University Museum and Cultural Center

11/05/2023

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — For more information, click here.

06/19/2023

On this day, June 19, 1865 -- two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation and months after the end of the Civil War -- word finally reached the last of the enslaved people that “all slaves are free.” Union General Gordon Granger read these words, directed toward recalcitrant slaveholders, from the balcony of the former Confederate Army headquarters in Galveston, Texas, 80 miles west of the Louisiana line.

There are several theories as to the delay that left slaves in Texas toiling for so much longer than they should have. One theory is that a messenger had been killed on the way to read the Proclamation that would make their freedom official. Another is that slave owners purposely withheld the news or refused to comply (which would have been all too easy in the days before the technology we now take for granted).
In the end, it took 2,000 union troops to capture the state to enforce the law. Only then could General Gordon read the Proclamation stating that the enslaved people were now to be employees rather than property.

The reactions among the newly freed people ranged from shock to jubilation. Some stayed to see what employment would mean. Others left the plantations immediately and set out to find family members spread out over the region.
Slavery was quickly replaced with sharecropping and a Jim Crow caste system that would hold formerly enslaved people and their descendants in the grip of a brutal new social order which millions would ultimately flee.

Here in this photo, survivors of slavery soberly observe Juneteenth in their hats, canes and bonnets in Austin, TX, 1900. In the early years, the newly freed people and their descendants took pains to dress up for Juneteenth, as laws had forbidden slaves to do so in certain jurisdictions, even in the rare instances when owners would have been so inclined to provide them with decent clothing.

Juneteenth has been a state holiday in Texas since 1980, and has long been celebrated in California, where many Texans journeyed during the Great Migration. Now, a total of 42 states and the District of Columbia recognize it as a state holiday or special day of observance. Celebrations now often include parades, storytelling, barbecue and red soda pop, prayer and recognition of the elders. The building from which General Granger read the Proclamation all those years late is now a historic landmark.

In honor of the last enslaved Americans to be set free.....

-- The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

05/05/2023

Students who attend UAPB, affectionately referred to as Dear Mother, have a unique experience often shaped by the rich history and culture of the institution. UAPB provides a rigorous education to students in a supportive and nurturing environment. Moreover, the institution plays a crucial role in empowering students from diverse economic and family backgrounds, ensuring a well-rounded, quality education.

The graduation experience for students at UAPB is a celebration of tradition, community, and perseverance. A FAMILY AFFAIR. Graduates invite their parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends to attend commencement. It’s an emotional bittersweet experience for students as they reflect on the highlights of their educational journey and the support they've received along the way. Tears flow, and well wishes fill the air as staff and faculty bid farewell.

Crossing this milestone is a significant achievement, not just for the graduates but also for the community at large. It marks the beginning of a new journey and serves as a reminder that with determination and a willingness to learn, anything is possible.

To our students, there is no doubt you will make a significant impact on society, and your success serves as a testament to the strength and resilience of the UAPB (DEAR MOTHER) family.

Please welcome to the UAPB Alumni Family, The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Graduating Class of 2023. Well done, graduates.

04/25/2023

04/24/2023

The harmony of cultural traditions and endurance empowered African American women to make a critical difference in their families’ structure. Not confined by their age, gender, or social status, African American women were matriarchs, requiring them to work and support their families to survive through economic and societal pressures.

Grandmothers were domestic healthcare providers, curators of family traditions, community educators, spiritual guidance counselors, and epitomes of pride in our heritage.

Grandma’s Hands examines the role of the matriarch in the African American community. This UMCC exhibition explores the intergenerational relationships between grandmothers and grandchildren and how caring for them promoted literacy for themselves and survival for the family.

03/27/2023

Join us as we celebrate Dr. Raye Jean Montague

As a computer scientist and naval engineer, Raye Jean Montague was a true trailblazer in the field of technology and innovation. Born in 1935 in Little Rock, Arkansas, Montague overcame numerous obstacles to become a pioneering figure in the design of the first naval ship using computer-aided design (CAD) technology. Her legacy is one of triumph over discrimination and adversity, and an inspiration to all who aspire to overcome obstacles and achieve success.

Montague's early life was marked by adversity from an early age. Being born in a time when racial segregation was still legally enforced in the southern United States meant that she had to overcome many obstacles that other people may take for granted. Montague had a keen interest in mechanical engineering but her father decided that education was not for women and so she had to work hard to prove him wrong.

Montague defied expectations and earned her degree in business education from Arkansas AM&N, (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff). Although Montague began her career as a clerk-typist for the U.S. Navy, she quickly worked her way up. Her rise was attributed to her unique ability to teach herself all aspects of computer-aided design - an impressive feat considering she had never even touched a computer prior to her time with the Navy.

Montague's most significant achievement came in 1971, when she was tasked with designing the first naval ship using CAD. This was a precursor to the mainstream adoption of CAD in shipbuilding, and her contributions were fundamental to the progress in this field. She developed a system where CAD could be used to design a ship's entire hull, saving the Navy millions of dollars in design time alone.

Not only was her work groundbreaking, but Montague was also dedicated to excellence in everything she did. She earned numerous awards throughout her career, including a National Computer Graphics Association Technical Achievement Award, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Achievement Award, and the Black Arkansas Hall of Fame.

Montague passed away in 2018 at the age of 83, leaving a legacy of perseverance and groundbreaking innovation. Her achievements continue to inspire and influence those working in naval engineering and computer technology today. Her story is a testament to the power of determination, hard work, and dedication in the face of adversity.

Dr. Raye Jean Montague was an incredible pioneer in the field of technology and engineering. Her unwavering dedication and perseverance in the face of discrimination and obstacles are an inspiration to us all. Throughout her career, she proved time and again that anything is possible with hard work and determination. Today, we continue to be inspired by her example and the incredible contributions she made to the field of technology. Montague will forever remain an academic icon and a trailblazer to be celebrated.

03/08/2023

Happy International Women’s Day!

02/21/2023

The Harden Family Cemetery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a small African American burial ground in Jennie in rural Chicot County. Emerging from the shackles of slavery, the Harden family became land owners and community leaders in Jennie and Chicot County during Reconstruction and the early 20th century. The three sons of John Harden (1825-1892) and Hettie Harden (1830-1898) helped build their community through leadership in education, politics, and religion. Henry Hardin (1856-1927), known as the politician, served as school director, a special census taker, and was a regular delegate to the Arkansas Republican State Convention from 1902 to 1926. He, no doubt, helped secure the Jeannie postmaster position for his son, John A. Harden, in 1906. Samuel P. Harden (1858-1928), known as the preacher, founded Pleasant Hope Baptist Church in Jennie. John S. Harden (1862-1921), known as the teacher, taught reading, writing, and arithmetic in Jennie's one-room schoolhouse.

02/11/2023

UAPB!!!

02/10/2023

It's Black History Month and we are ON THE MOVE!!! Join us for one of our Spring 2023 performances. You don't want to miss it!