For All the World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights is the 19th major exhibit and program series hosted by Booth Library since 2004. We’ve received many positive comments about our exhibits over the years, and many have asked, “Why do you do it?” It’s true that the main focus of a university library such as Booth is to serve our students and faculty, providing them with the materials, equipment and assistance needed to provide a well-rounded education. We are proud of the work that we do to benefit Eastern Illinois University.

But we believe that an academic library should also serve as a cultural center for its campus and the greater community. Through our major exhibits and programs Booth Library provides an opportunity for all to come together to learn and discuss information on a particular topic. In addition, our series provides an opportunity for on-campus and off-campus scholars to share their knowledge and research with others, oftentimes putting a local spotlight on a nationwide issue.

For All the World to See offers an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the past history of civil rights in our nation while pondering today’s issues. We thank the Tarble Arts Center and Illinois Humanities for providing programming support for this series, and to the national sponsors of this traveling exhibit: National Endowment for the Humanities; Mid-America Arts Alliance; Center for Art Design and Visual Culture at the University of Maryland Baltimore; and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Without the support of these groups, Booth Library would be unable to bring these important topics to audiences in the East Central Illinois region. I look forward to hearing from you in the weeks ahead as we explore this important topic together.