Exciting Library News: Durham Tech Library selected for Traveling Archivist Program (TAP)

The Main Campus Library Archives Room--boxes and notebooks on shelves
Library Archive Room

The N.C. State Historical Records Advisory Board has selected Durham Technical Community College Library as a 2022 participant in the Traveling Archivist Program (TAP).

A team of archivists from the State Archives and partner institutions will serve six organizations this year with virtual consultations, on-site training, and supplies to improve preservation and access for document, photograph, and/ or film collections.

TAP’s purpose is to help repositories improve preservation and access for archival collections. Library Director Julie Humphrey, Reference Librarian Alexandra Deyneka, and Library Technician Lorell Butler will serve as partners in this project.

The Traveling Archivist Program is supported with federal funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.


The Durham Technical Community College Archive documents and preserves the history of the college, its leaders, employees, students, and its role within the local community. The college was founded in 1961 as the Durham Industrial Education Center. As our college celebrates its 60th anniversary, we understand our vital role in the city of Durham’s history. The Library’s Archive collects and houses college publications, administrative files, yearbooks, course catalogs, accreditation documents, photographs, newspaper articles, bulletins, newsletters, media, meeting minutes, marketing materials, ephemeral items, and related materials.

Check out some of the archival materials below that were displayed in our recent 60th Anniversary front window display.

Full window display for the College's 60th Anniversary featuring materials from the Archives.
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Explore Durham’s Soul Music History

In the 1960’s and 1970’s, many soul, funk, and R&B performers lived and worked in Durham, NC. More than 40 groups recorded singles and full-length albums in this time period. Ten recording labels were based in Durham during those decades.

Durham County Library’s North Carolina Collection, put together a comprehensive web exhibit, Bull City Soul, where you can learn about this fascinating musical history.

Read about musical origins and influences, see profiles, images, and discographies of the musical artists.  Learn about the politics of the time, local live music venues, and record stores that contributed to this vibrant culture and history.

Skull & Bones group

Skull & Bones promotional photo,
© 2014 Joshua Clark Davis, Jason Perlmutter, Lincoln Hancock

This 2014 project was funded by the Durham Library Foundation, Duke University, and North Carolina Humanities Council. This web exhibit is based on two projects which began in 2005 by local record collector and record store owner, Jason Perlmutter.  Perlmutter launched a website, Carolina Soul History to share his research.  “The Carolina Soul website serves as a living encyclopedia of soul music made in North and South Carolina.”

Did you know our library has music CDs available for checkout?  Search the online catalog to locate artists and albums.  These are shelved on the lower level of the library.

 

 

 

 

 

Durham Tech Digital Archives

There are lots of treasures to be discovered in Durham Tech’s Digital Archives!  The North Carolina Digital Heritage Center is a statewide digitization and digital publishing program housed in the North Carolina Collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We have partnered with the Digital Heritage Center to digitize and publish Durham Tech’s historic materials online.

Click here to view more than 100 archived documents including yearbooks, newsletters, annual reports, and college catalogs from Durham Technical Community College.

Did you know that the college had a basketball team in 1967?

Photo of Durham Tech Basketball Team 1967

Durham Tech Basketball Team 1967 photo from The Widget yearbook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know that the Northern Durham Center opened in 1994?

Image of Update Newsletter, Winter 1994

Update Newsletter, Winter 1994

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read the very first edition of the Final Draft Literary Journal from 1990!

image of Final Draft journal cover

The Final Draft Literary Journal Fall 1990

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read articles by Dr. Peter Wooldridge and Dr. Christine Kelly-Kleese in the very first issue of The Learning Matters journal from 2002.

Image of Learning Matters Journal Spring 2002

Learning Matters Journal Spring 2002