Calendar
Monday, October 20
Hours: 7:30AM - 1AM
–ZSR Library, Special Collections & Archives Research Room (Room 625)Tobacco has played a significant role in shaping North Carolina’s cultural, economic, and social identity, even before the state’s official establishment. Early depictions of Native American communities along the coast at the end of the 16th century show cultivation and use of the plant.
During the 19th century, tobacco became a cornerstone of the plantation economy, generating immense wealth for select families. In the 20th century, the rise of mass production and commercialization, along with an expanding labor force dedicated to its cultivation and processing, further embedded tobacco in North Carolina’s way of life. Marketing campaigns and iconic imagery tied to tobacco are deeply woven into the state’s historical narrative.
This exhibit showcases images, artifacts, and records from Special Collections & Archives, spanning from the sixteenth century to the modern era. It also features contributions from North Carolina artists and photographers, including Daisha Bunn and Erin Kye and their families, as well as works by photographer Dan Routh.
–ZSR Library, Library Auditorium (Room 404)Join us for a special evening with acclaimed author and activist Curtis Chin as he shares stories from his powerful memoir, Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant. In his book, Chin takes us back to 1980s Detroit, where he grew up in his family’s restaurant. It was here, between servings of chicken lo mein and almond cookies, that he came of age, navigating multigenerational family drama and learning to embrace his identity as a gay, American-born Chinese (ABC) man. His talk will explore this journey, offering a vivid and heartfelt look at finding your place in a changing world.
A book signing will follow the talk, with books available for purchase at the event courtesy of Bookmarks bookstore.