Black History Month: Archival Resources

Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC contains a variety of resources on Black Americans who have made an impact at UWL and in the La Crosse community. Several people/groups are featured here, but please reach out to the staff in Special Collections if you would like help locating even more resources!

Phone: 608.785.8511
Email: specoll@uwlax.edu

A variety of digitized archival resources about local Black Americans can also be found on the La Crosse History Unbound website.

George Edwin Taylor was an American journalist, editor, political activist, and politician and was the first African American to run for president. He lived in La Crosse, WI during the late 1800s, and a selection of archival documents about him reside within Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC.

Murphy Library Special Collections has many documents pertaining to the history of the African American Association, a student organization at UWL that would later become Black Student Unity. Documents include information about the club’s formation in 1968, photos of activities and meetings in the 1970s, and many photos of from Black Culture Week, which celebrated Black history and achievement though activities including guest speakers, a fashion show, and a soul food dinner.

The African American Association holds a meeting with its core members (circa 1970).

African American Association members wearing traditional African dress for the Black Culture Week talent show.

The African American Association marching in memory of the Atlanta Children Murders of 1979-1981.

The African American Association constitution states the club was formed to “study the relationship between the Afro Americans and the Black Africans and White Americans so as to promote an understanding of each and their heritage."

George Poage was the first African American to medal in the modern Olympics. He attended La Crosse High School where he succeeded both athletically, establishing his reputation as a world-class athlete, and academically, becoming salutatorian and the first African American to graduate from La Crosse High School. In college, he became the first Black Big Ten track champion and graduated with a degree in history. Poage was sponsored to compete in the 1904 Olympics in Missouri where he won two bronze medals in track.

1903 UW-Madison track photo of George Poage taken by FW Curtiss

Photo of 1899 La Crosse High School track team. Poage is located second from the left in the middle row.