On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the UCR Library hosted Congressman Shomari C. Figures for a visit to engage with our Tuskegee Airmen Collections. 

The visit was coordinated by UCR’s Senior Director of Federal Relations Kathleen Eiler and her team in the Office of Governmental & Community Relations. Upon his arrival at the Tomás Rivera Library, the Congressman was greeted by University Librarian Mihoko Hosoi, Deputy University Librarian & Associate University Librarian for Content and Discovery Tiffany Moxham, and Special Collections Processing Archivist Andrew Lippert.

The visit began on the first floor, where the Congressman viewed our long-standing exhibit dedicated to Tuskegee Airmen history. As the representative for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District, which includes Tuskegee, the exhibit held particular personal significance. Alongside the exhibit, he viewed paintings of Tuskegee Airmen displayed to the left, which were originally featured on a 2010 Rose Parade float honoring the Airmen’s legacy.

The tour then moved to the fourth floor to view a curated selection of Tuskegee materials housed in Special Collections and University Archives. Andrew Lippert provided historical context for these items, highlighting the origins of the collection which began under the leadership of former University Librarian Ruth Jackson.

Reflecting on the significance of the archives, University Librarian Mihoko Hosoi noted, "As librarians, our duty is to collect, organize, and preserve history. The Tuskegee Airmen’s distinguished military service and monumental contributions must never be forgotten."

Among the items that drew Congressman Figures' attention most were the personal diary entries, which he found to be an intimate and powerful glimpse into everyday life during the period. He also spent considerable time with photographs from the collection, including a wedding photo from the 1940s. The Congressman noted professional wedding photography was a luxury few could easily afford at the time, and even less so for many Black families, making its survival in the historical record all the more meaningful. Rounding out the breadth of the collection were unexpected items like Tuskegee Airmen GI Joe action figures, underscoring just how wide-ranging our Tuskegee Collections are.

The UCR Library remains committed to ensuring that collections like these continue to inform and inspire whether for researchers seeking to deepen the historical record or for advocates like Congressman Figures working to ensure the Tuskegee Airmen receive the recognition they deserve.