Douglass Day is held annually on the chosen birthday of Frederick Douglass. We mark the occasion by celebrating and creating Black history together.
In 2026, our themes is “All Rights for All: Equality and the Colored Conventions Movement.” We are focusing on the struggles for citizenship, equality, and belonging in the Colored Conventions.
All are welcome. Faculty members are encouraged to bring classes.
Have a cupcake, get a sticker, and learn to transcribe historical documents from the Colored Conventions. Collectively, we help to make important moments in Black history more accessible to everyone!
You can also watch the broadcast on YouTube and transcribe documents from anywhere. That's the beauty of digital crowdsourcing. You can continue to celebrate Douglass Day as long as there are materials left to transcribe.
[instruction sheets coming soon]
A transcribe-a-thon is an event in which people gather in person or online to work simultaneously on a crowdsourcing project to transcribe documents into searchable text.
Our in-person event is free and open to the public, and anyone with an internet connection and a computer can help with the transcription. No prior experience is needed, and the platform is free to use and beginner-friendly.
Yes. We suggest at least one laptop per 1-3 people. Transcribing in small teams of 2-3 people can be a lot of fun! Or, people can take turns transcribing. Unfortunately, our project does not work well on mobile phones or small tablets.
Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches (HBO)
Autobiographies
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The Speeches of Frederick Douglass
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The Colored Conventions Movement: Black Organizing in the Nineteenth Century
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