The Rosa Parks Collection now open to public at Library of Congress
Beginning Wednesday, researchers and the public will have full access to the Rosa Parks Collection. Now being housed at the at the Library of Congress, the collection includes: letters, writings, personal notes and photographs. A bitter legal battle between her heirs and friends had kept the collection warehoused for years. Philanthropist Howard Buffett bought the collection and placed it on long-term loan at the national library last year. Archivist Margaret McAleer stated that her writings are phenomenally powerful, and totally goes against her image as a quiet seamstress. Parks, who passed away in 2005 at 92, is known as “the first lady of civil rights.” Her refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger back in 1955 made her an icon of the Civil Rights Movement. The library now has possession of 7,500 manuscripts and 2,500 photographs from Parks’ personal collection, including her Bible, letters from admirers and her Presidential Medal of Freedom. A small exhibit is being planned for next month. All the items will be digitized and posted online. The library plans to place Parks’ clothing and furniture with other museums and institutions. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture is in talks to possibly house some of the items.
