Washington University houses many historical and contemporary collections devoted to researching, experiencing, and learning about race and/or ethnicity. These include special library and museum collections, curated archives, and exhibitions and teaching galleries.

For questions about University Libraries Collections, please contact Joy Novak. For questions about Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum collections and exhibitions, please contact Kim Broker.

Selected University Libraries Collections

African & African American Studies

Archer Alexander Sources

Asian American Studies

Chinese American History in St. Louis

Civil Rights in St. Louis

Decolonization & Transregional History Sources

Documenting Ferguson

Henry Hampton Collection

Henry Hampton Collection Guide

Japanese American History in St. Louis

Latin American Studies

Latino/a Studies

Jules Henry Digitization Project

Meet Me in St. Louis: Class, Race, and Sheet Music at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition

Homer G. Phillips Hospital

Online St. Louis History, Culture & Heritage Resources

Poetry of the Black Arts Movement

Race, Ethnicity, and Identity at the Modern Graphic History Library

Richard Beymer Collection

St. Louis Area Historic Maps

William Miles Collection

1904 World’s Fair and Olympics  

Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Browse artworks by:

Selected Exhibitions:

Ai Weiwei: Bare Life (September 28, 2019–January 5, 2020)

Robert Longo: Dividing Time (September 13–October 12, 2017)

Relationships and Representation: Perspectives on Social Justice Work (Teaching Gallery, September 11, 2015–January 4, 2016)

Neither Here Nor There: Borders and Mobility in Contemporary Art (Teaching Gallery, April 10–August 2, 2015)

Sam Durant: Proposal for White and Indian Dead Monument Transpositions, Washington, D.C. (January 23–April 13, 2015)

In the Aftermath of Trauma: Contemporary Video Installations (January 31–April 20, 2014)

Rashid Johnson: Message to Our Folks (September 20, 2013–January 6, 2014)

Wǒmen (我们): Contemporary Chinese Art (Teaching Gallery, January 25–May 26, 2013)

Design with the Other 90%: CITIES (September 14–January 7, 2013)

American Indian Art and Iconography (Teaching Gallery, February 5–May 17, 2010)

A Challenge to Democracy: Ethnic Profiling of Japanese Americans During World War II (Teaching Gallery, September 18, 2009–January 4, 2010)

Reality Bites: Making Avant-garde Art in Post-Wall Germany (February 9–April 29, 2007)

For questions about the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum’s permanent collection and exhibitions, please email Kim Broker, associate registrar 314-935-5385.