Who we are

The Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC) is an expanding consortium of Chicago-based archives, libraries, and museums. Its mission is to connect all who seek to document, share, understand and preserve Black experiences. Through archival processing initiatives, research fellowships for scholars and artists, archival internships for students, and diverse public programming, the BMRC facilitates increased awareness of the experiences of African American and other African diaspora communities through expanding access to its members’ holdings of materials that document African American and African diaspora culture, history, and politics, with a specific focus on materials relating to Chicago.

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What does the Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC) do?

DISCOVER COLLECTIONS ON BLACK EXPERIENCES

Find out about many of Chicago's rich primary resources related to Black history and culture now made accessible in one place!

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Recent News

BMRC_Brooks_Urbana_Visit - 29
April 29, 2025

Reflections on the BMRC Community Visit to the Gwendolyn Brooks Collection

On April 23, 2025, the Black Metropolis Research Consortium gathered a group of twenty people representing local cultural heritage organizations, academic libraries and archives and students on a community trip to visit the Gwendolyn Brooks Collection.

Ewing_book_talkApril2025
April 11, 2025

Original Sins: The (Mis)Education of Black and Native Children- POSTPONED!!!

The BMRC is honored to co-sponsor Dr. Eve Ewing's discussion of her new book, "Original Sins: the (Mis) education of Black and Native Children"

BMRC Scholarship(1)
March 18, 2025

BMRC Scholarships for History of Black Librarianship Course

The BMRC is pleased to offer three scholarships for members of the public to enroll in the History of Black Librarianship course.

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