50 Years Exhibit

On August 28, 1963 thousands were drawn to the National Mall to be part of what would become a historic event: the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. On a national level, the march spurred the passing of important civil rights legislation. This exhibition reviews how, 50 years later, the fight for civil rights has impacted local Tucson communities.

Highlights of the exhibit include national civil rights legislative documents from the Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Collections, documents from the Tucson Council for Civic Unity archive detailing the council’s effort to end discrimination and segregation in Tucson and Arizona, and photographs and papers from civil rights groups and individuals representing the African American, Native American, Asian American, LGBTQ, and Mexican American communities of Tucson. An audio kiosk playing songs from the civil rights era is also part of the exhibition. 

While the exhibition in Special Collections focuses on a review of local civil rights issues, a companion exhibition focusing on national civil rights issues is also on display in the UA Main Library from Jan. 15 – Aug. 30, 2013.

A lecture series featuring community leaders, University of Arizona scholars, and local educators will accompany the exhibition.

Related information

Lecture Series on Civil Rights

UA Exhibition Reflects on Decades of Civil Rights in Tucson

50 Years Later