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Dr. Aaron McDuffie Moore incorporated DCL as a nonprofit in 1918, following five years of functioning as a community service organization within old White Rock Baptist Church, located in the Black section of Durham called Hayti.
Past and Current Initiatives
From the beginning, DCL has always worked to address vibrant economies, resiliency, justice, equity, and inclusion. We continue to focus on these core values within all of our initiatives. DCL at Duke manages three projects that inform and engage both children and adults in understanding more about African American history and culture that is often absent from mainstream educational materials.
Merrick Washington Magazine
The Merrick Washington Magazine Initiative, founded in 1952 and published until 2025, collected and presented news articles relating to African American culture, current events, and history to a sight-challenged population. It was created with those in mind who do not readily have access to Braille or large print editions of major publications.
Techies4Tomorrow™
DCL’s project designed to improve the academic preparation of young African American students with the goal of increasing their motivation and interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) school subjects and ultimately careers. Improving educational attainment has long been known to reduce poverty and improve the health of individuals, their families, and entire communities.
The Moore Biography
Aaron McDuffie Moore: African American Physician, Educator, and Founder of Durham’s Black Wall Street is the biography of the founder of the Durham Colored Library, published in 2020 by UNC Press. DCL promotes the book through author book talks and presentations that inform the community about his important work and how his impact is still being felt throughout Durham and the state of North Carolina.
Thank you for your support
We are grateful for the local organizations, people, and groups that have supported DCL over the years: The Banks Law Firm, Burroughs Welcome Fund, The Boule Foundation, The Cedars of Chapel Hill, Durham Merchants Association Charitable Foundation Inc., Duke Health, The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation, The Forest at Duke, Lincoln Community Health Center Foundation, Mechanics and Farmers Bank, The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, Triangle Community Foundation, and the Museum of Life and Science.
As DCL at Duke, we continue to appreciate your engagement and support. Your donations help us continue our important work of lifting up the stories of African American figures, increasing access to STEM education for African American youth, and stewarding this work for the next generation.
Click here to contribute to DCL at Duke.