Black History in Education and Human Development

UVA Library commits to building equitable collections and preserving Black History. Our collections highlight Black History in Education across Virginia, the Southern United States, and beyond. This guide is developed in partnership with the School of Education and Human Development’s Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) and designed to support inquiry and curriculum on Black History for the School of Education and Human Development year-round. This guide provides resources on the history, influence, and legacies of Black educators and historical actors on our education system, on our history, and on the University of Virginia. 

Black history is a crucial part of historical narratives of the United States. We must recognize the many contributions Black individuals and communities (including African and African diasporic communities, Caribbean, and Afro-Latinx communities, among others) have made to the United States from its beginnings. Black history is also UVA history. Among the School of Education and Human Development’s many notable alumni include Dr. Walter N. Ridley, who was the first Black doctoral graduate from a white Southern university in 1953, and Dr. E. Louise Stokes Hunter, who was the first Black woman graduate from the University of Virginia. Both Ridley and Hunter obtained doctorates in education from UVA. Ridley Hall takes it's namesake from Dr. Walter N. Ridley and our Hunter Student Research Conference (HSRC) is named in honor of Dr. E. Louise Stokes Hunter.