Forum at FHI

06/12/2026

Happy to share this thoughtful reflection by the wonderful Nikki Locklear, Anne Firor Scott Public Scholarship Fellow for 2025-26, about Restorying the Native Southeast, her public scholarship project held with collaboration of UNC-Pembroke, UNC-CH's American Indian Center, and the Forum @ FHI. Gorgous photos by Joshua Chorman of the AIC.

On a March evening in the Pembroke Holiday Inn’s conference room, Chef Pat Dial called together a boisterous group of people who had gathered for dinner. He stood before a table laid out with everything he needed for the culinary demonstration asked of him. There was a large, steaming slow-cooker....

08/14/2025

"Always Looking" explores the artistic and community-centered practices of acclaimed photographer (and Duke alum) Titus Brooks Heagins. Join us for a screening of the documentary on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 pm, followed by a discussion with Heagins and the filmmaker, Olympia Stone, and a reception. Smith Warehouse, Bay 4, Ahmadieh Family Lecture Hall. All are welcome.
https://fsp.duke.edu/events/always-looking-titus-brooks-heagins/

08/14/2025

Join us to welcome Crystal Simone Smith for a conversation with Tsitsi Jaji, including readings from Smith's new book, Runagate: Songs of the Freedom Bound (Duke University Press 2025). Wednesday, Sept 17, noon-1:15, with light refreshments. Smith Warehouse Bay 4. Books will be available for sale.

Join us to welcome Crystal Simone Smith back to the Franklin Humanities Institute for a conversation with fellow poet-scholar Tsitsi Ella Jaji in celebration of Smith's latest poetry collection, Runagate: Songs of the Freedom Bound, published in May 2025 by Duke University Press.

08/14/2025

We are thrilled to welcome visual artist and UC Berkeley professor Stephanie Syjuco to Duke in October! She'll give a public lecture on Wednesday, October 22 at 4 pm entitled, "Critical Interventions: Talking Back to the Archive".

Professor Syjuco's lecture is part of a 4-day residency at Duke focused on justice, visibility, and power in archival collections. While on campus, she'll visit classes, present workshops for students, meet with faculty, staff and community members, and explore Duke's archival collections, culminating in this public lecture open to all.

Generously supported by the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation Endowment Fund, with additional support from the following: Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke University Art, Art History & Visual Studies Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University MFA in Experimental and Documentary Arts at Duke University Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University

There will be time for Q & A and a reception will follow the talk.
https://fsp.duke.edu/events/rogue-archiving/

05/15/2025

Join us for a roundtable discussion about Ryan Coogler's latest film, Sinners. Warning: there will be spoilers! Duke Professor and Left of Black creator and host Mark Anthony Neal will guide the discussion with fellow professors Franklin Cason and Joseph Winters and celebrated musician Lois Deloatch. Thursday, May 22 at noon, Smith Warehouse Bay 4, Ahmadieh Family Lecture Hall.

11/27/2024

Tuesday, December 3, undergraduates on the Duke Bass Connections team, "Archives & Creative Process: Blues Women & Rosetta Records" present their research in progress. 5:30-7 pm. Smith Warehouse, Bay 4, Ahmadieh Family Lecture Hall. All are welcome.

11/27/2024

Monday December 2, Kym Register and Kamara Thomas talk with Craig Breaden about archives, music, and country and soul music: Remaking the Archive with Country Soul Songbook. Smith Warehouse, Bay 4, Duke. 6:00 pm. All are welcome.

11/04/2024

Monday, November 11, evening event featuring Duke's Javier Wallace guiding a conversation with News & Observer reporter Andrew Carter. Carter has been covering North Carolina since 2011, and his reporting demonstrates the power of grounded storytelling. Join us to learn about the impact of local news beyond politics and scandal. https://fsp.duke.edu/events/grounded-storytelling-and-newspaper-journalism/