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Boston History on Display in Snell Library

The lower level of Snell Library now hosts a semi-permanent exhibit orienting visitors to the stories of Boston’s neighborhoods, activist organizations, and organizers available to them in the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections.

Wall exhibit in the Snell Library lower level labeled East Boston and Chinatown, with images and descriptions
Molly Brown/Northeastern University Library

Installed in March, the exhibit features highlights of historic events, notable leaders, and impactful organizations from the Mission Hill, Roxbury, South End, Chinatown, and East Boston neighborhoods who are represented in the special collections.

Visitors to the lower level are greeted with images of Boston leaders and luminaries such as Elma Lewis, Melnea Cass, Mel King, Mary Ellen Welch, and Carmen Pola, as well as organizations who are still working in Boston today, like Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, the Boston Living Center, Freedom House, and La Alianza Hispana.

Wall exhibit in the Snell Library lower level with several images and captions
Molly Brown/Northeastern University Library

 

Wall exhibit in the Snell Library lower level featuring images and captions
Molly Brown/Northeastern University Library

 

The first iteration of the exhibit was selected and written by Reference and Outreach Archivist Molly Brown and has room to highlight future new organizations and individuals who donate records to NUASC or are celebrating significant milestones. It was designed in collaboration with Christopher Raia from MGA Partners.

Box by Box: Inventorying the Bob Terrell Papers

A man stands outside holding papers
Bob Terrell at the MBTA Silver Line opening protest, July 2002. Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE) records.

Throughout his life, Bob Terrell played an active role in advancing environmental, housing, and transportation justice in the City of Boston, and advocated for his neighborhood of Roxbury. He was involved in multiple organizations and held several municipal government positions, as well. So when his papers were donated to the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections upon his passing in 2025, they provided a unique look into the city’s history.

The most prevalent organizations represented in Terrell’s papers are the Roxbury Neighborhood Council (RNC), Greater Roxbury Neighborhood Authority (GRNA), and Washington Street Corridor Coalition (WSCC). The RNC and GRNA sought to increase community control of their neighborhoods through the development of housing, education, and economic opportunities. Meanwhile, the WSCC focused on advocating for adequate public transportation, needed after the loss of the El (the Boston Elevated Railway), which had traveled down Washington Street.

Other records in the collection document the MBTA Rider Oversight Committee, Black Political Task Force, On the Move, and the Massachusetts Community and Banking Council, among other organizations. Terrell often held leadership positions within these organizations such as board member, committee member, director, and executive director.

An open file showing letters, newspaper clippings, reports, and photos of the MBTA
Records documenting community concerns about Washington Street and adequate transportation, 1990s. Bob Terrell papers.

The attention Terrell paid to local and world news related to environmental, housing, and transportation issues is evident in the number of reports, studies, newsletters, and other records that he accumulated over time. As I went through these items, I wondered to what extent global developments and initiatives informed the work he was doing in Boston. I often became engrossed with the interconnectedness of local and larger world matters, especially when news from Boston grew to become world news.

Additional materials in the collection helped me appreciate even more how committee and active Terrell was in his advocacy. Initially, this realization occurred as I went through his educational materials. Terrell received his BA in Government and Sociology from Bowdoin College in 1974. Later in life, he returned to school and received his Master’s in Public Policy from Tufts University in 2012. Terrell kept his notebooks, readings, and other resources from both undergraduate and graduate school. To me, this conveys that Terrell valued the information he learned from his professors and carried it throughout his life, which then impacted the advocacy work he did in his community.

A calendar page for the month of February. Every weekday has a series of entries scribbled
One of the calendars used throughout Bob Terrell’s life. Bob Terrell papers.

Occasionally, I would also stumble upon his personal calendars. These, too, helped me understand how busy and active he was. In addition to attending conferences relevant to his work, there were organizational meetings to attend. Sometimes the entry in his calendar would even have a location for the event or meeting, which shows how much effort it takes to be so involved, but this was his life’s work and he was committed. It was more surprising to see a free day in his calendar than not. I found the calendars quite inspiring, in seeing how much one person can do. If a person were to only commit to one cause or organization they could still create an impact. This makes me feel a little less intimidated to get involved myself.

