Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Meek-Eaton Digital Archives

Welcome to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University's Meek-Eaton Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum. The museum is home to the largest repository of materials on Blacks in the Southeastern Region of the United States. A premier research destination, the Collection hosts researchers, students and visitors from around the world who can explore and discover a wide and ever-expanding range of information. This digital space is dedicated to exhibiting the many artifacts collected over the lifetime of the center. All material accessed on this site is copyrighted and cannot be used without the expressed written consent of the Meek-Eaton Director.

CONTENT WARNING:

At the Meek Eaton Black Archives, some of our collections contain descriptions, documentation, and representations of historical events and cultural beliefs that can be difficult to encounter. While often unsettling, this content is preserved to support a fuller, more contextual understanding of the world.

Some materials may include offensive or harmful visual, written, or audio content, as well as depictions that misrepresent individuals and communities. We recognize that this content may be triggering or upsetting, and strive to present it with care, empathy, and context. Additionally, many historical materials reflect the biases, language, and values of their time—perspectives that do not align with the current values and practices of the Meek Eaton Black Archives.

We are committed to minimizing harm and acknowledging the impact this content may have on individuals, families, and communities. If you encounter content you find troubling, please share feedback through our email at blackarchives@famu.edu.

Welcome to the past and present exhibitions of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s Meek-Eaton Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum.

For generations, Meek-Eaton has served as a steward of African American history, culture, memory, and achievement. As one of the nation’s significant repositories dedicated to the preservation of Black history, the Center safeguards a rich and continually expanding collection documenting the experiences of African Americans, with particular emphasis on Florida and the southeastern United States.

This digital exhibition space extends that mission beyond the walls of the museum. Here, we invite you to explore exhibitions presented throughout Meek-Eaton’s history—from earlier installations that remain an important part of our institutional record to current exhibitions that introduce new scholarship, perspectives, collections, and stories.

Each exhibition represents a moment of interpretation and discovery. Through photographs, manuscripts, artifacts, works of art, audiovisual materials, ephemera, and other historical resources, these exhibitions illuminate the individuals, communities, institutions, movements, and experiences that have shaped African American life and the broader American story.

We invite researchers, students, educators, alumni, families, and visitors from around the world to explore these exhibitions not simply as records of the past, but as opportunities to consider the relationships among history, memory, identity, and our shared future.

As you move through this digital space, we hope you will discover something new, revisit something familiar, and gain a deeper appreciation for the people whose lives and contributions are preserved within the collections of Meek-Eaton.

Welcome to Meek-Eaton—where the past is preserved, the present is interpreted, and history continues to inform the future.

Use of Collections and Exhibition Materials

Materials presented within this digital exhibition space are drawn from the collections and exhibitions of the Meek-Eaton Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum. Unless otherwise indicated, materials may be protected by copyright or other intellectual property rights and may not be reproduced, published, distributed, or otherwise used without appropriate written authorization from Meek-Eaton and/or the applicable rights holder.

For questions regarding permissions, reproduction, research, or use of collection materials, please contact blackarchives@famu.edu.

Content Advisory

The collections of the Meek-Eaton Black Archives document a broad and complex history. As a result, some exhibitions and collection materials may contain language, imagery, audio, descriptions, or representations of historical events and cultural attitudes that contemporary audiences may find difficult, offensive, harmful, or distressing.

These materials are preserved because they contribute to a fuller and more contextual understanding of the historical record. Their inclusion does not constitute endorsement of the language, beliefs, stereotypes, or perspectives they may contain.

We recognize that historical materials can reflect the prejudices, inequities, terminology, and social values of the periods in which they were created. In some instances, individuals and communities may be represented inaccurately, incompletely, or in ways that conflict with the contemporary values and professional practices of the Meek-Eaton Black Archives.

Meek-Eaton is committed to responsible stewardship and thoughtful interpretation. We seek to provide appropriate historical context, acknowledge the potential impact of difficult materials, and approach the communities represented within our collections with dignity, care, and respect.

We also recognize that archival description and interpretation are ongoing processes. If you encounter material or descriptive language that you believe requires additional context or consideration, we welcome your feedback at blackarchives@famu.edu.