January 26, 1998

Yvonne French (202) 707-9191

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Media Advisory: African American Odyssey Exhibition Press Preview Date Changed

The date for the press preview for the "African American Odyssey" exhibition at the Library of Congress has been changed to Feb. 2 from Feb. 4.

WHO: Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and exhibition curator Debra Newman Ham, professor of history at Morgan State University

WHAT: A preview of the major new Library of Congress exhibition, "African American Odyssey"

WHEN: 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 2

WHERE: Second level, Great Hall, Thomas Jefferson Building, First Street and Independence Avenue S.E., Washington, D.C.

BACKGROUND:

The Library of Congress will open a major exhibition, "African American Odyssey," to the public on Feb. 5. The exhibition, which comprises items from the nation's largest collection of materials relating to African American history and culture, documents the quest for full citizenship. All of the materials on display are from the Library's collections.

The exhibition is based on a book published by the Library in 1993, The African American Mosaic: A Library of Congress Resource Guide for the Study of Black History and Culture, edited by Dr. Ham, former specialist in African American history and culture in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress and guest curator of the exhibition.

The free exhibition will be on view in the Northwest Gallery and Pavilion of the Library's Thomas Jefferson Building, at Independence Avenue and First Street S.E.

An exhibition catalog, The African American Odyssey, edited by Dr. Ham, prefaced by Dr. Billington and published by the Library, will be available for $19.95 in sales shops in the Jefferson and Madison buildings.

"African American Odyssey" is being sponsored in part by the James Madison Council of the Library of Congress, Fannie Mae, the Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., Citicorp Foundation, Home Box Office and the Cafritz Foundation.

The exhibition will be open through May 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The Library is closed on Sundays and federal holidays. The exhibition also will be available on-line at http://www.loc.gov/exhibits. For information, call (202) 707-4604, (202) 707-6200 TTY.

Note to press: Black-and-white photographs and color transparencies of some of the items in the exhibition will be available to the press from the Public Affairs Office. For duplicates, call (202) 707-9191.

 

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PR 98-011
1/26/98
ISSN 0731-3527