History has a way of making people from the past look more perfect than they really were. Be careful judging yourself against those kinds of unrealistic standards.
P.S. Thanks, @rubensteinlib , for letting my @dukeinnovation students come explore all the cool rare books and manuscripts š
#college #dukestudents #collegeadvice #professor #waltwhitman
This Friday, Nov. 7, and every first Friday of the month, Duke University Libraries hosts "flipping the bird,ā the turning of pages in Audubon's Birds of America book.
The book, printed between 1827 and 1838 and on display at the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, features hand-painted illustrations admired for their intricate detail and, in some cases, for capturing species that are now extinct.
Stop by the Mary Duke Biddle Room (Rubenstein Library) and watch-what bird will be next at 12:15 p.m.
Want to make sure books like these are preserved? Adopt a book to ensure its story continues.
Watch the full video and learn more about adopting a rare book at the link in our bio!
@dukelibraries@rubensteinlib@audubonsociety@audubon_nc
Dorothy Allisonās classic novel Bastard Out of Carolina will be read out loud during a marathon performance as part of LitQuake in San Francisco, CA, on Sunday October 12. Free (donations welcome). This program is sponsored by the Allison-Layman Family Trust, and supported by the Sallie Bingham Center for Womenās History & Culture, the Bay Area Lesbian Archives, the GLBT Historical Society, and the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center at SFPL. Dorothy Allisonās personal and literary papers are held at the Rubenstein Library.
Congratulations to the podcast āInside Kabul,ā the winner of our 2025 Human Rights Digital Storytelling Award. āInside Kabulā tells the story of two young friends whose lives were upended when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in the summer of 2021.
Learn more about the podcast and the Human Rights Digital Storytelling Award at the link in our bio!
Early publications from Dukeās first University-sanctioned queer student group, the Duke Gay Alliance (DGA). Founded in 1972, the DGA helped queer Duke students find community at time when homophobia and discrimination were common on campus, and also fought for gay rights on campus and beyond. One of the early demands made by the DGA to then-President Terry Sanford was to include sexual orientation within the Universityās non-discrimination policy. Sanford rejected their request, and the policy did not include sexual orientation as a protected class until 1988.
The Duke Gay Alliance underwent several name changes, transitioning to Duke Gay and Lesbian Alliance; Duke Gay, Bisexual, and Lesbian Association (1994); Gothic Queers (1997); and Alliance of Queer Undergraduates at Duke (AQUADuke) in 2002. By Spring 2008, AQUADuke merged with Duke Allies to establish Blue Devils United, the current LGBTQIA+ student group on campus.
#pridemonth #lgbtqhistory #dukehistory
No drinks in the reading room, but these koozies get a big š from us.
These come from papers of Dan Kirsch, a Charlotte, NC-based activist, community organizer, and theater director. They represent two of the many organizations Kirsch was involved in: NC Pride 1994, which he co-chaired, and OutCharlotte, a cultural festival founded by him that celebrated LGBT culture.
#pridemonth #lgbtqhistory #nchistory #queersouth #queerhistory
Notes from Mandy Carter, a Durham-based Black lesbian activist, on the back of a āCome Out Votingā poster. From the Mandy Carter Papers, Box 10.
During the 1990 general election, Carter mobilized Black and LGBTQ voters across the state of North Carolina to vote incumbent U.S. Senator Jesse Helms out of office, supporting Harvey Gantt, Charlotteās first Black mayor, as Helmsā Democratic opponent. Carterās experience working on Senate Vote 90, as the campaign was called, inspired her to establish North Carolina Mobilization ā96. Carter continued working in electoral politics, serving on the Democratic National Committee and co-chairing the LGBTQ Pride Committee for Obamaās presidential campaign.
Check the link in our bio for an exhibit exploring Mandy Carterās life and work.
#PrideMonth #LGBTQHistory #BlackHistory
On Display Now: Explore the global vision of the 16th century through the world's first atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theatre of the World), on display now in the Mike and Karen Stone Family Gallery through September 30.
Can't visit in person? View the atlas digitally at library.duke.edu/exhibits/2025/Theatre
Today is National Library Workers Day. Itās a time to celebrate the hardworking, dedicated professionals who keep our libraries thriving and our communities strong.
Here at Duke, our campus libraries offer all members of the Duke community an opportunity to transform their lives through education and lifelong learning. Library workers across the U.S. are facing a challenging time, and it's more important than ever we show up for them and voice our support for the hard work they do every day.
If you visit a library today, make sure to share a kind word with someone who works there! Libraries work because we do.
And don't forget to join us in Perkins Library today for our National Library Week Crafternoon, 1-3 pm. We'll be getting in touch with our artistic side, and also sharing information about how you can take action against reduced federal funding for libraries.
#NationalLibraryWeek
#NationalLibraryWorkersDay
#NLWD25
Nothing says Valentine's Day like a bouquet of buttons. Stop by Perkins Library between 1-3 on Feb. 13 for card crafting, buttons, and maybe a few surprises. Spread the love with your favorite library! š„°
On December 29th, 1924, the Trinity College Board of Trustees officially changed the name of the college to Duke University, in memorial of JB Dukeās father, Washington Duke. The pens that were used to sign that change into effect can still be seen online in the Our Duke: Constructing a Century virtual exhibit. Link in the bio to that exhibit.
