By Katie Hanson ’25
While paging through historical readings at Denison Library as a student, Charla Wilson 鈥�11 didn鈥檛 expect that this would become part of her career, especially in a college setting. Now, nearly a decade since she started as a student at 51猎奇入口, Wilson serves as a librarian and archivist for the Black Experience at the Northwestern University Libraries. Wilson said her work there utilizes the same skills she mastered at 51猎奇入口.
鈥淚 loved my 51猎奇入口 experience,鈥� Wilson says. 鈥淚n the work I do today, I constantly refer back to those foundational skills that I got from 51猎奇入口.鈥�
Through her American studies major, Wilson was able to understand American culture through multiple lenses, examining music, film, literature, and history. She said she appreciated the interdisciplinary approach. Outside of the classroom, Wilson was active on campus, involved in groups like , , and 51猎奇入口 Academy.
After graduation, Wilson briefly pursued a teaching career. However, realizing she wanted her career path to include the same interests she was able to explore at 51猎奇入口, Wilson pivoted and enrolled in a master鈥檚 degree program in history at California State University, San Marcos. She noted that the decision was difficult, but that her former 51猎奇入口 professors guided her.
鈥淭hey were very supportive and gave me some feedback on things that they thought that they saw in me. They said, 鈥榶ou may want to consider archives and the library field,鈥欌�� Wilson says. 鈥淭hat was very helpful for me.鈥�
Wilson鈥檚 graduate thesis examined the Young Women鈥檚 Christian Association of San Diego鈥檚 segregated chapter for African Americans from the 1920s through 1950s. While working on her thesis, she began realizing her passion for archival research.
鈥淕rad school was really the first time I had worked with an archival collection,鈥� Wilson says. 鈥淚t was just a life-changing experience.鈥�
Wilson also discovered her interest in uncovering and preserving African American history. She began her thesis after noticing a small detail in the archives, something she said she 鈥渏ust stumbled upon.鈥� This discovery led Wilson to understand how under-documented African American history is, something she now works to unearth in her career.
鈥淚 became interested in looking at documenting African American history and Black communities so that we don’t have these hidden or forgotten histories,鈥� Wilson says. 鈥淚 wanted to have a part in building a career around safeguarding those accounts of African American history through archival records.鈥�
Wilson鈥檚 current position came as a result of a student protest. In 2015, Northwestern students protested staff moving their offices to the 鈥淏lack House,鈥� an on-campus building that historically served as a student union for Black students. Their grievances echoed similar demands from nearly 50 years prior. In 1968, Black students at Northwestern occupied the bursar鈥檚 office in what is now termed the 鈥淏ursar鈥檚 Office Takeover.鈥� Black students protested for more spaces and recognition, but they received the Black House instead.
In 2018, Wilson worked on an to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Bursar鈥檚 Office Takeover. Wilson鈥檚 research from the project was extensive. Aside from closely analyzing archival materials, she met firsthand with alumni involved in the protest. In doing so, she uncovered the influence of Kathryn Ogletree, a leader of the movement who had been largely excluded from the press because of her gender. Teaming up with the women鈥檚 center, Wilson brought Ogletree to campus to .
鈥淗aving the opportunity to record her story in her own words, to me, was just so, so meaningful,鈥� Wilson says. 鈥淗er story reminds me of the importance of asking questions such as, 鈥榓re there voices and perspectives that are missing that can aid in providing more insight into the past?鈥欌��
Just this winter, Wilson was recognized for her efforts to preserve history and create a more inclusive environment at Northwestern with the Daniel I. Linzer Award for Faculty Excellence in Diversity and Equity.
鈥淲hat excites me as an archivist is building a collection that鈥檚 more representative of historically overlooked groups and providing researchers with access to information through primary sources that inform, and at times challenge or complicate our understanding of the past,鈥� Wilson says. 鈥淚n turn, those researchers can amplify more stories about events and individuals. I鈥檓 honored to contribute to that effort.鈥