About the Project
Fiskiana
The Fiskiana Collection documents the rich history of Fisk University and the personalities that have shaped Fisk University over 154 years. Requests for information from the Fiskiana Collection are frequent, accounting for 35 percent of all Special Collections and Archives reference requests. The popularity of this collection is due in part to the numerous material formats represented by Fiskiana, including manuscripts, photographs, bound items, published books, scrapbooks, newspapers, art objects, audio, and video recordings.
Fisk Forever
Fisk Forever Fisk Forever is a two-year digitization initiative led by the John Hope & Aurelia E. Franklin Library at Fisk University. Its mission is to preserve, catalog, and make accessible the university’s rich archival holdings, such as student yearbooks and campus publications, programs, photographs, and ledgers, through a digital platform.
This work was made possible by the generous support of the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), whose investment has enabled Fisk to expand its digital infrastructure, preserve fragile historical materials, and increase access to over 150 years of institutional memory.
At the heart of this project is the Fiskiana Collection, one of the most frequently requested and culturally significant archives housed at Fisk. The collection includes newspapers, yearbooks, scrapbooks, and more, representing the voices and experiences that have shaped Fisk since its founding in 1865. By digitizing over 21,000 pages across more than 1,700 items, the Fisk Forever project offers new ways to engage with the university’s legacy within and beyond the campus community.
Our digitization process is conducted in-house using professional scanning and photography equipment, following rigorous metadata, backup, and quality control protocols. From Commencement programs to Spring Arts Festival flyers, from the Fisk Herald to the Oval yearbooks, each item is carefully prepared to ensure long-term preservation and meaningful digital access.
This initiative strengthens Fisk’s commitment to archival education and professional training. Internships were supported through partnerships with the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) to offer students hands-on experience in ethical digitization, metadata creation, and digital storytelling.
Through this work, the Franklin Library preserves history, makes it accessible to all, and ensures that all voices of Fisk’s past remain a living, breathing part of its future.