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Hutchins Library Invites Community to Explore Berea’s Black Heritage

Hutchins Library Invites Community to Explore Berea’s Black Heritage

February 3, 2026

BEREA, Ky. - As the nation marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, Berea College Hutchins Library’s Special Collections and Archives (SCA) is opening its stacks and inviting the public to a month-long exploration of its vast Black history archives. 

Founded by Berea College alumnus Carter G. Woodson, SCA is enhancing the celebration of Black History Month by preparing a series of exhibits and programs highlighting underexplored stories from Madison County and across Appalachia. 

“We spent a year preparing, looking throughout the stacks for archives to enhance the story of Black history,” said Tim Binkley, head of SCA. An exhibit highlighting SCA’s Black history archives – entitled Onyx Patchworks, will be on display on the main floor of the Hutchins Library throughout February. 

Created by Dr. Jaleesa Renee Wells in collaboration with SCA and supported by America250KY, the Kentucky Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, Onyx Patchworks features a display of hanging quilted pieces and viewable quilted memory games inspired and shaped by her archival research. 

“I started looking at the Carter G. Woodson collection and thought, what else is here?” Wells said. “It’s an exhibit that brings the past into the present in a really colorful, interactive way.” 

In addition to the exhibit, SCA will host a series of Friday Finds tours at 2 p.m. each Friday, offering individuals and groups a chance to dig deeper into the archives. The February tours will focus on the recently cataloged Cleo Charles papers, honoring one of Berea’s earliest tenured African American professors and a beloved figure in the community. These sessions give visitors the chance to handle historical materials, learn about the people behind the collections and gain a deeper understanding of Berea’s Black history. 

“We’re welcoming you, the community, to come in and open some boxes and immerse yourself in the history for a little while,” said College Archivist Peter Morphew. “We’ve got more than 100 years’ worth of history in this archive.” 

To reserve a spot, call (859) 985 3267, or make a reservation online at https://berea.libcal.com/calendar/scaevents. Hutchins Library is open to the public, and all exhibits and Friday Finds tours are free. While February offers a special focus, the library encourages community members to explore the collections year-round.