February is Black History Month and the UA Library’s Research Librarians have compiled recommended websites, books, digital resources, databases, and more, that are reliable and authoritative resources for learning about the Black experience in the United States.
For assistance using these, or any of the UAPL’s other resources, please contact the Research Department at 614-486-3342, or email us at [email protected].
Indexes / Databases
African American Heritage – Available to UAPL patrons from home using a library card number and PIN, this resource provides records and resources for African American family history research, including the Federal Census, Freedman’s Bank, and much more.
Gale Reference eBooks – The UAPL’s collection of reference ebooks includes several titles relevant to Black history and experience, including:
- Encyclopedia of Race and Racism
- Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America
- The Great American Mosaic: An Exploration of Diversity in Primary Documents
- The Great Black Migration
- Race Relations in America: Examining the Facts
Archives / Special Collections
Pleasant Litchford Archives
Pleasant Litchford (1789–1879) began life as an enslaved person in the Lynchburg, Virginia area. A blacksmith by trade, he purchased his freedom and moved with his family to the Columbus area sometime around 1830. By 1849, Pleasant had purchased 227 acres in Perry Township, two distinct parcels that today would encompass both Northam Park and our high school, making him one of the largest landowners in southernmost Perry Township. This collection gathers facts and primary sources related to Pleasant Litchford’s life and death.
The Pleasant Litchford Archives is one of several collections included in the UA Archives, an initiative of the Upper Arlington Public Library, in partnership with local organizations and individuals, to preserve and make available the Upper Arlington community’s historical resources.
Websites
Educational Resources
BlackPast.org – This invaluable resource is an online reference center that includes thousands of encyclopedia articles, hundreds of speeches and primary source documents, timelines, bibliographies, and special features on African American History.
BlackHistoryMonth.gov – This collaborative project from the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum highlights national exhibits, collections and teaching guides for African American history.
National Archive: African American Heritage – Explore the wealth of National Archives material that documents the Black experience.
National Museum of African American History & Culture – This museum is devoted exclusively to documentation of African American life, history, and culture, and offers learning opportunities on their website.
Local Resources
Equal UA – This community organization strives to create a more inclusive and equitable culture in Upper Arlington, and organizes events and educational opportunities to work towards this goal. The links below are examples of what they have accomplished and plan for the future regarding Black history in Upper Arlington.
Upper Arlington Historical Society – Volunteers at the Upper Arlington Historical Society are dedicated to discovering, preserving, and sharing the community’s heritage. Below are links to two of their research projects that are connected to Black history in Upper Arlington.
Search Starters
Discover material on African American history in the UAPL catalog by exploring the following subject terms.
- African Americans – Biography
- African Americans – History
- African Americans – Social life and customs
- African American Authors
- African Americans – Social Conditions
Reference Resources
The UAPL reference book collection, available for use in the Research Department of the Tremont Road Branch Library, includes a variety of titles covering Black history and biography.