Archive

Archive

The MIT Black History Project has archived over 3,000 pieces of history related to the black experience at the Institute dating back to the 1870s. We thank our many donors, volunteers, and stakeholders for making this significant effort possible. Images on this website are subject to copyright laws and may not be duplicated without permission.

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Astronaut candidates R. McNair, G. Bluford, and F. Gregory
Image
1970s

NASA astronaut candidates Ronald McNair, Guion Bluford, and Frederick Gregory, 1978

School of Engineering
Aeronautics and Astronautics
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Science
Technology
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Magazine features
NASA
Ronald E. McNair
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Bennie F. L. Ward, 2025
2020s

Bennie F. L. Ward, 2025

School of Science
Mathematics
Physics
Black Students' Union (BSU)
Education
Science
Conferences
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
MIT Quarter Century Club
Rising Voices 1995-Present
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"Sisters in Making" exhibit, 2024
Image
2020s

MIT Libraries "Sisters in Making" exhibit, 2024

School of Architecture and Planning
Architecture
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Engineering
Government & Law
Science
Technology
Exhibits
NASA
Rising Voices 1995-Present
Students
Women
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MIT Spotlight: Martin Luther King Day, 2024
Image
2020s

MIT Spotlight: Martin Luther King Day, 2024

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Community
Activism
Administrators
Illustrations
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Latinx and Latin America(n)
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Joseph S. Dunning, 1937
Image
1930s

Joseph S. Dunning, 1937

School of Engineering
Aeronautics and Astronautics
No items found.
Community
Technology
Transportation
Harvard
NAACP
Order of Operations 1921-1945
Stanford
Students
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Herbert L. Hardy, 1952
Image
1950s

Herbert L. Hardy, 1952

School of Science
Physics
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Potential Output 1946-1954
Students
Technique Yearbook
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Herbert L. Hardy and boys with electrical equipment, ca. 1951
Image
1950s

Herbert L. Hardy and boys with electrical equipment, ca. 1951

School of Science
Physics
No items found.
Engineering
Potential Output 1946-1954
STEM Education
Students
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John Stroman at MITSO rehearsal, 1977
Image
1970s

John Stroman at MITSO rehearsal, 1977

School of Engineering
Aeronautics and Astronautics
No items found.
Arts & Humanities
Community
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Marcus A. Thompson
Music
Ronald E. McNair
Students
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Philip Abel Adama in a scene from 'Brief Tender Light,' 2023
Audio
2020s

African-born students shine as agents of change in documentary 'Brief Tender Light' (2023)

School of Engineering
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
African Students' Association (ASA)
Arts & Humanities
Community
Africa(n)
Rising Voices 1995-Present
Students
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Type
Timeline
Joy Buolamwini and Margot Lee Shetterly, 2017
Image
2010s
2017
Joy Buolamwini and Hidden Figures author Margot Lee Shetterly at MIT, 2017. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Architecture and Planning
Media Arts and Sciences
No items found.
Arts & Humanities
Technology
Africa(n)
Honors
Mentorship
NASA
Pop Culture
Joe Thompson and Whirlwind, 1951
Image
1950s
2017
Joe Thompson, one of the first computer operators of Whirlwind, MIT's pioneering computer, 1951. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Engineering
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
No items found.
Technology
Lincoln Lab
Order of Operations 1921-1945
University of Pennsylvania
Gail Holton and William Marable , 1981
Image
1980s
2017
Gail Holton and William Marable, photographed at MIT in 1981, documenting the Black student community. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Nuclear Science and Engineering
Chocolate City (CC)
Business & Finance
Education
Engineering
Technology
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Living Groups
Students
Technique Yearbook
Charles A. Cofield, 1970s
1970s
2017
Charles A. Cofield, MIT 1972, architect and disability rights pioneer who expanded accessible design at MIT. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Architecture and Planning
Urban Studies and Planning
No items found.
Government & Law
Transportation
Activism
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Students
Youth Opportunity Program, 1960s
Image
1960s
2017
A 1960s photograph of Youth Opportunity Program students on Killian Court, documenting MIT's early minority recruitment and retention initiatives in the wake of the civil rights movement.
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Education
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Recruitment
Students
Ernest Cohen during a reunion of early Black alums, 1973
Image
1970s
2017
Ernest Cohen, MIT Class of 1964, reflects on growing up in Charlotte, NC and attending MIT as a Black student. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Engineering
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Black Alumni/ae of MIT (BAMIT)
Engineering
Ernest Cohen
Filemaker pro: John L. Mack, Associate Director of Admissions
Image
1970s
2017
John L. Mack, MIT 1974, among the first Black Admissions directors at MIT, pioneered minority recruitment. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Architecture and Planning
Urban Studies and Planning
No items found.
Education
Administrators
Data
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Recruitment
Students
Alvene Williams, 1974
Image
1970s
2017
Alvene Williams, 1974, in MIT's Community Fellows Program, which brought minority leaders to campus. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Architecture and Planning
Urban Studies and Planning
No items found.
Community
Administrators
Community Fellows Program
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Women
Interview: Phillip L. Clay (2002)
Video
2000s
2017
MIT Professor Phillip L. Clay interviewed by Clarence G. Williams for the MIT oral history series, 2002. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Architecture and Planning
Administration
Urban Studies and Planning
No items found.
Community
Education
Government & Law
Administrators
Bridge Leaders
Clarence G. Wiliams
Community Fellows Program
Faculty
Clarence G. Williams on Bridge Leadership (2014)
Video
2010s
2017
Clarence G. Williams on MIT's Bridge Leadership Program, a model for minority academic and career growth. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Architecture and Planning
Administration
No items found.
Community
Education
Activism
Administrators
Bridge Leaders
Clarence G. Wiliams
Faculty
Audio: NPR Interview with Kwatsi Alibaruho, First Black NASA Flight Director, 2005
Audio
2000s
2017
NPR interview with Kwatsi Alibaruho, MIT 1995, first African American NASA Mission Control flight director. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Engineering
Aeronautics and Astronautics
No items found.
Engineering
Technology
Transportation
Africa(n)
NASA
Rising Voices 1995-Present
Robert L. Satcher, Jr.
Bertram F. Jones, 1918
Image
1910s
2017
Bertram F. Jones, MIT 1918, Roxbury pharmacist and MIT baseball team member, entered as unspecified student. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Science
Chemistry
No items found.
Health & Medicine
Military
Science
Athletics
Roots and Exponents 1875-1920
Students
Technique Yearbook
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