STONY ISLAND ARTS BANK OPENS THE JOHNSON ARCHIVES TO THE PUBLIC

Stony Island Arts Bank will allow the public to view archives acquired from the Johnson Publishing Company. The Reading the Black Library project opens up to the public more than 1,000 pieces from the collection. Photo courtesy of Rebuild Foundation
Stony Island Arts Bank will allow the public to view archives acquired from the Johnson Publishing Company. The Reading the Black Library project opens up to the public more than 1,000 pieces from the collection. Photo courtesy of Rebuild Foundation

Stony Island Arts Bank opens the Johnson Archives to the public

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Rebuild Foundation has partnered with Illinois Humanities for a project that will allow the public to view its extensive Johnson Publishing Archives.

The launch for the Reading the Black Library project will take place from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26, at Stony Island Arts Bank, 6760 S. Stony Island Ave.

After Johnson Publishing Company left its South Loop location on 872 S. Michigan Ave., Stony Island Arts Bank acquired texts, manuscripts and rare books.

Mars D. Silver, a program coordinator with Rebuild Foundation, said the project is a way to activate the Johnson Library at Stony Island Arts Bank. “John H. Johnson founded that media empire,” he said. “There are more than 10,000 volumes that speaks to the existence of Blackness.”

Silver added due to the cultural significance of Johnson Publishing Company, which published Ebony and Jet Magazines, Rebuild wanted to allow the public access to the space.

“We’re also allowing volunteers to come inside the space to do research that can be shared with the public,” he said.

Silver said the activations are a way to bring the public into the space and participate. There will be monthly workshops, discussions and readings, he added.

“We’re ensuring there’s a way for folks to do different types of engagement, from poetry to chatbacks and youth programs,” he said.

Jonathan Holloway and avery r. young will do readings and Marcia McWilliams, executive director of Black Metropolis Research Consortium, will moderate a panel discussion.

“I think it’s really great they were able to keep a piece of that collection and it will be open and accessible to the public,” McWilliams said.

McWilliams said she hopes opening the archives shows how important Black History was to Johnson Publishing Company. “This was a library they built and curated,” McWilliams added. “To be able to see and utilize it, it’s an opportunity to engage with an institution that is important to Black History.”

To register for the event, visit https://bit.ly/2QWzLLq.

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