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G2S Project Code: 2014-IN-73489
State: Indiana
Fiscal Year: 2014

Grantee
Indiana University-South Bend

Project Director
Director Name: Alison Stankrauff
Director Phone: 574-520-4392
Director Email: astankra@iusb.edu

General Information
Title: St. Joseph County African American History Collection
State Project Code: D14-1-4(9)
Start Date: 07/01/2014
End Date: 04/30/2015
Abstract: This project is a collaboration between Indiana University South Bend's Schurz Library, St. Joseph County Public Library, and the South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center to digitize documents, photographs and newspapers from their collections. This project created a unified resource containing information related to civil rights and the African American community in South Bend, while creating a sustainable model for collaboration between the three agencies.
State Goal: Information Access

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$9,027.19

$0.00

$3,385.37

$12,412.56

Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Arts, Culture & Humanities
History

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Digitization of Collection Materials
Narrative:

The Collections

Civil Rights and African American History includes:

From Indiana University South Bend Archives – J. Chester and Elizabeth Fletcher Allen Collection, Streets Family Collection, Hering House Collection.

St. Joseph County Public Library – Selections from the SJCPL Archives and Reference collections.

Historic Newspapers includes:

St. Joseph County Public Library – The Reformer: 115 issues including 1,026 items.

Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Digital

Quantity
Number of items digitized: 1,634
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 1,634
Number of physical items: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 0
Number of plans/frameworks: 0

Partner Information

Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No

Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No

Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Indiana University-South Bend
Address: 1700 Mishawaka Ave
City: South Bend
State: IN
Zip: 46634-7111
Name: SOUTH BEND CIVIL RIGHTS HERITAGE CENTER
Address: 1040 W Washington St
City: South Bend
State: IN
Zip: 46601
Name: ST JOSEPH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 304 SOUTH MAIN STREET
City: SOUTH BEND
State: IN
Zip: 46601

Activity Details
Title: Public Programs
Narrative:

Launch Event

The formal collection launch included two event sat the Civil Rights Heritage Center’s Natatorium, the formerly segregated community athletic center on the west side of South Bend.

Dr. Nicole Etcheson, Alexander M. Bracken Professor of History from Ball State University spoke at both events about her research on African American soldiers during the Civil War, and Hoosier attitudes toward abolition, fugitive slave laws, and the Emancipation Proclamation.

Sixty-three attendees braved the snowy February evening. The evening lecture included speakers from Indiana University SouthBend, key members of the local African American community, Etcheson, and project staff from the three partnering institutions. During the reception the public was invited to view the scanned materials in Michiana Memory on laptops.

Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 2
Average number in attendance per session: 63
Number of times program administered: 1

Partner Information

Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Ball State University
Address: 2000 University Ave
City: Muncie
State: IN
Zip: 47306
Name: Indiana University-South Bend
Address: 1700 Mishawaka Ave
City: South Bend
State: IN
Zip: 46634-7111
Name: South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center
Address: 1040 W. Washington St.
City: South Bend
State: IN
Zip: 46601
Name: ST JOSEPH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 304 SOUTH MAIN STREET
City: SOUTH BEND
State: IN
Zip: 46601

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important findings or outcomes from your project:
The project enabled Indiana University South Bend to fund the digitization of these collections. The project also helped establish a framework for future digital collections and collaborations.
Please briefly describe importance of findings:

What methods did you use to determine your findings? Check all that apply:
Based on outputs, outcomes and/or other results, explain any significant lessons learned from these findings for either the SLAA or others in the LIS field:

Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No:
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort:
No
Do you anticipate any change in the project's scope:
No
Do you anticipate any other changes in the project:
No

Exemplary: Yes
Exemplary NarrativeThis project is an excellent example of a public library, academic library and nonprofit heritage center coming together to digitize their local history collections to tell the story of the struggles and successes of early county residents, especially those from underrepresented groups. The project is continuing with a FY2015 LSTA grant from the Indiana State Library.

Project Tags: civil rights, African Americans, South Bend