Douglass Day Transcribe-a-thon

This event will be held in person at the Newberry. Registration is required.

Please bring your own laptop. Refreshments will be provided.

Join us for Douglass Day 2025!

The Newberry Library invites you to a birthday party for Frederick Douglass. Although Douglass never knew his birthdate, he chose to celebrate every year on February 14. Please join us in observing this date by creating Black history together.

Simultaneously with volunteers around the world, we'll participate in a transcribe-a-thon, using By the People, a crowdsourcing website from the Library of Congress, to improve access to the correspondence of Frederick Douglass. We’ll also be streaming music and presentations from the Douglass Day organizers, and exhibiting Black history items from the Newberry’s collections.

No transcribing experience is necessary! Everyone is welcome. You can choose to drop in for a bit or stay for the whole session.

Cost and Registration

This event is free and open to all. Advance registration required. Remember to bring your own laptop!

Support the Newberry

Your generosity is vital in keeping the library’s programs, exhibitions, and reading rooms free and accessible to everyone.

Questions?

Call us at (312) 255-3592 or send us an email.

Past Public Programs

Check out video recordings of past Newberry public programs on our YouTube channel.