Collections : [AARLCC Special Collections]

The Niara Sudarkasa Collection documents the career of anthropologist, Africanist, professor, and university president Dr. Niara Sudarkasa. The collection contains correspondence, scholarly writings, publications, research files, audio visual materials, awards, and business papers dating from 1934 to 2006. The collection also includes Dr. Sudarka's personal library of more than 2,500 books, journals, and pamphlets. The collection highlights Dr. Sudarkasa's professional achievements including becoming the first woman president of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and first Black faculty member of the Anthropology Department at the University of Michigan. Her papers are a unique resource on Yoruba language and culture, ethnic groups in higher education, and the Black Power Movement in the United States. They also document her work to strengthen international programs at Lincoln and the University of Michigan.

The Margaret and Cato Roach Collection includes directories, awards, books,correspondence, memorandums, and newspaper clippings that document the personal and professional lives of Broward County activists and educators Margaret Lattimore Blake Roach and Cato Roach.

The Esther Rolle collection consists of photographs, awards, audio-visual, and printed materials that document the life and career of actress and dancer Esther Rolle. The collection contains materials that illustrate Esther Rolle's work in multiple films and television shows such as Good Times, P.K. and the Kid, as well as Driving Miss Daisy. The collection includes multiple awards commemorating her achievements, including the NAACP Eighth Image Award (statuette) for Best Actress In A Series (1974), the 20th Annual NAACP Image Awards 1987 Hall of Fame Award (statuette), the NAACP Image Award (statuette) 1973 Best T.V. Actress Series, and the 1978-1979 Emmy Award (statuette) for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special – Summer of My German Soldier, October 30, 1978 – NBC.

The Library-In-Action Collection documents the Library-In-Action initiative started by the Broward County Library in 1975 to address literacy and access in underserved communities. The collection also documents the career of Tyrone Bryant from his tenure at the Langston Hughes Library through his directorship at Library-In-Action, as well as the Sistrunk Historical Festival.

The Alex Haley papers consists of manuscripts including those from his time with the Saturday Evening Post, Boy's Life Magazine and Kiwanis Magazine; correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, business files, awards, and other materials documenting Alex Haley's literary career. The papers also include fan mail during the popularity of the book and the subsequent television series "Roots", and photographs in Gambia.

The Eric Jon Rawlins Collection consists of personal and professional papers of librarian Eric Jon Rawlins. Materials include correspondence to and from Eric Jon Rawlins, certificates, his funeral program, newspaper clippings, personal and professional photographs of Eric Jon Rawlins, Broward County Library brochures, and bookmarks.

The Alcee Hastings Collection contains materials that document the career of Broward County lawyer, judge, and U.S. House of Representatives Congressman Alcee L. Hastings, such as photographs, printed materials, books, artwork, plaques, certificates, and award objects. The majority of the materials in the collection came from Congressman Hasting's congressional office.

The collection contains personal and professional papers of Julie Hunter. Materials include correspondence to and from Julie Hunter, professional papers documenting her career at the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, African American Research Library and Cultural Center, and Broward County Library, photographs, notes, certificates, plaques, newspaper clippings, audio-visual materials, and one framed poster.

The Arthur B. Steinman Collection contains twentieth century African sculptures and masks from the central and western regions of Africa. It also contains one lithograph print of "Planting" signed by Thomas Hart Benton.