Exhibit collage by Darren Terpstra

Join us on Thursday, Oct. 23, to celebrate the exhibit, The Circle Unbroken: Celebrating 40 Years of Community Stewardship and the Givens Collection. This event is free and open to all. Please register if you plan to attend.

The program begins at 6:30 p.m. with remarks from:

• Lisa German
  University Librarian and Dean of Libraries
• Davu Seru
  Curator of the Givens Collection
• Roxanne Givens
  President of the Givens Foundation
• Dr. John S. Wright
  Professor Emeritus of African American and African Studies

An exhibit viewing and reception with a cash bar will follow the program. This event is free and open to all. Please register if you plan to attend.

About the Givens Collection

The Givens Collection of African American Literature and Life comprises novels, poetry, plays, short stories, essays, literary criticism, periodicals, biographies, and archives that span nearly 250 years of American culture.

About The Circle Unbroken

The Circle Unbroken uses the archive to tell a story of the remarkable coalition of scholars, administrators and philanthropists who brought the Givens Collection to the University of Minnesota Libraries in 1985 and worked strategically to make it accessible to a broader public, bringing greater awareness to African Americans’ contributions to world culture.

Celebrating 40 years since the collection’s arrival at the University, the Libraries recognizes the vitality of its presence as a record of African Americans’ cultural achievements, boundless creativity, and resilience in the face of collective challenges.

The Circle Unbroken is an invitation to join the University of Minnesota Libraries in partnering with others to preserve and uplift African American history.

Event details

What: Exhibit reception, The Circle Unbroken: Celebrating 40 Years of Community Stewardship and the Givens Collection
When: Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 | 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Elmer L. Andersen Library | Parking (Lot 86)

Curated by the Givens Collection of African American Literature and Life
Exhibit design and installation by Darren Terpstra, Archives and Special Collections Exhibit Design and Project Specialist.