The Digital PV Panther Project
About Us
The Digital PV Panther Project aims to eliminate historical silences and prevent the erasure of African American history by promoting research in our rich, historic collections in the archives on the fifth floor of John B. Coleman Library at PVAMU.
By processing, digitizing, and broadly disseminating the archival collections at PVAMU, the Digital PV Panther Project will help present and future generations reach a consensus about the past and reflect on our quest for a more just, inclusive, and sustainable society.
It reminds Americans that not only do the basic goals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness endure over time, but so do the challenges of redressing the legacy of slavery and segregation and strengthening our democratic institutions.
Our Impact
The Digital PV Panther Project hired 12 upper-level student assistants in the summer of 2022 and purchased an estimated $100,000 in equipment to kickstart our digitization initiatives.
300+ reel-to-reel audio tapes of speeches, lectures, and events in the 70s
86" & 66" Inch Touchscreen Displays and State-of-the-Art Digital Exhibition Software
$40,000+ of high quality scanning equipment
Our Impact
Summer RISE with the Digital PV Panther Project
In this blog post, RISE grant recipient Evelyn Kay Todd details her experience over the summer working on the Digital PV Panther Project.
“UNDER-SERVED”: The Disproportionate Impact of Food Insecurity in the TAMU System
Malachi McMahon examines the disproportionate availability of healthy food options at Prairie View A&M University in contrast to Texas A&M University at College Station.
Promotional Article on PVAMU website
The Special Collections & Archives Department at Prairie View A&M University has received a $450,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The funds helped establish the Digital PV Panther Project, which aims to eliminate the silences and erasures surrounding the history of PVAMU.
Our Progress
We processed 31 manuscript collections of former PVAMU professors and administrators, and we are currently processing over 100 linear feet of photographs, maps, and archival media in the Cooperative Extension & Home Demonstration Collection, which documents efforts in Texas to improve the quality of life in African American communities.
31+
Collections Processed
The Texas State Library & Archives Commission (TSLAC) funded the hiring of 2 Black archivists through the TexTreasures Grant
31+
Finding Aids Created
The finding aids created through the TexTreasures Grant will serve as a model for all future processing projects
$700,000
6 Grants Secured
The National Endowment for the Humanities and the Texas State Library & Archives Commission provided the funding to launch the Digital PV Panther Project!
Our Progress
People Preserving & Promoting Place
Working together on campus, across divisions, and in local communities to design projects that bridge the digital divide to promote a better understanding of the Black experience
Community Engagement
Read the Research Blog!
Meet the Team!
Black Digital Humanities
We must recognize the importance of elevating the HBCU experience through historic preservation. By collaborating to achieve common goals, we will re-build the sense of community lost during the pandemic. By promoting archival collections at PVAMU, the Digital PV Panther Project gives stakeholders a sense of purpose about promoting the Black experience!
