Discover the multifaceted life of civil rights activist, champion for justice, and trailblazing civic leader, Myrlie Evers-Williams in A Voice for Change: The Life of Myrlie Evers-Williams. This exhibit, open to the public beginning August 26th at The Claremont Colleges Library, spans six tumultuous decades in American history and highlights significant chapters in the campaign for civil rights and voting rights. Viewed through the lens of the life of Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of civil rights activist, Medgar Evers, history comes to life through a rich archival collection of photographs, correspondence, publications, and artifacts.

Some highlights of the exhibit include photographs from her time as the first woman chair of the NAACP, a letter from Congress regarding her 2007 testimony for the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, and the text of her Inaugural Invocation from Barack Obama’s 2013 inaugural ceremony. Her ties to local SoCal history are also highlighted and include campaign materials from her runs for California’s 24th Congressional District and for Los Angeles City Council’s 10th district, and photographs and ephemera from her time on the Los Angeles Board of Public Works.

Each of these objects marks a series of firsts for a civic leader whose voice for change resounded well beyond her local community. These reminders of her life-long advocacy for justice and equality are drawn from her extensive archival collection, donated in 2023 to her alma mater, Pomona College, and today stewarded by Distinctive Collections at The Claremont Colleges Library. Evers-Williams has stated that it is her hope that her archival collection will inspire future generations to become leaders who pursue justice and equality. A Voice for Change: The Life of Myrlie Evers-Williams is an invitation for us all to reflect on the journey toward a more equitable society.

Exhibit Details
August 26, 2024 - December 20, 2024*
The Claremont Colleges Library
800 N. Dartmouth Ave., Claremont, CA 91711
Exhibit on view in the North Lobby Gallery plus additional cases on Honnold 1 & 2 during normal business hours.

*Please note this is the correct end date; our calendar is limited to a 45-day window so the dates listed below will be updated as time goes on.

Guided Tours
Explore this exhibit by participating in one of our guided tours – no reservations required and all are welcome! These roughly 40-minute tours depart from the North Lobby Gallery at 3 p.m. every Friday from September 27 - November 1. For those who need additional accommodations or assistance, please contact specialcollections@claremont.edu.

Opening Reception
An opening reception for this exhibit will be held on the evening of Wednesday, September 25, 2024. Learn more.

Online Access
You can access select items from this extensive archival collection through The Claremont Colleges Digital Library.

Questions?
Contact us at specialcollections@claremont.edu or (909) 607-3977.