If you are interested in local Boston advocacy work, especially in relation to transportation, environmental, and housing justice, Bob Terrell’s papers are a must-see.

Contact the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections by emailing us at archives@northeastern.edu to find out more about Bob Terrell’s papers.

Former Processing Assistant Aries Peralta (he/him) graduated from Simmons University with an MS in Library and Information Science with a concentration in archives management. He received his BA in art history from the University of Connecticut.

A group of protestors stand on a sidewalk, one holding a sign that reads "CANCER = ASTHMA DEATH"

Ready to Research: Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE) Records

Records for Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE), a non-profit environmental justice organization, have been processed and are ready for research in the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections (NUASC).

ACE was founded in 1993 and is still active today. Based in Roxbury, the group seeks to eradicate environmental racism and classism through legal strategy, community organizing, and outreach. Examples of urban pollutants that disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color, and that are the focus of ACE’s attention, include vehicle transmissions, waste management, and industrial facilities such as asphalt plants.

A group of protestors stand on a sidewalk, one holding a sign that reads "CANCER = ASTHMA DEATH"
Breathe Out Challenge targeting bus emissions, 1998. ACE records, Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections

The collection guide provides contextual information and folder-level container lists for 130 boxes of records containing administrative, staff, program, and communications files; audiovisual recordings and photographs; born-digital media formats such as floppy disks and compact discs; and published and unpublished literature. Overall, these records document regional and occasionally national environmental justice activism, community organizing, and the workings of a small non-profit organization.

Side-by-side images. Left shows a person sitting in front of a desk, looking down at a lightbox with an archival box of folders next to them. Right shows a person standing on a stool in front of a large shelf of archival boxes
Processing assistants Julia Lee and Aleks Renerts working on the ACE records.

Processing assistants Julia Lee and Aleks Renerts, who have both been with NUASC for over two years, contributed significantly to the processing of this collection. They conducted preservation and arranged material in over 100 boxes, maintained spreadsheets, consolidated and labeled boxes, numbered folders, sleeved and organized thousands of photographs, interfiled newspaper clippings into one chronological sequence, and more.

To access the Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE) records, email NUASC at archives@northeastern.edu.

 

2026 Reading Challenge: January Recap and February Preview

Can you believe it’s already February? The first month of the 2026 Reading Challenge flew by. Speaking of flying, in January, we challenged you to read a book about exploration, travel, or a journey. Congratulations to Avni Sangai, the first winner of 2026, who takes home a Northeastern travel mug to accompany them on all their adventures!

And congratulations to everyone who read a book and told us about it this month. Check out some highlighted reads below. (Reader comments may have been edited for length or clarity.)

What You Read in January

Cover of The Mystery of the Blue TrainThe Mystery of the Blue Train, Agatha Christie
Read the e-book | Listen to the audiobook

“The Mystery of the Blue Train honestly felt like I was traveling with them. Agatha Christie just throws clues at you like she’s testing your brain on purpose. I kept thinking ‘okay, I solved it now,’ and then boom, totally wrong again. The whole luxury train vibe mixed with murder was actually too good. I finished it and sat there like…what did I even just read? This was wild.” — Sonali

“This story is spot-on with the travel and discovery vibe. It fired up my passion for books that bridge different lives.” — Quoc

Cover of The OdysseyThe Odyssey, Homer
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library

“I first read The Odyssey in high school, and at the time, I mostly experienced it as a classic adventure filled with monsters, gods, and trials. Rereading it for this challenge, I gained a much stronger appreciation for its longing for home. I think being a senior made me realize that I will be embarking on unfamiliar journeys soon. I’m unsure if they are far from home, and if so, when my path will bring me back, and so through this reading, I was able to sort out my anxieties and come full circle to excitement for the potential of these adventures.” — Kajal

Cover of KatabasisKatabasis, R.F. Kuang
Find it at Snell Library | Read the e-book | Listen to the audiobook

“I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a literal journey to Hell and back that was fascinating, beautifully written, and hurt my brain (in a good way). I found R.F. Kuang’s portrayal of Hell to be fascinating, although I wished there was slightly more Dante influence in her interpretation. The characters’ exploration of Hell was fun, devastating, weird, and at times, slow…but all around, I loved this book and highly recommend it. Starting off 2026 with a 5-star read!!” — Caroline

