Library Receives Award for Documenting the South

Posted on April 18, 2006

UNC library’s online research collection titled “Documenting the American South” has received a national award for its work to create new media promoting historical scholarship.

The collection received the Electronic Lincoln Prize from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pa., during a ceremony in New York on April 6. The $10,000 award honors new media that promote scholarship about Abraham Lincoln, Civil War soldiers or a subject relating to the Civil War. UNC’s site was one of 17 considered for this year’s award.

“Our library first envisioned ‘Documenting the American South’ as a way to serve scholars,” said Sarah Michalak, University librarian and associate provost for University libraries. “This award is a real affirmation of our sustained commitment to scholarly values.”

The library launched “Documenting the American South” in 1996 to make several slave narratives more easily available for consultation and study. The online library now includes thousands of books, images, writings, recordings and artifacts. The materials are organized in nine thematic collections for the study of Southern history, literature and culture. More than 400,000 research sessions occur on the site each month.

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