Douglass Day at UC Santa Barbara

Events are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No experience needed. Just bring a laptop. Come for cake & refreshments!

Register at UCSB

About

Douglass Day is an annual global transcribe-a-thon for Black history. It takes place every year to celebrate the chosen birthday of Frederick Douglass. Now, in its 10th year, Douglass Day is moving to UC Santa Barbara! Please come celebrate our new home for this collective action for Black history!

How can I participate?

Everyone is welcome to join us for this year’s events. We will have a quilting workshop on Tuesday, Feb 10. The main event will be on Friday, Feb 13 from 11am-2pm. Come to one or both events!

UCSB

  • Faculty: Bring your class – or send your students for extra credit.
  • Students: All are welcome. Hint: ask your professors for extra credit!
  • Staff: All are welcome.

Santa Barbara Community Members & Beyond

  • Join us in-person at the Multicultural Center lounge.
  • Parking info is available on the UCSB Library Directions & Parking
  • Bring Douglass Day to your K-12 schools!
  • Bring your friends, church, or groups!

Register at UCSB

Makerspace Event: Quilting for Douglass Day & Black History

Hosted by the UCSB Library Makerspace

Join us in celebrating Douglass Day and Black History Month by contributing to a collaborative community quilt! Create a unique fabric square using collage and appliqué techniques. Share your story side-by-side with the campus community while we contemplate themes of citizenship, community, and home. How do we ensure “All Rights for All”?

At the end of the workshop, your decorated squares will be sewn into a collective quilt to be displayed at the Douglass Day transcription event on Friday, February 13th. All materials will be provided – no prior sewing or art experience is necessary.

This drop-in event will take place in Library room 2509 (2nd floor, Mountain Side).

Main Event: Douglass Day Birthday Party & Transcribe-a-thon

  • Friday, Feb 13, drop-in from 11am-2pm
  • Multicultural Center (MCC) Lounge
  • Co-Sponsors: Department of English, Office of Black Student Development, and the Multicultural Center

Contact

  • Jim Casey, Dept of English, email: jccasey [at] ucsb [dot] edu

About Douglass Day

Every Valentine’s Day, we invite you to a birthday party for Frederick Douglass. Although Douglass never knew his birthdate, he chose to celebrate every year on February 14th. We celebrate this date as a moment for creating Black history together.

How can I get involved?

  1. Host an event of your own (see our organizing kit for lots of resources)
  2. Join an event at one of the Penn State campuses (see below)
  3. Bring Douglass Day to your class (see our teaching page)
  4. Join us online from wherever you are

Want to join on a later time or day?

No problem! We have plenty of transcribing work to go around. The crowdsourcing project, the livestream video, and all of our materials will be available online starting on February 13th. (The crowdsourcing website will go live at 9 am PST). Everything will remain online until we’re done with all of the transcribing. It’s difficult to predict when that will be, so we will ask your local contact to check the site the night prior to your later meetings. If you aren’t sure, please email the Douglass Day team at douglassdayorg AT gmail DOT com.

Photo of a birthday cake being cut. The birthday cake has a small image of Frederick Douglass on top.

Annual Douglass Day Bake Off

This year we are delighted to continue the new tradition of our annual cake contest. Make your best cakes and desserts to celebrate Douglass. Post photos of your creations using the hashtag #DouglassDay on Bluesky and Instagram to enter our contest!

Follow us on social media

Register at UCSB