#1
#1 out of 1
world12h ago
Who were CU Law’s firrst Black students? A librarian is on a quest to find out
- A CU Law archivist identified more than 210 Black students who attended from 1899 to 2024, with six biographies published.
- The work began with class portraits and expanded to yearbooks, newspapers, and genealogical records.
- Franklin LaVeale Anderson is identified as the school's first known Black student, appearing in a mislabeled 1898 portrait later corrected to 1899.
- Ciota’s research shows many early Black students did not receive long-term recognition for their histories.
- Future steps include contacting descendants to deepen the historical record of CU Law’s Black students.
- CU Law’s dean Lolita Buckner Inniss supports the project as a move to preserve history, not just a diversity effort.
- The research is tied to contemporary student life, with current student Armania Heckenmueller recognizing the importance of names in class portraits.
- Dean Inniss notes the project could influence how Black history is understood within the law school’s heritage.
- The initiative underscores a broader goal to restore historical narratives within Colorado Law’s archive.
- The project aims to connect past, present, and future Black law students and scholars.
Vote 0