Umbra Search African American History is a pioneering initiative dedicated to making African American history widely accessible. Through its user-friendly website, umbrasearch.org, it offers a powerful search tool and widget that gathers hundreds of thousands of digitized materials from over 1,000 libraries and archives nationwide. This platform not only facilitates access to a wealth of historical records but also supports students, educators, artists, and the public through diverse residencies, workshops, and events across the United States.

Umbra Search stands as a tribute to the Umbra Society of the 1960s, a transformative group of Black creatives who fostered the Black Arts Movement. Managed by the Givens Collection of African American Literature at the University of Minnesota Libraries and in cooperation with Penumbra Theatre Company, this project has received recognition for its commitment to accessibility, including the 2017 Award for Access from the Center for Research Libraries. The initiative thrives on ongoing improvements and welcomes feedback to enhance user experience.