Science and Stories: Exploring Underrepresented Narratives at the Library of Congress

This is a guest post by Micherlange Francois-Hemsley, a 2024 intern working on Identifying At-Risk Underrepresented Community Collections Learning from Our Collection: Assessing and Preserving At-Risk Materials with the Preservation Research and Testing Division.

As an undergrad student, I remember using the Library of Congress’ website for my research—especially when it came to finding photos that were related to my interests for class projects. I often found myself going down a rabbit hole with all the information and resources that the Library’s website made available at my fingertips. Fast forward to now being an incoming 2^nd year MLIS student, and I find myself in a similar awe as I’ve had the opportunity to work in-person at the Library this summer.

Something I didn’t anticipate was the type of work that would bring me to Library, as the project I’ve been working on is quite a departure from my academic background and work experience. I have been interning in the Preservation Research and Testing Division (PRTD) conducting non-invasive tests on a variety of paper publications chronicling underrepresented groups from the 1840s-1940s. During this era in American history, there was a major shift from rag to wood pulp paper in the 1880s—the latter of which tends to be of worse quality. The primary question my project is centered around is as follows: Did underrepresented groups have access to the same quality paper that general collection materials had from that same time period? To answer these questions, I used the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) instrument which collects information about the organic compounds in paper— a technology I knew nothing about prior to applying for the project. Stepping into the PRTD labs for the first time was both a bit intimidating and exciting, having never been in a science lab before. One thing I appreciate about the FTIR Alpha I machine is how beginner friendly it is yet still capable of collecting really important information about the materials that you scan.

I analyzed collections from both the Rare Books and Special Collections and Serial and Government Publications divisions. I also got the opportunity to go to Howard University where I assisted in the analyzation of 75 books from their Daniel Murray collection. From Rare Books, the first collection was the YA pamphlet collection, which consisted primarily of speeches on politics, commerce, and elections. The second was the Bradsher-Fredrick Leftist Pamphlet Collection, which consisted of anti-war, socialist, and social justice materials. The third was the African-American collection that covers politics, religion, personal narratives, and racial justice issues within the Black community. In the Serials division, I analyzed newspapers that were created for and by Black people, namely Fredrick Douglass, who was the founder and editor of some of the publications I looked at. The data yielded surprising results: the paper types across the collections I analyzed generally aligned with those found in general collections previously tested. This suggests that, despite socio-cultural challenges, underrepresented groups often printed on comparable quality paper to general collection publication materials from the same era.

Equally unexpected was the amount of Black authors, publishers, and women publishing during a period marked by profound racial violence and discrimination: slavery pre-emancipation, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow segregation. By working with some of these collections, I got to hold the results of a community’s determination and bravery. Determination to learn how to read and write, buy property to print, and establish publications. Bravery to speak out against racial and social injustices in a format that had an enormous amount of reach: books and newspapers.

Likewise, the Bradsher-Fredrick Leftist Pamphlet Collection I analyzed contained publications from the 1930s and 1940s. In this collection were publications representing outspoken groups that expressed political opinions and social commentary that were largely frowned upon by many governments. During this time, many people who read or were involved in the publication of such books would be punished or ousted from job opportunities and social circles for doing so.

As a first-generation Haitian-American pursuing a master’s degree, I often reflect on the privileges my education affords me, and this summer has been no exception. Although I have been working in a lab all summer, this project has deepened my appreciation to be able to read and write freely, unlike the generations of marginalized groups that had to fight for the right to do so. Moreover, being part of a generation that rarely reads physical newspapers, I’ve relished the opportunity to examine Black newspaper publications from over two centuries ago. After looking at publications in five different collections, I’ve added quite a few new books to my reading list and authors to investigate, as many of the books I’ve analyzed you can now find online.

My summer at the Library of Congress has been an eye-opening journey through history, technology, and the resilience of underrepresented voices. From learning more about preservation work to uncovering hidden narratives within old publications, this experience has not only enriched my academic journey but also solidified my commitment to preserving and promoting diverse histories and cultural heritage.

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