A new online tool called Umbra Search will make African American his­tory more accessible by bringing together more than 400,000 digitized materials from libraries and archives nationwide. 

The Givens Collection of African American Literature at the U of M Libraries, with Penumbra Theatre Co., is funding the project thanks to grants from the Doris Duke Char­itable Foundation, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Council on Library and Information Resources. 

“In addition to increas­ing access to existing ma­terials, Umbra Search will heighten attention on ma­terials that haven’t been digitized or remain in at­tics and basements,” says Wendy Lougee, University librarian and McKnight Presidential Professor.