On May 9th, 2026, the Go Back & Fetch It 2025-26 cohort gathered at the Elmer L. Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota. As the final session before the cohort’s public reading, the visit offered a chance to step away from the typical workshops and spend time with the Givens Collection for African American Literature.

Guided by Davu Underwood Seru, the session included a lecture on the history of the Givens Collection, a tour of the University of Minnesota Archives, and a hands-on exploration of selected materials from the collection.

Fellows were invited to explore pieces of a history that is too often obscured or neglected by those in power.

Davu spoke about the origins of the Givens Collection and the importance of preserving Black history. He emphasized community and the desire for artists of all creative disciplines to have access to these materials as sources of connection and inspiration.

During the archive tour, fellows learned more about the work that happens behind the scenes at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Davu pointed out different parts of the archive and shared details about how materials move through the space. Some shelves were empty as items were being relocated. Davu explained that some books pass through the archive to be scanned and digitized for Google Books.

After the tour, the group had the chance to examine materials from the Givens Collection more closely. Before handling anything, fellows washed their hands and were given instructions on how to hold and move the books and objects carefully.

The selection included historical African American books and artifacts, Black Panther-related news clippings, lithographs by Elizabeth Catlett, early issues of Ebony Magazine, a Sugarhill Gang record donated by Davu himself, and more. Fellows were invited to choose an object, bring it back to their seat, and begin by observing it closely: its texture, weight, design and evidence of the hands it passed through on its journey to the collection.

There was one item among the materials that was particularly special: a first edition of Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral by Phillis Wheatley, the first published book of poetry by an African American author.

Due to the significance of the book, for this special session Davu only allowed fellows to hold the book, but not open it - if the fellows wanted a deeper look, they’d need to schedule a standard visit to the collection. Even that brief contact was powerful. Some fellows cried when they held it, while some respected its power so much that they chose to simply observe the book from a distance.

As part of the Go Back & Fetch It program, the visit to the Givens Collection carried special meaning. The program is built around mentorship and community for early career Black writers to deepen their creative practice. This session reminded fellows that writing does not happen in isolation.

For writers, knowing where you come from means understanding what came before you, what was protected for you, and what you might carry forward as you embrace your roots.

Videos coming soon…

Wanna Peek Behind the Scenes? Check out our Blog Post for the adventures that took place around this visit Here!