Frequently Asked Questions

About Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

What is an HBCU?

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are accredited institutions of higher education established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, with the primary mission of educating Black students at a time when access to higher education was either prohibited or severely limited across the United States of America.
HBCUs have been and continue to be fundamental to the education, leadership development, and economic mobility of multiple generations of Black people. HBCUs have produced the highest percentage of Black graduates in the country.

How many HBCUs are in the United States?

Today, there are more than 100 HBCUs across the United States that play a vital role in American education and culture. From their inception to present day, HBCUs have welcomed students of all races, ethnicities, and nationalities.
There are 107 colleges in the United States identified by the U.S. Department of Education as HBCUs. Of those 107, three are currently closed (according to the https://www.thehundred-seven.org).

When did the first HBCU open?

For over 180 years, HBCUs have been at the forefront of preserving Black history, culture, and education.
The first HBCU, the Institute for Colored Youth, now known as Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, opened in 1837. Followed by the University of the District of Columbia in 1851 and Lincoln University in 1854, that was established as the first degree-granting HBCU.

How many HBCUs have archives and/or museums?

Approximately 60% of HBCUs operate campus museums or archives that house collections reflecting their academic and artistic traditions and institutional histories. These collections often contain materials dating back to the founding of the United States and trace the arc of African American history prior to enslavement through present day.

What is a “vanguard”?

The term vanguard may be defined as a movement that leads the way towards new development or ideas.
HBCUs have long been at the forefront—or vanguard—of preserving and documenting African American life, culture, and history.
Approximately 60% of HBCUs operate campus museums or archives that house collections reflecting their academic and artistic traditions and institutional histories. These collections often contain materials dating back to the founding of the United States and trace the arc of African American history prior to enslavement through present day.
These repositories collectively position HBCUs as pioneering collecting institutions—leading the way in safeguarding African Americans’ stories, contributions, and cultural heritage.

About the History and Culture Access Consortium (HCAC)

What is the History and Culture Access Consortium (HCAC)?

The HCAC is a five-year pilot initiative collaborating with a select group of HBCU partners to strengthen museums and archives at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Through a series of strategic actions, the initiative supports the essential role these institutions play in preserving and shaping American history.
Grounded in authentic collaboration, the HCAC is comprised of six core components that form a growing community of practice:
1. Training — Cultivating opportunities for internships and fellowships with professional development and skill-building experiences.
2. Collections Inventory and Digitization — Creating an open- access archive of HBCU digitized collections for academic scholars and the public.
3. Executive Leadership Training and Development — Strengthening internal communications and more prominently incorporating museums and archives into the broader mission of the universities.
4. Publication — Showcasing the compelling objects, images, and stories found in each of our HBCU
  partners’ art and archival collections through a 6-volume series of books. Volume I
  complements the traveling exhibition, while the subsequent volumes underscore the
  richness of each institution’s unique collection.
5. Traveling Exhibition —Featuring vast HBCU collections, along with the creation of a catalog designed for international distribution.
6. Project Evaluation and Expansion — Assessing the development of a community of practice and the potential for expansion.

What is the goal of the HCAC?

The HCAC aims to align the Smithsonian’s resources with the specific needs of HBCU museums and archives, ensuring long-term support and sustainability.

How can I get my HBCU involved in “At the Vanguard?”

The exhibition highlights collections of the inaugural five consortium members.
The next phase of the Consortium will include expanding its membership on an annual basis to more HBCUs that host a museum and/or archive that preserves and tells the stories of African American history, art and culture.

On April 23, 2025, an Executive Order was issued on promoting HBCUs. How does this impact the “At the Vanguard” exhibition and programming?

The mission of the “At the Vanguard” exhibition remains focused on highlighting the cultural and educational significance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Our programming continues to celebrate the pivotal role these enduring institutions play in shaping U.S. history, culture, and leadership, both for Black Americans and the nation.

About the “At the Vanguard” Exhibition

Why is the museum creating a national traveling exhibition about HBCUs?

The HCAC initiative is showcasing HBCU museums and archives to heighten visibility of their collections and illuminate the transformative world of HBCUs through these five institutions. Their collections weave together stories of ingenuity, artistry, persistence, and resistance that are part of our shared American experience. Through the traveling exhibition, the public will be able to learn from an array of objects and archival materials to better understand the American story.

Why are these five HBCUs featured in this exhibition?