“Katabasis is about a grad student who journeys through the various rings of hell to retrieve her advisor. Arguably relatable to many of us.” — Sherwin

Cover of Into Thin Air

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster, Jon Krakauer
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library

“About the 1996 Everest Disaster (narrated by a guy who survived the ordeal), an absolutely crazy situation that I’m surprised I’d never heard about until this book.” — Quinn

 

 

What to Read in February

Because February is a short month, we’re challenging you to read a short book. Specifically, try reading a book that is under or around 200 pages. This could be a novella, a book of poetry, an extended essay, or even a comic book. Need ideas? Check out the e-books and audiobooks recommended by your librarians. If you’re on the Boston campus, you can also stop by Snell Library on Feb. 11 and 12 from 1 – 3 p.m. to browse books from the print collection and pick up Reading Challenge swag.

Remember, whatever you read, make sure to tell us about it to enter the prize drawing!

Cover of All Systems RedAll Systems Red, Martha Wells (144 pages)
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library | Read the e-book | Listen to the audiobook

In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety. On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid — a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone to watch its soap operas. But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it’s up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

Cover of My Sister the Serial Killer

My Sister, the Serial Killer, Oyinkan Braithwaite (226 pages)
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library | Listen to the audiobook

Korede is bitter. How could she not be? Her sister, Ayoola, is many things: the favorite child, the beautiful one, possibly sociopathic. And now Ayoola’s third boyfriend in a row is dead. Korede’s practicality is the sisters’ saving grace. She knows the best solutions for cleaning blood and that the trunk of her car is big enough for a body. Not that she gets any credit. Korede has long been in love with a kind, handsome doctor at the hospital where she works. But when he asks Korede for Ayoola’s phone number, she must reckon with what her sister has become and how far she’s willing to go to protect her.

Cover of The Summer WarThe Summer War, Naomi Novik (144 pages)
Listen to the audiobook

Celia discovered her talent for magic on the day her beloved oldest brother, Argent, left home. Furious at him for abandoning her in war-torn land, she lashed out, dooming him to a life without love. While Argent wanders the world, forced to seek only fame and glory instead of the love and belonging he truly desires, Celia attempts to undo the curse she placed on him. Yet even as she grows from a girl to a woman, she cannot find the solution — until she learns the truth about the centuries-old war between her own people and the summerlings, immortal beings who hold a relentless grudge against their mortal neighbors. Now Celia may be able to both undo her eldest brother’s curse and heal the lands so long torn apart by the Summer War.

Cover of What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About FatWhat We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat, Aubrey Gordon (208 pages)
Find it at Snell Library | Read the e-book

Anti-fatness is everywhere. In What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat, Aubrey Gordon unearths the cultural attitudes and social systems that have led to people being denied basic needs because they are fat and calls for social justice movements to be inclusive of plus-sized people’s experiences. Unlike memoirs and quasi-self-help books on “body positivity,” Gordon pushes the discussion further toward authentic fat activism. As she argues, “I did not come to body positivity for self-esteem. I came to it for social justice.” Advancing fat justice and changing prejudicial structures and attitudes will require work from all people. What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat is a crucial tool to create a tectonic shift in the way we see, talk about, and treat our bodies, fat and thin alike.

Cover of White HolesWhite Holes, Carlo Rovelli (176 pages)
Listen to the audiobook

Let us journey, with physicist Carlo Rovelli, into the heart of the black hole. We slip beyond its horizon and tumble down this crack in the universe. As we plunge, we see geometry fold. Time and space pull and stretch. And finally, at the black hole’s core, space and time dissolve, and a white hole is born. In White Holes, Rovelli traces the ongoing adventure of his own cutting-edge research, investigating whether all black holes could eventually turn into white holes. He shares the fear, uncertainty, and frequent disappointment of exploring hypotheses and unknown worlds, and the delight of chasing new ideas to unexpected conclusions. Guiding us beyond the horizon, he invites us to experience the fever and the disquiet of science — and the strange and startling life of a white hole.

A 2025 Retrospective on the DRS: Celebrating this past year and looking ahead to the future

The Digital Repository Service (DRS) is a dynamic place that showcases the variety of projects and scholarly work completed by members of the Northeastern community. Every year, new material is added to the DRS, including theses and dissertations, datasets, presentations, photographs, archival collections, and more. To conclude our series of blog posts celebrating 10 years of the DRS, I thought it would be fun to look back at this past year.

