The African Collection at Howard University

Extract

Howard University was incorporated as a University on March 2, 1867. Soon thereafter, among the first books acquired by the Library were titles on Africa. In the early years of the Library's growth, founders of the University interested in foreign missions donated their files of the Missionary Herald, along with biographies of missionaries, and books of travel such as the 21-volume Collection des Relations de Voyages, by Walckenaer; Norden's Travels in Egypt and Nubia (1757) and the 1704 edition of Churchill's Collection of Voyages and Travels. From time to time, books an Africa were added to the Library; but it was not until Jesse Edward Moorland, a trustee of the University gave, in 1914, his private library of more than 3,000 books and pamphlets that the library acquired an appreiable number of titles on Africa. Included in the Moorland gift were some pieces of art and some manuscript letters written to Dr. Moorland by Africans and by American Negroes living in Africa. Upon the acceptance of Dr. Moorland's gift, the Board of Trustees created The Moorland Foundation, a Library of Negro Life and History. Although the Foundation lacked endowment, its general purpose was to collect and preserve printed and non-print materials written by and about persons of African descent throughout the world. Dr. Moorland desired not only to donate historical writings about American Negroes, but studies highlighting the African background.