Dunbar Initiative
Bridging campus and community, teaching and research, the humanities and other disciplines, the Dunbar Initiative engages students, researchers and community members with many facets of Paul Laurence Dunbar's life.
What we do.
The Dunbar Initiative at the University of Dayton is a multi-year, interdisciplinary effort to promote the life, works and legacy of Paul Laurence Dunbar. It is made possible by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The project is led by Minnita Daniel-Cox and Ju Shen.
Specific Dunbar Initiative elements include the development of new and enhanced undergraduate curricula, the creation of experiential learning and research opportunities for undergraduate students, and the launch of a major digital platform that will make original Dunbar sources, materials, and music freely available for research, teaching, and community engagement.
Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906) was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, and was the first African American poet to make a living solely by his writing. He remains one of the most important writers in American history. Dunbar spent most of his life here in Dayton, and is buried adjacent to campus within the historic Woodland Cemetery. During his short life, Dunbar produced hundreds of poems, short stories, novels, song lyrics, plays, journals, essays and political writings.
The Dunbar Initiative seeks to bridge campus and community, teaching and research, and the humanities and other disciplines, by engaging students, researchers and community members with the many facets of Dunbar’s life. Moreover, it seeks to elevate the experience and contributions of a key figure in American history and culture. If you are interested in the Dunbar Initiative, or want to take part in teaching, research, or community engagement related to Paul Laurence Dunbar, please reach out to the project directors at DunbarInitiative@udayton.edu.
In addition to this exciting initiative, the University of Dayton is home to other scholarly works revolving around the life and works of Paul Laurence Dunbar.
- The Dunbar Music Archive, spearheaded by Minnita Daniel-Cox, preserves Dunbar's literary career by giving public access to the myriad of ways his work has been presented, particularly in the musical arena.
- The Scholarship of Herbert Woodward Martin has long revolved around public performance of Dunbar's work.
- Read biographical information about Paul Laurence Dunbar, gathered by researchers at the University.