UW Libraries Blog

August 5, 2021

Jacob Lawrence in Seattle: UW Students and Libraries Create New Book

Stella B Haynes Kiehn

This post was updated September 16, 2022

UPDATE:

In July 2022, UW’s Jacob Lawrence in Seattle was selected as Pressbooks’  featured Book of the Month, displayed on the front page of the international Pressbooks Directory !    Learn more about the making of this book in our recorded webinar: Student Authored: UW Open Pedagogy and Publishing [youtube.com].

Jacob Lawrence in his studio in 1979. UW Special Collections

Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) is widely recognized as one of the most important American artists of the 20th century. Although he is best known for his multi-panel narratives that he completed whilst living in New York City, the second half of Lawrence’s career was spent at the University of Washington as a Professor of Art from 1971 – 1986. For the first time since his retirement from UW, Lawrence’s work and teaching are now the subjects of a new course at the UW School of Art + Art History + Design, taught by Assistant Professor of Art History Juliet Sperling. 

book cover

The creation and implementation of this course represent a partnership between UW Libraries and faculty at UW. Students in ART H 400 worked alongside librarians from a variety of specialties*, such as open educational resources, art history, and digital scholarship, to create a class book about the meaning of Lawrence’s work in Seattle. Using the Pressbooks digital publishing tool, students compiled original essays analyzing Lawrence’s artwork that they had created over the quarter into one comprehensive book, Jacob Lawrence in Seattle, that was published at the end of the course. For many students in Art H 400, this was their first excursion into the world of publishing. While there were of course obstacles, student Sam Seaver noted that “everyone involved in guiding us through the Pressbooks process made it feel doable and removed the intimidation for our class.” This course was one of the first-of-its-kind at UW, creating a blueprint for future collaboration with open publishing platforms and digital scholarship within UW Libraries. One student in Art H 400 noted that “this was such a fun, inspiring opportunity! I would have never published a paper on my own, had I not taken this course.” 

“this was such a fun, inspiring opportunity! I would have never published a paper on my own, had I not taken this course.”

Building the Collection
UW Libraries Special Collections recently acquired a rare signed copy of Jacob Lawrence’s Book of Genesis, 1989-90. See Nicholas Staley’s piece “Creating Genesis” in the class Pressbook. UW Libraries Fine and Performing Arts Librarian, Madison Sullivan, will be working with Dr. Sperling over the next year to purchase and collect all printed works related to Jacob Lawrence as budget allows. Their goal is to create one of the strongest collections around Jacob Lawrence’s art and work — including growing the collection and tracing Lawrence’s influence across African American art and Black art in the US.

To support this effort, donors can contribute to the

Spieseke/Hatchett Endowed Art Library fund.**

In an effort to expand access to open educational resources, the University of Washington has opened access to Pressbooks software for all students, faculty, and staff. This tool, piloted primarily in use by UW Librarians and faculty, has allowed for students and faculty to independently publish their research free of charge, on an accessible digital platform. In reflection of the importance of Pressbooks in the course, student Kira Sue wrote; “it seems like a moral responsibility to share your research if you are doing work on a project that has been historically under-researched…the promise of publication served as a great motivator throughout the quarter.”

“I loved getting to work with and learn from the UW Library staff. From the very beginning, they were so supportive…”

Students in Art H 400 not only learned how to navigate open educational resource platforms, such as Pressbooks, but they also learned how to efficiently use library resources. From research guides to the online chat with UW Librarians, students in Art H 400 were able to advantageously use campus resources to further their course objectives. Elizabeth Xiong, one of Prof. Sperling’s students in this course, expressed her appreciation of UW libraries in this course by sharing that “I loved getting to work with and learn from the UW Library staff. From the very beginning, they were so supportive of our project, and it was really encouraging. The librarians are all so knowledgeable and graciously took extra time to answer all our questions which stood out to me!”

“I think more classes would benefit from a final project that is collaborative in nature and ends in a publication.”

Art H 400 is set to become a recurring course in UW Art History, with each iteration highlighting a different topic related to Seattle’s vibrant history. Not only will the enduring legacy of Jacob Lawrence be carried forward through the work of Prof. Sperling’s course, but the students in the class are now equipped with knowledge of open educational platforms, such as Pressbooks. In reflection of her work during the past quarter Art H 400 student Monica Ionescu noted; “I think more classes would benefit from a final project that is collaborative in nature and ends in a publication.” As we move into a post-pandemic life, the importance of online tools is only becoming more recognized, as students, staff, and faculty navigate innovative digital worlds. UW Libraries looks forward to continue collaborating with the UW community to make these resources more available and accessible to all. 

Not only is Pressbooks free to use for UW students, but anyone (UW affiliated or not) can read Pressbooks online! Learn more about how you can use Pressbooks and other open hosting platforms to enhance your teaching and openly publish your research.

*Contact the Librarians who worked with the class to develop this project:

**Learn more about the Libraries’ Arts, Drama and Music Funds, including the Spieseke/Hatchett Endowed Art Library Fund.  If you are interested in learning more about how your gift is a catalyst for student success, contact Shelby Williford, Associate Director of Libraries Advancement (Shelbyuw@uw.edu | 206-616-6521.