Resurrected Archive of Gloria Naylor Unveiled
Gloria Naylor Archive Now Available Online for Global Access
The digital archive of renowned author Gloria Naylor, donated to Sacred Heart University in 2009, is now accessible to researchers, teachers, students, and fans worldwide. The archive, which includes published and unpublished works, correspondence, and other documents, was temporarily moved to Lehigh University for processing in 2019.
Over the past two years, an interdisciplinary team of faculty, staff, and graduate researchers at Lehigh University have processed and digitized the materials, making them available for all to explore. The digital version of the Gloria Naylor Archive can be found at go.lehigh.edu/naylorarchive.
The collaboration between Sacred Heart and Lehigh universities has also resulted in several public-facing resources. These include a finding aid for Naylor scholars, a blog, and a website with information about Naylor and her works. The team has also curated a physical and digital exhibition titled "Gloria Naylor: Other Places" that ran from September 2021 to May 2022.
The Gloria Naylor in the Archives Symposium, held in November 2021, was a low-cost and accessible event welcoming Naylor scholars from across the United States. The symposium featured presentations, panel and roundtable discussions, theatrical readings of Naylor's "Candy" and "M'Dear", and a keynote lecture by Maxine Lavon Montgomery of Florida State University.
The resources produced by the team include course materials, workshop materials, and several journal publications. In addition, a $100,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities supports the creation of an edited volume based on Naylor's archives, and research for a second volume. The edited volume and the second volume will be edited by Suzanne Edwards, Mary Foltz, and Maxine Lavon Montgomery.
The symposium was funded by a $100,000 Accelerator Grant from Lehigh University. The collaboration between the universities has made it possible for people from all over the world to engage with Naylor's life and works. If you want to explore the archive, searching for "Gloria Naylor Archive" or @naylorarchive on social media or visiting project showcase websites connected to the Society for the Study of American Women Writers or similar platforms would be the practical approach.
[1] Society for the Study of American Women Writers [2] Gloria Naylor Archive Project [3] Digital Humanities Now
- The digital version of the Gloria Naylor Archive is now accessible on the Society for the Study of American Women Writers' project showcase websites for those interested in sustainable living and home-and-garden lifestyle.
- The collaboration between Sacred Heart and Lehigh universities has resulted in a digital exhibition titled "Gloria Naylor: Other Places", which showcases her art in the realm of science, arts, and campus lifestyle.
- The team processing and digitizing the Gloria Naylor Archive has also produced research articles and journals that intersect with the fields of arts, humanities, and research.
- Researchers, teachers, students, and fans of Gloria Naylor can engage with her life and works on various platforms, such as Digital Humanities Now or by following @naylorarchive on social media.
