The A.M. Todd Rare Book Room at the Kalamazoo College Library proudly announces the opening of its Black History Month exhibit, Black Stories – Black Voices – Black History, running from February 2 to March 3, 2024, Mondays and Fridays from 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. in the A.M. Todd Rare Book Room (ULC 326).

This captivating showcase delves into the rich literary contributions of Black authors, featuring a curated selection from the Rare Book Room collection. Among the remarkable works on display are rare first edition prints of Maya Angelou’s On the Pulse of Morning, Paul Laurence Dunbar’s Poems of Cabin and Field, Joseph T Wilson’s The Black Phalanx, and William A. Sinclair’s The Aftermath of Slavery, as well as autographed first editions of James Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain and Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon. A limited edition reprint of Jean Toomer’s Cane is on display, as well as the first edition print of The Cushite by Rufus Perry, the first Black student enrolled at Kalamazoo College.

Spanning from 1888 to 2000, these influential texts offer a profound exploration of the African American experience, making this exhibit a compelling journey through the diverse voices that have shaped the landscape of Black literature.

The Kalamazoo College Library’s rare book collection contributes to the educational program of the college by introducing students to unique primary source materials in the context of their academic course work and through regularly scheduled public exhibitions.

Questions? Contact rarebookroom@kzoo.edu.