During the month of February, we we honor both historic milestones and the living legacy of African American culture and commemorate trailblazers who have shaped the course of civil rights and social justice.

Black History Month traces its roots back to 1915, fifty years after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. That year, historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland, both Harvard-trained, founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) to promote the study of Black history and culture. In 1926, they launched a national “Negro History Week” during the second week of February, chosen to align with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially recognized February as Black History Month, a time to honor the achievements of Black Americans.

We are proud to highlight our role in preserving places and works of art that tell these stories—ensuring that the voices, achievements, and creativity of African Americans continue to be seen, heard, and honored.