Archie Givens, Sr. Collection of African American Literature

10/30/2025

Join us on Saturday, November 1, 1-3pm, for the next installment in a series of intergeneration discussions at Elmer Andersen Library. This time we'll hear from Dr. John S. Wright, Professor Emeritus of African American and African Studies with Davu Seru, the Curator of the Givens Collection and a former student of Dr. Wright's. The subject? African American scholarship! You can register at the link in the comments.

10/15/2025

We're getting ready for the Thursday, Oct. 23rd opening reception for the 40th anniversary exhibit. Hope to see you there!

Join us on Thursday, Oct. 23, to celebrate the exhibit, “The Circle Unbroken: Celebrating 40 Years of Community Stewardship and the Givens Collection.”

09/18/2025

09/17/2025

We are happy to be helping to make tonight's discussion between Erin Sharkey and special guest Alexis Pauline Gumbs happen. 6:30 start!

Join The Loft Literary Center, the Givens Collection of African American Literature and Moon Palace Books for an evening with beloved writers Alexis Pauline Gumbs in conversation with Erin Sharkey, celebrating Dr. Gumbs' new book on the life of Audre Lorde! Her most recent book Survival is a Promise...

06/30/2025

Young folks from the neighborhood ( ) and the literacy program "To Succeed You Must Read" stopped by the library on Friday. We talked about the people who brought the Givens Collection to U of MN 40 years ago and about the poet Phillis Wheatley at 8 years old; and how the archive makes evident that, in both cases, those folks were thinking about us when they took up their work!

06/12/2025

Celebrating 40 years of the Givens Collection this year!

The Givens Collection celebrates 40 years as a vital Black cultural archive. A new exhibit and community events highlight its power in today’s urgent moment.

05/06/2025

“Listening for Blackness,” a new exhibit at the UMN Libraries, asks how sound shapes our perceptions and what it means to “sound Black."

05/06/2025

Recent Philips Fellow to the Givens Collection, Addison Cox, has made the library news!

“Listening for Blackness,” a new exhibit at the UMN Libraries, asks how sound shapes our perceptions and what it means to “sound Black."

05/06/2025

Recent Philips Fellow to the Given Collection, Addison Cox, has made the library news!

“Listening for Blackness,” a new exhibit at the UMN Libraries, asks how sound shapes our perceptions and what it means to “sound Black."

01/24/2025

Mica Anders of Anders Genealogical Services will hold a genealogy workshop at Elmer Andersen library on Tuesday, February 11, 5:30-7:30pm. Archival materials from the Givens Collection will be on display. The event is free and open to the public.

Join us on Feb. 11 for a free and open-to-the-public workshop focusing on Black family history, led by genealogist Mica L. Anders of Anders Genealogical Services. Workshop participants will learn to identify and evaluate primary sources related to African American life. Materials from family archive...