Douglass Day 2026
Thursday, February 19
12-3 p.m.: Transcribe-a-thon
(Drop in anytime)
Olin Library Room 107
Hosted locally by Digital Scholarship Services and the John Henrik Clarke Africana Library
Schedule of Events
12pm-3:00pm, Olin 107:
Douglass Day transcibe-a-thon and celebration. For the full schedule, see the Douglass Day Main Event page.
What’s Douglass Day?
Born enslaved, Frederick Douglass emancipated himself at the age twenty and quickly became one of the preeminent intellectuals and activists of the nineteenth century. Although he never knew his birth date, he chose to celebrate every year on February 14th.
Every year, the Center for Black Digital Research at the Pennsylvania State University facilitates an international transcription event (“transcribe-a-thon”) featuring historical materials relevant to Black history.
Together with libraries and digital scholarship centers across the nation and beyond, Cornell University Library celebrates this date as a moment for creating and preserving Black history together. Learn more about the annual Douglass Day celebration.
Transcribe-a-thon Details
The 2026 international Douglass Day Transcribe-a-thon will feature materials from the Colored Conventions Project. Volunteers like you will transcribe pages from the collection and make them available to all. We’ll also enjoy cake, music, and a good time!
How to Participate
- Drop into Olin Library and choose a digital document to transcribe. No experience needed. We’ll be there to answer questions. Bring your own laptop, or use one of ours.
- Explore previous generations’ work for racial justice and enjoy camaraderie with others from Cornell.
- Listen to musical performances and inspiring speakers during the national livestream.
- Share birthday cake and enjoy snacks while you transcribe!
Contact Information
Questions? Contact digitalcolab@cornell.edu.