Philip J. Merrill

February 9, 2026 marks the 120th anniversary of the death of Paul Laurence Dunbar , one of the most influential literary voices of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A poet, novelist, and short story writer, Dunbar helped lay the foundation for modern African American literature, using his voice to explore Black life, culture, and humanity during a period of profound racial injustice in the United States. Born in 1872 in Dayton, Ohio , Paul Laurence Dunbar was the son of

#CelebrateBlackHistoryMonth2026   #HBCUCollectedTreasures #BlackHistoryisEverywhere #NegroHistoryDetective #ArtifactualJourney #AlumniNameSake Although Black History Week Celebrations did not begin until 1926, we know that our Black history extends well before that particularly with the founding of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1854. They are the first degree granting HBCU in the nation. The artifact below is one of the numerous rare artifacts housed in our Lincolnian

#LaborDay2025 While some view #LaborDay as the unofficial end of summer (barbecues, parades, and sales), it marks an important day in America’s history. The holiday was established in 1882 to honor the contribution of workers and the labor movement’s fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, and reasonable hours. However, the labor movement often excluded African Americans, particularly African American women. They were excluded from unions, endured abuse in order to mak