The University Museum and Cultural Center (UMCC) was founded in the spring of 2004 to collect, preserve, and promote the rich history of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the surrounding Arkansas Delta. UMCC is currently located in Childress Hall, formerly the John Brown Watson Memorial Library. The building was originally set for demolition until former Chancellor Emeritus Lawrence A. Davis, Jr. decided against its destruction. Childress hall currently sits on the National Register of Historic Places by the Department of the Interior and also houses the offices of University Relations and Development and Title III.

UMCC is home to The Keepers of the Spirit: The L.A. Davis, Sr. Historical Collection that documents the history of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Created by the late U.G. Dalton and Henri Linton, Sr., the exhibit was a continuation of the Persistence of the Spirit exhibit which recorded the history of African Americans in Arkansas. In addition, UMCC features a large collection of photographs, catalogs, yearbooks, letters, artifacts, portraits, and other ephemera that document the lives of the women and men who helped to shape the history of the university and surrounding delta area. The museum also offers exciting educational programs and rotating exhibits on the mezzanine level designed to highlight the accomplishments and contributions of those women and men.

UMCC and its activity is paid in total or in part by funding from the U. S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, Institutional Services Program, Title III, Part B, Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program or Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. Due to Title III, UMCC has been afforded the opportunity to fund numerous exhibits, contribute to the preservation of historical artifacts, and offer professors support to utilize the museum and its materials within the classroom. As a result of this funding, the museum has positively impacted the education of thousands of UAPB students with writing exercises, critical thinking, and a better understanding of their history. It is through Title III and the ongoing support of generous donors that UMCC is able to continue its mission.

UMCC Staff
Carla Bryant
Museum Director
Phone: (870) 575-8230
Email: bryantc@uapb.edu

John Martin
Museum Archivist
Phone: (870) 575-8234
Email: martinjo@uapb.edu

Permanent Exhibit

The University Museum and Cultural Center is home to the Keepers of the Spirit: The L. A. Davis, Sr. Historical Collection that documents the 150-year history of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). The exhibit provides detailed insight into early life at the university, the institution’s leaders, notable alumni, and campus organizations. On display are artifacts that shed light on the university’s past including original documents and diplomas, early campus publications, pictures, and uniforms.

Temporary Exhibit

The harmony of cultural traditions and endurance empowered African American women to make a critical difference in their families’ structure, beginning with slavery. Not confined by their age, gender, or social status, African American women were matriarchs, requiring them to work and support their families to survive through economic and social pressures. They were domestic healthcare providers, curators of family traditions, community educators, spiritual guidance counselors, and epitomes of pride in our heritage. Navigating the impact of racial disparities felt by most African Americans during many social movements, especially in the American South, grandmothers offered unconditional love and affection, a safe haven from the world’s inequities. Grandma’s Hands examines the role of the matriarch in the African American community through oral histories, nostalgic displays, and a voice-guided tour. This exhibition explores the intergenerational relationships between grandmothers and grandchildren and how caring for them promoted literacy for themselves and survival for the family.

The University Museum and Cultural Center (UMCC) provides valuable educational and research opportunities to visitors by providing access to a host of thought provoking exhibits and a repository of historical records and artifacts related to the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, the city of Pine Bluff, and the Arkansas Delta. Teachers, professors, and educators are encouraged to utilize the museum, its exhibits, and its resources in their classroom. If you are interested in incorporating the museum or its materials within your class, please contact museum staff for further details.

Access to our ongoing digitized works can be found here. Visit Our Collections

Phone: (870) 575-8234 or by Email: museum@uapb.edu

Due to limited staffing, the museum archive is open to students, faculty, staff, and the public by appointment only. Individuals looking to conduct research should contact the museum to make an appointment at least five business days in advance. Prior notice is required to ensure that the desired materials can be retrieved and made available upon arrival. Artifacts and materials within the museum and its archive are non-circulating. As a result, supervised access is required when handling collections for research purposes.

Copyright

Usage of materials from the museum are subject to copyright law and as such are made available strictly for the purpose of personal use, scholarship, or research. Any desire to utilize these items beyond this scope requires the user to obtain permission not only from UMCC but also from the rights holder as well.

Citations

Artifacts, images, or information obtained from the UMCC requires the user to provide proper credit through citation. Use the following example to provide citation for UMCC archive materials.

Example: Letter from Umer Porter (September 1927), Isaac Scott Hathaway Collection, UMCC014, Box 1, Folder 5, University Museum and Cultural Center Archives, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff

The University Museum and Cultural Center (UMCC) continues to be interested in items that allows us to tell the story of the college, Pine Bluff, and the Arkansas Delta. Specifically, the museum is interested in items from the Branch Normal, AM&N School, AM&N College, and UAPB era, related photographs, sports, band or choir memorabilia, uniforms, campus event programs, yearbooks, catalogs, Greek paraphernalia, or any papers, documents, journals or family materials that relate to the history of the Arkansas Delta. If you have any items you might be interested in donating to the museum please contact us to discuss in further detail.

Phone: (870) 575-8234 or by Email: museum@uapb.edu

The University Museum and Cultural Center (UMCC) is home to some of the most exciting and rich history found in the state of Arkansas. The exhibits, discussion panels, and events hosted in the museum continue to draw in hundreds of people every month. As a result, the University Museum and Cultural Center (UMCC) is always seeking enthusiastic individuals who would be an asset to the UMCC team. Volunteers play an essential role in UMCC’s community and campus outreach and ensure visitors leave more knowledgeable about Arkansas’ rich history.

Those who are interested in being part of our team are encouraged to contact museum staff about available volunteering opportunities at (870) 575-8230.