of Black Culture
Storytellers
As one of Durham’s oldest non-profits, we are dedicated to our mission: to lift up stories of African American figures, both current and historical, creating a more comprehensive picture of the American experience.
Dr. Aaron McDuffie Moore incorporated DCL as a nonprofit in 1918, following five years of functioning as a community service organization within old White Rock Baptist Church, located in the Black section of Durham called Hayti.
About Our Organizational Transition
An Important Update
The Durham Colored Library (DCL) and Duke University Libraries are partnering on plans to maintain DCL’s mission of service. As we enter this time of transition, we want to keep our community informed. We are taking thoughtful steps as we move forward to ensure that our mission and programs continue forward with strength and integrity.
Please rest assured:
1. Our commitment to the communities we serve remains unwavering.
2. We will share updates soon through our website and communications to our community.
We are deeply grateful for your continued support, encouragement, and belief in our mission. If you have any questions, please contact us.
As part of this process, we have temporarily paused our donation portal while we realign our internal operations and prepare for the next chapter of our work. This pause is temporary and part of a responsible transition plan.
Thank you for standing with us during this transition.
Initiatives
Our Current
From the beginning DCL has always worked to address vibrant economies, resiliency, justice, equity, and inclusion. We continue to focus on these core values within all of our initiatives. DCL manages three projects that inform and engage both children and adults in understanding more about African American history and culture that is often absent from mainstream educational materials.
Merrick Washington Magazine
The Merrick Washington Magazine Initiative, founded in 1952, collects and presents news articles relating to African American culture, current events, and history to a sight-challenged population. It was created with those in mind who do not readily have access to Braille or large print editions of major publications.
Techies4Tomorrowâ„
DCL’s newest project is designed to improve academic preparation of young African American students with the goal of increasing their motivation and interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) school subjects and ultimately careers. Improving educational attainment has long been known to reduce poverty and improve the health of individuals, their families, and entire communities.
The Moore Biography
Aaron McDuffie Moore: African American Physician, Educator, and Founder of Durham’s Black Wall Street is the biography of the founder of the Durham Colored Library, published in 2020 by UNC Press. DCL promotes the book through author book talks and presentations that inform the community about his important work and how his impact is still being felt throughout Durham and the state of North Carolina.
Our
Supporters
We are grateful for the local organizations, people, and groups that support DCL!
of DCL
Thank you for your Support
We thank you so much for your engagement and support! As an entirely volunteer-run organization, your donations help us continue our important work of lifting up the stories of African American figures, increasing access to STEM education for African American youth, and producing our magazine and other publications.