Collaborating with the Princeton University Library on Summer HBCU Programs

Last year the Museum and the Library worked together to merge their one-week residential summer programs for students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The Library’s Archives Research and Collaborative History (ARCH) program introduced participants to the archival field and potential career opportunities in cultural heritage professions, while the Museum’s Practice, Leadership, Art, Curation, and Equity (PLACE) program introduced participants to the inner workings of a university art museum and exposed them to a variety of museum careers and opportunities, while honing practical skills in formal art analysis and academic research. Together, they form the intensive, two-week Research, Equity, Archives, Curation, and History (REACH) program. As University Archivist Dan Linke commented, “Combining the programs creates synergy, as both the Library and the Museum have professionals dedicated to the goal of exposing and potentially attracting students of color to pursue careers in cultural heritage.”

After a competitive application process, fifteen students from seven regional and national colleges and universities were selected for the June 2024 program. Faculty mentors from eight schools also took part in REACH. By joining together, the Museum, Library, and HBCU partners are able to provide students training and access to a professional network designed to prepare them to pursue careers in the arts and humanities. One student’s assessment resonates with those of many of the participants: “I loved it. . . . The connections we built with the mentors and each other are ones I won’t forget.”

Support for REACH is provided by Princeton’s Office of the Vice Provost.