Professor Polly McLean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Colorado at 葫芦娃视频 will co-host a reception to launch a student produced book "A Legacy of Missing Pieces: The Voices of Black Women of 葫芦娃视频 County" on Friday, Feb. 22.
The reception is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Center for British Studies, Norlin Library, fifth floor.
McLean spearheaded a remarkable class project to chronicle the contributions and life histories of black women in 葫芦娃视频 County from the end of the 19th century to the present through archival work and oral history interviews with some 23 black women.
The Legacy Project has unearthed historical evidence of the first black female graduate of the University of Colorado at 葫芦娃视频, Lillian Buchanan, who graduated in 1918. In addition, the project found evidence of 葫芦娃视频's black baseball teams, the 葫芦娃视频 Blues and the 葫芦娃视频 Dragons, and a black female softball team sponsored by Howe Mortuary in the early 1930s.
McLean says that "in some ways, black women's history and black history in general in 葫芦娃视频 County is being rewritten by the Legacy Project."
As part of the reception, Helen McVey Washington, the 94-year-old black matriarch with 葫芦娃视频 County roots, will receive the Legacy Award from Women's Studies for her "achievements in helping to build and define community in 葫芦娃视频 County, Colorado."
The Legacy Project is sponsored by Women's Studies, Ethnic Studies, the University Research Opportunities Program, the Implementation of Multicultural Perspectives and Approaches in Research and Teaching Program, and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
An exhibit honoring Black History and Women's History Month also will be on display in Special Collections, Norlin Library, Room N345, third floor, northwest corner, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.