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Tuskegee University Joins Smithsonian-Led Conversation on Preserving HBCU History
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Tuskegee University Joins Smithsonian-Led Conversation on Preserving HBCU History
Crystal Drake31 March 2026
3 minute read
Contact: Crystal Drake, Office of Strategic Communications
Tuskegee continues to affirms its leadership in preserving and interpreting Black history through its participation in At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, a national state-of-the-art touring series organized by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). The exhibition will be on display at the Tuskegee University Legacy Museum with additions from the University's permanent collections in early 2028.
“Tuskegee University continues to define its Renaissance Era by honoring our roots and galvanizing the power of that legacy with modern tools and ever-relevant conversation about the unique and vital role of HBCUs in our country,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, president and CEO. “I look forward to welcoming this important series to our campus as yet another example of Tuskegee’s commitment to cultural stewardship and to equipping the next generation of culture-keepers to keep our stories alive".
LaStarsha McGarity
As part of this initiative, LaStarsha McGarity represented Tuskegee University earlier this month in Washington, D.C., where she joined a distinguished panel of museum and cultural heritage leaders for a public conversation centered on representation, preservation, and the vital role of HBCUs in safeguarding Black material culture.
McGarity is the Co-Director and Conservator of the Tuskegee University Legacy Museum. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Preservations Studies at the University of Delaware and will be the first Black woman to graduate from this program.
Centering Representation Through Authentic Dialogue
Reflecting on the experience, McGarity emphasized the importance of authentic representation in both dialogue and practice.
“Especially in today’s culture of historical erasure, conversations such as these are critical to understanding our history, navigating our present, and hopefully shaping our collective futures,” she said.
The panel included Dr. Alvia Wardlaw, Professor and Director of the University Museum at Texas Southern University; Dr. Danielle Taylor, Director of the Clark Atlanta University Museum; and Mrs. Joy Bivins, Head of Collections at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
McGarity noted that the conversation positioned representation as central to HBCU collections and to cultural institutions such as the Schomburg Center. Each panelist brought deep expertise shaped by their work uplifting Black material culture—from exhibitions of Gee’s Bend Quilts and drawings by Charles White to institutional efforts that broaden access to Black history.
Reaffirming the Historic Role of HBCUs in the Arts
McGarity described the experience as both affirming and reinvigorating.
“It was refreshing to be in a space where everyone understood the artistic and historic value of the collections held at HBCUs,” she said, “and the importance of the opportunities HBCUs created for creatives throughout their storied histories.”
From their founding, HBCUs have served as critical incubators for Black artists, historians, educators, and curators—supporting studio artists through campus museums, funding creative work through competitions and prizes, and producing scholarship that honors artistic intent within its historical and cultural context.
Preparing for At the Vanguard at Tuskegee
Tuskegee University is already engaged in meaningful preparation for the arrival of At the Vanguard. The University Archives continues to process, catalog, and digitize historic collections, expanding public access through the HBCU History and Culture Access Consortium (HCAC).
The Tuskegee University Legacy Museum is preparing to host At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at Historically Black Colleges and Universities in early 2028, with plans for expanded interpretive content and institutional contributions that highlight Tuskegee’s enduring legacy.
As Tuskegee University looks ahead to hosting this landmark exhibition, its continued participation underscores the institution’s longstanding commitment to preserving Black history, advancing scholarship, and ensuring that HBCUs remain at the forefront of cultural stewardship.
