BMRC ARCHIVES PORTAL
Discover Collections on Black Experiences
Discover the unique collections on Black experiences freely available to you in libraries, museums, archives, and other organizations in the Chicago area, through the Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC) Archives Portal.
CHOOSE YOUR PORTAL PATH: Use keywords in the search box at the top of the page, browse a category, or click on one of the boxes BELOW: Curated Topic, online exhibit, or the "Try a Term" feature, where a new topic, place, or person appears when you refresh or re-visit this page.
Look for location and contact information on the collection finding aids/guides to find your way to the archives.
Learn more about the project or consult our Research Help.
Member Highlight
CPL-Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection
Woodson Regional Library houses the Vivian G. Harsh Collection, the largest African American history and literature collection in the Midwest. Collection strengths at Harsh include the Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society of Chicago Records, the International Society of Sons and Daughters of Slave Ancestry Records, and the Chester Commodore Papers. The Harsh Research Collection is currently available by appointment on Mondays through Thursdays from 10:00am-7:00pm. Accessibility options at this repository include elevators, automatic doors, low-height counters and wheelchair-accessible research tables, wheelchair-accessible toilets, and braille on signage. Learn more about this repository here.
View collections from CPL-Vivian G. Harsh Research CollectionAbout the BMRC
The Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC) is a Chicago-based membership association of libraries, universities, museums, community/arts organizations and other archival institutions. The BMRC’s mission is to connect all who seek to document, share, understand and preserve Black experiences.
It is the vision of the BMRC to be essential to promoting discovery, preservation, and use of Black historical collections. Through consortial programs, the BMRC aids in expanding broad access to its members’ holdings of materials that document African American and African diasporic culture, history, and politics, with a specific focus on materials relating to Chicago.