The Ship Is Still Sailing | Amistad Research Center 60th Anniversary Campaign
Preserving the stories that shape American history for the next generation.
For 60 years, the Amistad Research Center has preserved the voices, records, and stories that help complete the American narrative.
Founded in 1966 during the height of the civil rights movement, Amistad was created to ensure that the histories and cultural contributions of people of African descent and other historically underrepresented communities would not be lost, overlooked, or forgotten.
Today, Amistad stands as one of the nation’s leading independent archives and research centers, serving scholars, journalists, filmmakers, artists, students, and visitors from around the world.
Our collections include:
• 900+ archival collections
• 15 million pages of manuscripts and historical documents
• 250,000 photographs
• 8,000 moving images and sound recordings
• 2,000+ periodicals
• 25,000+ books, dissertations, and scholarly works
These materials document civil rights movements, labor organizing, Black literature and the arts, faith communities, political thought, and everyday life across generations.
As Amistad celebrates its 60th Anniversary, we are launching The Ship Is Still Sailing — a campaign honoring the generations who built this institution while investing in the future of preservation, education, and public access.
Your support helps sustain four critical areas of impact:
Preservation
Many archival materials are fragile and irreplaceable. Your donation helps conserve manuscripts, photographs, films, audio recordings, and historical artifacts for future generations.
Digitization
We are expanding digital access so that researchers, students, educators, and communities around the world can engage with these collections online.
Education
Amistad works directly with teachers and K–12 students, helping young people connect with history through authentic primary sources and storytelling.
Operations
Archives require expert stewardship, cataloging, secure storage, conservation, and ongoing care to ensure collections remain publicly accessible.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Amistad reminds us that the national story is only complete when every voice is preserved and every contribution is recognized.
When you support Amistad, you are not only supporting an archive — you are protecting truth, memory, scholarship, and culture.
Please join us in celebrating 60 years of impact and helping shape the next 60 years.
The Ship Is Still Sailing.