Clark Atlanta University, Florida A&M University, Jackson State University, Texas Southern University, and Tuskegee University are partners with the museum and part of the five-year HCAC pilot program. HCAC will continue to collaborate with other HBCUs on an ongoing basis.

Who are some of the partners and collaborators involved in this exhibition?

The “At the Vanguard” exhibition highlights compelling stories from the campus collections of five HBCUs: Clark Atlanta University, Florida A&M University, Jackson State University, Texas Southern University, and Tuskegee University. These institutions are inaugural members of the HBCU History and Culture Access Consortium (HCAC) pilot phase. The HCAC pilot phase will end in 2026 and then continue in an expanded format beginning in 2027.

How many objects are in this traveling exhibition?

Approximately 156 objects

Where will this exhibition travel to?

After leaving the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the summer of 2026, the traveling tour will run several years and feature the five partnering HBCUs and appropriate museums across the nation.

Why does this exhibition discuss divisive topics such as police violence, rioting, and the Black Panthers?

HBCU museums and archives hold many objects that reflect student and faculty involvement in social and political issues. These artifacts share the long history of activism on these campuses and their importance as a facet of HBCU student life.
One of the main points of the “Doing Battle Where We Stand” section of the exhibition is that students (Black and White) have held their universities, the nation and the world to the highest standards of humanitarianism.
Whether demonstrating for civil rights, Black Power, or international solidarity, the historical continuum of student activism has included many different types of direct-action campaigns and responses to these actions by the administrative bodies of colleges and universities, the local police and federal authorities.
Responses have included successful and peaceful face-to-face negotiations, public arrests and violent attempts to suppress student activism. The exhibition showcases all of these forms.

What other resources will be available for this exhibition?

The HCAC Digital Archive and Website is an open-source digital archive composed of HBCU digitized collections for academic scholars and the public to use in an easily accessible format.
Launching in August 2025, the site will feature expanded content using primary sources from the museum and the five partners.
The first volume in a new book series will debut on September 16 through Giles Publishing. At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at Historically Black Colleges and Universities is edited by Tulani Salahu-Din and Marion McGee, with essays by Dorothy Berry, Kinshasha Holman Conwell, Jelani M. Favors, Jeanelle K. Hope,
Tulani Salahu-Din, and Marion McGee.
A Searchable Museum page will launch in tandem with the exhibition opening.

Who created the content for this exhibition?

The exhibition team includes:

The NMAAHC’s Curatorial Affairs Team and Office of
Strategic Partnerships in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services have led the content development for this exhibition.

Where can I find more information about the exhibition?

Visit the museum’s website for more information at https://nmaahc.si.edu/Vanguard.

About NMAAHC’s Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP)

What is the Office of Strategic Partnerships?

The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Office of Strategic Partnerships’ (OSP) mission is to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of historical, cultural, and arts institutions focused on African American and African diaspora communities.
The office fulfills this mission by serving as a central hub for resources, professional development, and partnerships that support and grow the infrastructure of African American arts and culture institutions.

Do your partner with individual museums?

Our work has the broadest impact when we work with organizational networks (such as the Association of African American Museums) rather than individual museums.

Who are your partners?

The Office of Strategic Partnerships works primarily with museum networks that serve organizations engaged in the study, appreciation, or preservation of African American or African Diasporic life, art, history, and culture. These networks can be international, national, regional, or statewide. OSP also partners with educational institutions and discipline-specific networks.
Our work primarily serves the African American and African Diasporic museum field by providing access to resources that improve organizational sustainability, provide professional development, and encourage innovation and best practices. We do not partner on public programs, education programs, or with other community groups. We do not provide museum passes to groups.

Do you partner with individual museums?

Our work has the broadest impact when we work with organizational networks (such as the Association of African American Museums) rather than individual museums.

What types of organizations do you serve?

We serve a wide array or organizations dedicated to the preservation and study of African American art, history, and culture.

Do you have opportunities for museum professionals?

Many of our collaborations involve providing access to professional development opportunities for African American and African Diaspora Museum field professionals. Our list of current opportunities can be found above.

Do you give money to museums for training or programs?

The Smithsonian Institution is not a grant-making organization. OSP partners with national and international professional trade associations to provide access to opportunities for organizational and staff development.

Do you offer internships at NMAAHC?

Yes, for more information on internships with the museum, visit Internships & Fellowships.

Can I request an OSP representative to attend or speak at my event?

Send requests to NMAAHCPartners@si.edu