Preserving Spokane's Black History: Community Scanning Day

Share your memories and help preserve the past! Bring your photographs, letters, small objects, & printed materials to have them scanned for a public digital archive about Black Spokane.

While the Black community in Spokane has been here for over 140 years and has made rich and meaningful contributions to the region, it can be challenging to find those stories across the archives and museums in town. Having representation in archives is one way to help honor and understand the past, and to have your community be visible, represented, known, and celebrated.

This fall the Inland Northwest Special Collections is partnering with the Carl Maxey Center on a project to help promote and preserve these stories. We encourage you to share items that represent your life or your family’s lives in the Black community, whether very recently or long ago.

With support from the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture, Eastern Washington University, and the Spokane Historic Preservation Office, we will scan or photograph your items on the spot and return them to you along with a copy of the digital files, so you don’t have to part with them.

You’ll also have the option to create an audio recording sharing the story behind your items.

By attending library programs, you agree to potentially appear in photos/videos taken at our locations that may be used in promotional materials including social media.

We strive to make events welcoming for people of all abilities. To request accommodations (i.e. hearing assistance, ASL requests, or other ADA inquiries), call the library at 509-444-5308.

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