Claflin University students discovered a photo of a student's grandmother while reviewing campus history, highlighting the importance of preserving HBCU legacies. Getty Images' HBCU Grants Program, initiated in 2021, collaborates with Ancestry to digitize archival materials from 10 HBCUs, enabling accessible and searchable records online. The initiative ensures HBCUs maintain copyright over their materials, with revenues supporting ongoing digitization efforts. Students actively contribute by identifying records and utilizing donated equipment, preserving both historical and contemporary campus traditions for the future.
"Identifying his grandmother gave that student a deeper connection with that institution, with the history and that legacy, and that's what we're hoping everyone will enjoy with this relationship and this partnership."
"We're working with 10 HBCUsâand countingâto create searchable digital archives for each institution, accessible to students and staff on Ancestry's website."
"You'll see campus queens from the 1950s and campus queens from 2025, referencing a time-honored HBCU tradition of crowning royal courts."
"HBCUs maintain full copyright ownership of all their materials, and any money made from licensing the photos goes back into the digitization project."
Collection
[
|
...
]