First, some statistics! In 2025…

Next, I wanted to put a spotlight on some work completed this past year. This blog post focuses on projects related to Digital Production Services (DPS), the department I’m a part of.1 DPS is responsible for the day-to-day management and upkeep of the DRS.2 Our work this year involved collaborating with different groups, departments, and people across the university, adding new collections and files to the DRS and completing metadata updates to existing collections, among other things.

Collaboration across the university…

  • Mills College Art Museum (MCAM): Collection images and exhibition catalogs from the museum were added to the DRS. MCAM, located in Oakland, was founded in 1925 and its collections include over 12,000 objects. Highlights include Californian and Asian ceramics and important works by prominent women artists. To learn more about the museum, visit their website.
  • Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project (CRRJ): Cataloging work continued this year, and new items were added. This project showcases collaboration between many different people at Northeastern, including the School of Law, Archives and Special Collections, the Digital Scholarship Group, and DPS. To learn more about the work of the CRRJ, visit their website. Read more about this work in blog posts written by Archives Assistants Stephanie Bennett Rahmat and Annie Ross.
  • Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs): Every year, new theses and dissertations showcasing the breadth and depth of scholarship at Northeastern are added to the DRS. In 2025, 577 were added. To break this down by college:
    • College of Professional Studies: 175
    • College of Engineering: 154
    • College of Science: 71
    • Bouvé College of Health Sciences: 70
    • Khoury College of Computer Science: 57
    • College of Social Sciences and Humanities: 34
    • College of Arts, Media, and Design: 16
  • New collaborations: DPS worked on projects with the Center for Contemporary Music and the American Sign Language & Interpreting Program.
Painting of a person standing in a field of flowers
Dahlias and Butterflies, a painting by Anne Bremer from the Mills College Art Museum collection. https://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20799838  

Work related to the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections…

Newspaper page with the headline "They call the whiz Mariah." A photo of Mariah Carey accompanies the article
An example of a tear sheet from the Larry Katz Collection: a newspaper article written by Katz from the Boston Herald about Mariah Carey. https://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20775370

On the horizon…

I wanted to wrap up this post by previewing the collections, projects, and collaborations for the DRS in 2026.

Work has started on the digitization and description of collections related to Elma Lewis, founder of the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts (1950), the National Center of Afro-American Artists (1968), and the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists (1969). Through these institutions, she shaped and influenced Black art, artists, and performers in Boston and beyond. This work is made possible by a Community Preservation Art grant from the City of Boston. To learn more about this work, read the blog post written by Giordana Mecagni, Head of NUASC, and Molly Brown, Reference and Outreach Librarian.

Metadata updates are currently in progress for the WFNX Collection, which mainly consists of clips and episodes from The Sandbox, a beloved morning radio program that aired on WFNX, a radio station broadcasting in the Greater Boston area from 1982-2012. These updates are expected to be completed early this year.

Planning has begun for DRS v2. There are many improvements planned for behind the scenes and changes that will impact how users interact with the DRS. We’re excited to get the ball rolling and sharing more about this work in the future.

It’s an amazing accomplishment to reach 10 years, and a testament to the passion and dedication of the Northeastern community. We look forward to the next 10 years, which will bring new challenges, collections, opportunities, and collaborations.3

If you’re interested in depositing your materials to the DRS, or working or collaborating with DPS, please email library-DPS@northeastern.edu — we’d love to hear from you! To read more about DPS services, visit our departmental directory.

Footnotes:

  1. There are so many different communities, groups, and people that work on and contribute to the DRS. This blog post is only able to capture a snapshot of all that goes on. ↩︎
  2. Many library staff members work alongside DPS to support the DRS. To learn more about the people behind the DRS and the DRS itself, read What is the DRS and who is it for? by Sarah Sweeney, Head of Digital Production Services. ↩︎
  3. A big thank you to my colleagues in DPS (Sarah Sweeney, Drew Facklam, and Kim Kennedy) and NUASC (Molly Brown) for their help and feedback, which contributed greatly to this post. ↩︎