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
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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
Radiation Lab Group 36 trainees, 1945
Image
1940s
2018
MIT Radiation Lab Group 36 trainees, 1945, hired amid the wartime industrial labor shortage. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
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Education
Engineering
Military
Technology
Lincoln Lab
MIT Rad Lab
Order of Operations 1921-1945
Staff
STEM Education
Inaugural BSU newsletter, 2018
Document
2010s
2018
MIT BSU inaugural newsletter, 2018, summarizing student work ahead of the union's 50th anniversary celebration. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
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No items found.
Black Students' Union (BSU)
Community
Rising Voices 1995-Present
Students
Carolyn Towler, 1979
Image
1970s
2018
Carolyn Towler, MIT Class of 1980, Materials Science and Engineering, received the Beinecke Memorial Scholarship. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
No items found.
Community
Health & Medicine
Athletics
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Students
Technique Yearbook
Women
MIT cheerleaders, 1981
Image
1980s
2018
MIT cheerleaders, 1981, documenting student athletic life at the Institute. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
No items found.
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No items found.
Community
Athletics
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Students
Technique Yearbook
Women
Cornel West: Speaking Truth to Power, 2018
Video
2010s
2018
Cornel West speaks at MIT on institutional provincialism and speaking truth to power, hosted by the GSC, 2018. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Architecture and Planning
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No items found.
Arts & Humanities
Community
Education
Activism
Harvard
Rising Voices 1995-Present
Paul Gray and Gloria Green, 1949
1940s
2017
Paul Gray and Gloria Green, MIT Class of 1954, the second Black woman to attend MIT, photographed 1949. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Architecture and Planning
School of Engineering
Architecture
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
No items found.
Education
Dunbar High School
MIT Presidents
Paul E. Gray
Potential Output 1946-1954
Students
Pelkins Ajanoh: "No bounds to how much we can think" (2017)
Video
2010s
2018
Pelkins Ajanoh, MIT Class of 2018 from Cameroon, president of the MIT African Students Association, 2017. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
African Students' Association (ASA)
Engineering
Africa(n)
Family
Rising Voices 1995-Present
Students
Isaiah M. Blankson, 1967
1960s
2017
Isaiah M. Blankson, photographed at MIT in 1967, later a leading NASA aeronautics researcher. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Engineering
Aeronautics and Astronautics
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Engineering
Government & Law
Science
Technology
Transportation
Africa(n)
Critical Mass 1955-1968
Isaiah M. Blankson
NASA
Students
Black History Month, 2018
Image
2010s
2018
Black History Month at MIT, 2018, annual programming celebrating Black students, faculty, and alumni. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
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Community
Exhibits
Rising Voices 1995-Present
Students
A Gathering to Honor and Celebrate the Life of Paul E. Gray (2017)
Video
2010s
2018
MIT community honors former president Paul E. Gray at Kresge Auditorium, November 30, 2017. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
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Administration
No items found.
Community
Education
Administrators
Bridge Leaders
Honors
L. Rafael Reif
MIT Presidents
Jerry Akinsulire: The making of a maker mentor (2017)
Video
2010s
2018
NSE senior Jerry Akinsulire, MIT Class of 2018, profiled as a maker mentor and engineering community leader. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Engineering
Nuclear Science and Engineering
No items found.
Education
Engineering
Science
Africa(n)
Mentorship
MITES
Rising Voices 1995-Present
STEM Education
Melvin H. 'Mel' King, educator, activist, and writer
Image
2018
Melvin H. King, MIT Community Fellows Program director, educator, activist, and writer. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Architecture and Planning
Urban Studies and Planning
No items found.
Government & Law
Technology
Activism
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