Moorland-Spingarn Celebrates 90 Years as Repository of History of People of African Descent

The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center (MSRC), located in Founders Library, is celebrating its 90th anniversary as one of Howard’s key research facilities. Housing 175,000 bound volumes, tens of thousands of journals, more than 17,000 feet of manuscript and archival pieces; nearly 1,000 audio tapes; hundreds of artifacts including the desk on which the University’s charter was signed; as well as 100,000 prints, photographs, sheet music, maps and other graphic items, it is one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive repositories for the documentation of the history and culture of peoples of African descent. Historical items include the minutes from the 1867 Howard Board of Trustees meeting, an anti-lynching flyer, a 1924 letter from Langston Hughes, Haile Selassie's Bible and so much more. “The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center has been a major resource for students, scholars, educators, documentarians, publishers, museums, news media and others seeking to document the Black experience,” said Dr. Thomas C. Battle, director for 32 years. On Dec. 18, 1914, Reverend Jesse E. Moorland, alumnus and trustee of Howard, donated his private collection to the University. As a result of the initial gift of almost 3,000 books, pamphlets, and other historical documents, the University’s trustees established the Moorland Foundation.

Courtesy of MSRC Jesse E. Moorland

Courtesy of MSRC Arthur B. Spingarn

In 1946, the collection expanded with the purchase of the Arthur Barnette Spingarn Collection. The name Moorland-Spingarn Research Center was adopted in 1973 by the trustees who reorganized and expanded the facility’s focus to include development of documentary research, archival and museum resources. Currently, the center serves as the archival repository for nearly 100 organizations and more than 500 individuals.

“Howard University is proud to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, which has served well research efforts on and off campus since its inception,” said Dr. Richard English, Provost and Chief Academic Officer. “Thanks to the diligence of Dr. Battle and the entire staff, the history and culture of people of color are being preserved for the education and edification of generations to come.”

Congratulations to the staff of Moorland-Spingarn for 90 years of documented history!

Manuscripts Division
Joellen ElBashir, curator, 18 years
Lela Sewell-Williams, assistant curator, 2 years
Donna Wells, prints and photographs librarian, 11 years
Dr. Ida Jones, librarian, 4 years
Gladys O. Toney, library technician, 22 years
Richard Jenkins, library technician, 2 years

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