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
Coretta Scott King- MLK Celebration Keynote Procession (1994)
Video
1990s
2017
Coretta Scott King escorted to Kresge Auditorium at MIT's 20th Annual MLK Celebration, 1994. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
No items found.
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Community
Activism
Bridge Leaders
Charles Vest
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ursula Burns- MIT Commencement Address (2011)
Video
2010s
2017
Xerox CEO Ursula Burns delivers MIT's 145th Commencement Address in 2011, becoming one of the most prominent Black corporate leaders to address the graduating class.
School of Engineering
School of Science
Mathematics
Nuclear Science and Engineering
No items found.
Business & Finance
Mathematics
Technology
Commencement
Family
Keynotes
MIT Corporation
Rising Voices 1995-Present
"Harriet" by Elizabeth Catlett
Image
1970s
2017
Harriet, a print by sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, held in the MIT Libraries Digital Collection. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Architecture and Planning
Architecture
Urban Studies and Planning
No items found.
Arts & Humanities
Exhibits
Illustrations
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Women
John W. Brean with the Rad Lab Airborne Systems Group, 1944
Image
1940s
2017
John W. Brean with the MIT Rad Lab Airborne Systems Group, 1944, one of the wartime Black researchers. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Engineering
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
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Engineering
Government & Law
Military
Technology
Transportation
John Brean
MIT Rad Lab
Order of Operations 1921-1945
Staff
Humans of New York: Keep to the Right, 2014
Image
2010s
2017
Humans of New York: a high school student who wants to study engineering at MIT, 2014. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
No items found.
No items found.
No items found.
Education
Engineering
Humans of MIT
Pop Culture
Recruitment
Rising Voices 1995-Present
STEM Education
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala- Investiture of Doctoral Hoods Address (2016)
Video
2010s
2017
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, MIT PhD 1981 and World Bank economist, delivers MIT Investiture of Hoods address, 2016. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Architecture and Planning
Urban Studies and Planning
No items found.
Business & Finance
Government & Law
Africa(n)
Commencement
Keynotes
Rising Voices 1995-Present
Women
Larry Sass and 3D-printed buildings, 2014
Image
2010s
2017
Lawrence Sass, MIT SMArch 1994 and PhD 2000, on 3D-printed architecture and digital fabrication, 2014. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Architecture and Planning
Architecture
Chocolate City (CC)
Arts & Humanities
Engineering
Technology
Magazine features
Rising Voices 1995-Present
President Obama at MIT (2009)
Video
2000s
2017
President Barack Obama visits MIT campus, October 23, 2009. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
No items found.
Administration
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Government & Law
Rising Voices 1995-Present
Questions to MIT, 1968
Image
1960s
2017
Questions posed to MIT by Black community members on race, equity, and access, 1968. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Architecture and Planning
Urban Studies and Planning
No items found.
Community
Education
Activism
Community Fellows Program
Critical Mass 1955-1968
Exhibits
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Early MIT campus, ca. 1865
Image
1890s
2017
Early MIT campus, ca. 1865, documenting the Institute's founding years at its Back Bay location. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
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No items found.
Ellen Swallow Richards
John D. Runkle
Marie C. Turner
Robert R. Taylor
Roots and Exponents 1875-1920
Radiation Lab Group 23, 1945
Image
1940s
2017
MIT Radiation Lab Group 23, 1945, including Black workers hired to fill WWII labor gaps. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
No items found.
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Engineering
Military
Technology
Transportation
Lincoln Lab
MIT Rad Lab
Order of Operations 1921-1945
Staff
Women
Karl Bynoe reads LIFE, 1962
Image
1960s
2017
Karl S. Bynoe, MIT Associate Reference Librarian beginning in 1960, reads LIFE magazine, 1962. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
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Arts & Humanities
Administrators
Critical Mass 1955-1968
Exhibits
Staff
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