Xavier University of Louisiana, Archives & Special Collections has joined in partnership with Harvard University and the HBCU Alliance to sustain and deepen capacity for the digitization, discovery, and preservation of African American history collections held in HBCU libraries and archives. This multi-year project will advance archives and special collections at HBCU Libraries, including XULA archival collections. The HBCU Library Alliance and Harvard Library are embarking on this project with the shared goal of advancing open, public access to archives and special collections pertaining to African American history.

Funds are provided by the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery initiative, which has designated $6 million for this project. This four-year project will build upon the HBCU Digital Library hosted by the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library, extending training, resources and services through regional service areas established within the HBCU network of libraries and archives. Once materials are digitized, access to many more finding aids and collections will be available to the public online through the HBCU Library Alliance Digital Library portal.

For more information about the project, see the official announcement on the Harvard Library website.