{"id":2003,"date":"2023-04-06T13:55:35","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T17:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.ohio.edu\/library-archives-blog\/?p=2003"},"modified":"2025-07-30T13:41:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T17:41:22","slug":"honoring-the-legacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.ohio.edu\/library-archives-blog\/2023\/04\/06\/honoring-the-legacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Honoring the Legacy of Early Black Women Writers: A Faculty Roundtable"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Miriam Intrator, Special Collections Librarian, Mahn Center for Archives & Special Collections <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honoring the Legacy of Early Black Women Writers: A Faculty Roundtable<\/strong> took place March 21, 2023, in Alden Library and online. The inspiration for <\/span>the event was the acquisition for the rare book collection of Ohio University Libraries’ Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections of a copy of the rare first edition of Anna Julia Cooper\u2019s book, <\/span>A Voice from the South by a Black Woman of the South<\/a><\/span><\/i>, published in Xenia, Ohio in 1892, and inscribed by the author. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Frontispiece<\/a>
Frontispiece portrait of Anna Julia Cooper with printed signature from A Voice from the South, by a Black Woman of the South<\/a><\/em>, Xenia, Ohio, 1892<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The panel was organized in honor of this truly exciting acquisition and of Women\u2019s History Month, and in collaboration with lorraine wochna, the subject librarian for English, African American Studies, and numerous other departments. Our intention was to highlight early Black women published authors, their lives, accomplishments, contributions, and legacies. Some of these authors and books have been in the rare book collection since well before my time. Many, however, are a result of a very intentional collecting policy, pursued with vital support from colleagues like lorraine, that seeks to acquire and ensure the preservation and representation of voices, perspectives, experiences, and identities that have for too long been marginalized if not entirely excluded from both collecting and scholarship. The roundtable created an opportunity to learn, from our own faculty experts, more about these women, their writings, their impact, and what we have lost and continue to risk losing when so many are left out of the historic and academic records.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"OHIO
OHIO students, faculty, staff, and community members listen to Dr. Gibbs-Grey presenting remotely during the faculty roundtable [Photo by Charlie Nick \/ Ohio University Libraries]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The faculty speakers were Dr. Theda Gibbs-Grey<\/a>, associate professor of literacy education in the Patton College, Department of Teacher Education, Dr. Uzoma Miller<\/span><\/span><\/a>, visiting professor of African American Studies, public historian, and ethnomusicologist, Dr. Marilyn Judith Atlas<\/span><\/span><\/a>, Professor of English specializing in American literature, particularly experimental, ethnic, and literature of place<\/span><\/span>, and Dr. Mariana L. R. Dantas<\/span><\/span><\/a>, associate professor of history and specialist in the history of slavery and African diasporic peoples in the Atlantic World<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"(From
(From left) Dr. Uzoma Miller listening and Dr. Marilyn Atlas speaking during the faculty roundtable [Photo by Charlie Nick \/ Ohio University Libraries]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Rare
Rare books on display and the audience listening during the faculty roundtable [Photo by Charlie Nick \/ Ohio University Libraries]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Gibbs-Grey focused her remarks on the life, writings, and work of Frances E.W. Harper, and in particular on her contributions as an early womanist and anti-racist educator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Frontispiece<\/a>
Frontispiece portrait of Frances E.W. Harper with printed signature from Iola Leroy, or, Shadows Uplifted<\/a>, <\/em>Philadelphia, 1892<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Miller explained how Anna Julia Cooper was not only an author and noteworthy educator, but also a philosopher who reflected on and engaged with conversations on race, education, literature, and more on an international level, including by completing her PhD at the Sorbonne in Paris. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Atlas discussed Cooper as an author and also as a highly engaged reader and fearless critic, an activist who we must also situate within the particular time and place in which she lived and wrote. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Dantas spoke about the importance of collecting and preserving the original texts by these Black women authors and other marginalized writers, particularly in today’s society in which there are local and national movements increasingly seeking to both dictate and restrict what is taught to students of all ages and at all levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"OHIO
OHIO students, faculty, staff and community members at the faculty roundtable [Photo by Charlie Nick \/ Ohio University Libraries]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For more information:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

View<\/a> the recording<\/strong> of the roundtable on the Libraries’ YouTube channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore<\/a> a powerpoint<\/strong> of some of the featured authors and links to additional resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read<\/a> a news article<\/strong> about the event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Browse the following checklist <\/strong>of items from the rare book collection that were on display throughout the roundtable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n