwise celebrate these materials, but to use them as teaching tools to critically examine the legacy of racism in the United States and the consequences of racist depictions both at the time the items were created and in their use today.
Dates
- approximately 1870-1950s
Creator
- Johns Hopkins University (Collector, Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Contact Special Collections for more information.
This collection is located at the George Peabody Library and may require scheduling a special appointment to access it. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Additional access notes are found in the appendix to the Best Practices.
Conditions Governing Use
Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.
Biographical / Historical
This is an artificially assembled collection of materials purchased and selected by the curators of Special Collections. Please see the series descriptions for biographical or historical information regarding specific items.
Extent
1.25 Cubic Feet (1 flat box and 2 legal full-sized boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Johns Hopkins University collection of Black Americana materials spans from approximately 1870 to the 1950s. It is an artificially assembled collection of materials purchased and selected by the curators of Special Collections. The collection primarily consists of postcards, broadsides, and other printed ephemera that depict African American people in ways that are often racist and caricatured.
Custodial History
Some of the materials in this collection were originally a part of the Johns Hopkins University Black Americana collection, MS.0672.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection consists of purchases from various antiquarian dealers and booksellers. Please see individual series descriptions for more information.
Processing Information
This collection was processed in 2015 by Jordon Steele, with additional processing by Annie Tang and Bex Dansereau in 2017 and by Kristen Diehl in 2019.
Creator
- Johns Hopkins University (Collector, Organization)
- Turner, Huntley S. (Printer, Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Johns Hopkins University collection of Black Americana materials
- Author
- Jordon Steele, Annie Tang, Bex Dansereau, and Kristen Diehl
- Date
- 2019 April
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA
specialcollections@lists.jhu.edu