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
Letter, William B. Rogers to Henry D. Rogers, 1846
Document
1870s
2017
Letter from MIT founder William Barton Rogers to Henry D. Rogers, 1846, held in the MIT archive. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
No items found.
Administration
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Education
Administrators
Exhibits
MIT Presidents
Roots and Exponents 1875-1920
William B. Rogers
The Rogers Brothers
Image
1870s
2017
The Rogers Brothers, founders of MIT, and their connections to the Southern slave economy. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
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Education
MIT Presidents
Roots and Exponents 1875-1920
William B. Rogers
Floyd L. Williams, 1974
Image
1970s
2017
Floyd L. Williams, MIT instructor 1972-75, later a renowned professor of mathematics and mathematical physics. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Science
Mathematics
Physics
No items found.
Education
Mathematics
Science
Faculty
Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Mentorship
Melissa Nobles, Political Science
Image
2010s
2017
Melissa Nobles, named MIT SHASS Dean in 2015, the first Black dean of one of MIT's five schools. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
Humanities
Political Science
No items found.
Arts & Humanities
Education
Administrators
Faculty
L. Rafael Reif
Melissa Nobles
Rising Voices 1995-Present
BAMIT Faculty Reception, 2015
Image
2010s
2017
BAMIT Faculty Reception, 2015, honoring back-to-back appointments of three distinguished Black faculty at MIT. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Engineering
School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
Chemical Engineering
Humanities
Music and Theater Arts
Political Science
Black Alumni/ae of MIT (BAMIT)
Arts & Humanities
Community
Education
Engineering
Administrators
Conferences
Ernest Cohen
Faculty
Honors
Marcus A. Thompson, Institute Professor
Image
2010s
2017
Marcus Thompson, MIT's first Black Institute Professor, appointed 2015, the highest faculty honor. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
Music and Theater Arts
No items found.
Arts & Humanities
Education
Faculty
Marcus A. Thompson
Music
Rising Voices 1995-Present
Robert R. Taylor
Sheryl Grooms, 1968
Image
1960s
2017
Sheryl Grooms, Brown University student working as a secretary in MIT Personnel, 1968. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Science
Biology
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Critical Mass 1955-1968
Staff
Students
Women
Marron W. Fort, 1926
Image
1920s
2017
Marron William Fort, MIT BS 1926, SM 1927, and PhD 1933, earned all three degrees at the Institute. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Science
Chemistry
Economics
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Engineering
Government & Law
Science
Transportation
Honors
Middle East
Order of Operations 1921-1945
Students
Technique Yearbook
Dwight Porter at Interphase, 1974
Image
1970s
2017
Dwight Porter at Project Interphase photography workshop, 1974, learning camera and darkroom techniques at MIT. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
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Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Interphase
Students
WMBR during Freshman Picnic, 1985
Image
1980s
2017
A 1985 photograph of WMBR radio broadcasting during MIT's Freshman Picnic on Killian Court, showing the station's community presence in its role as the voice of MIT and the broader Boston area.
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Integration and Differentiation 1969-1994
Music
Students
Ellen Swallow Richards and female students, 1888
Image
1880s
2017
Ellen Swallow Richards and female students, 1888. Richards was the first woman admitted to MIT, Class of 1873. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Science
Chemistry
No items found.
Education
Science
Booker T. Washington
Bridge Leaders
Ellen Swallow Richards
Faculty
Roots and Exponents 1875-1920
Ellen Swallow Richards and staff, 1900
Image
1900s
2017
Ellen Swallow Richards and MIT staff, 1900. The first woman MIT graduate served as sanitary chemistry instructor. Part of the MIT Black History Project archive.
School of Science
Chemistry
No items found.
Education
Science
Booker T. Washington
Ellen Swallow Richards
Faculty
Roots and Exponents 1875-1920
Staff
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