The Bunche Center Library is dedicated to preserving the primary source materials that tell the rich, complex story of the African American and Black experience across the diaspora. For generations, systemic oppression has sought to erase or distort Black history – destroying records, silencing voices, and obscuring the achievements and contributions of Black people, particularly those who also hold other marginalized identities. Our mission is to reverse that erasure by collecting, preserving, and sharing materials that illuminate Black life in all its forms, from community organizing and campus activism to art, culture, and everyday joy.
We accept, on a case-by-case basis, collections documenting Black life in California, UCLA student groups, local grassroots organizations, recreational circles, and the work of faculty who study Black life. Individual items are carefully cataloged alongside related news clippings, flyers, and programs, while larger collections created by a group or an individual undergo an arrangement and description process before being made available to researchers. Artifacts such as buttons, artwork, or clothing receive specialized care to ensure their preservation for future generations, so that Black stories are not only remembered but celebrated and studied for years to come.
Individuals or groups who wish to donate materials are encouraged to contact the Bunche Center Library at library@bunche.ucla.edu.
Please note that the Bunche Center may need to decline gifts that:
- Are not within the scope of its collection.
- Do not support the instructional and research programs of the university.
- Duplicate existing holdings.
- Would require extensive conservation.
- Entail donor restrictions that the library cannot honor.
