The Mystery Recordings of Langston Hughes: A Poet Visits the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
This presentation is part of a new virtual series hosted by the Friends of the Library and initiated by the Library Board of Advocates to share the wonders of the University Library at Illinois.
A Special Presentation by
Jameatris Rimkus
Archives Program Officer
The University Archives is a repository whose mission is to preserve and document the institution’s story. One never knows what they will find within the boxes of the archives. Each box, each folder, each item is a mystery waiting to be solved and a story to be told. One mystery is a recording of Langston Hughes reading his work to a live audience. The recording contained no documentation other than it was created by WILL Radio. Why was Mr. Hughes at the University of Illinois sharing his work and telling his story? So many questions and very little clues. Sam Spade isn’t available to solve the case, but an archivist can.
