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
Caleb Brookins: A Rewarding Experience
Caleb Brookins has moved on to greater things, but he will always cherish his time working to preserve the rich history of Prairie View A&M University.
Say My Name!
One of our most startling discoveries in 2021 was the fact that we did not know the name of a single person who had been enslaved on the plantation that later became PVAMU. This blog post reveals the name of the first enslaved person we know lived at Alta Vista.
“Silence is a Very Good Weapon”
In February 1971, PVAMU students destroyed over $200,000 of property on campus, burning down the campus security building, the Dean of Men’s offices, and the Office of Freshman Studies. They overturned a security patrol car and set it on fire, and they set fire to the Army ROTC building. This blog post by Malachi McMahon and Dr. T. DeWayne Moore explains how silence can be a powerful weapon in the hands of higher administration.
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, the Texas State Library & Archives Commission, Texas Humanities, the Summerlee Foundation, and Getty Images 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
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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!
Our Partners
Preventing the erasure of African American history
