A Collection of Perfection

On a wintery November afternoon Mrs. Ruth Bledsoe is sporting a black coat and sandy blonde scarf draped around her neck which complements her unique big and blonde curly hair. Ms. Ruth Bledsoe a Library Assistant for Texas Southern University overseas the day to day operations of the university most Prestigious possession known as the Heartman Collection. The Collection Holds over 30-Thousand documents about Black History. Bledsoe knowledge of information and detail about the collection is as if she were in attendance for these pre historical events. She depicts and paints stories in such a movie like atmosphere. "You will be informed very much on most of the things we don't even know about,”Bledsoe said. The Heartman Collection is located in the Robert James Terry Library. Upon entering the Heartman collection students , faculty, or whomever is in attendance will be given a white documents with bold black letters in the top left corner which title reads, “The Heartman collection".

The document contains a host of facts about the collection. "The Heartman collection is a Black collection on Negro life and culture,"Bledsoe said. The Heartman collection most pristine information is held in a small four wall room of the campus library which gets a tad bit humid from the absorption of body heat so beware if there's a crowd when you decide to attend. Inside the room there are decades old blue file cabinets that holds information on numerous of significant black influencers in not only Houston but the World. "I would to see for us to get a new library along with all of the new technology we have with more information on black history”,Bledsoe said; when asked about what she would change about the library. The Heartman Collection is filled with such rich history that expands decades, one might see their own parents or relative in one of TSU yearbooks if they're alumnus.

Mrs. Ruth Bledsoe stumbled upon her father. "Look at the difference in technology, the very first Yearbook published in 1948 vs our 2015-2016 edition,"Bledsoe said. The 1948 year book looked lifeless with a Dark cover, small purple tiger, not as much coloring , and letters attached to it , were as the modern day 2016 version displayed the school mascot on the cover filled with lively brown, white and Purple coloring . The depiction of what the two yearbooks depicted was the very essence of history and what the Heartman Collection symbolizes which is past and present History. The Collection is most important to HBCU students but yet not many people know of it. There has been many of times black people throughout history have been robbed of its history so the Heartman Collection being in students reach is why Mrs. Bledsoe feels as though students should take advantage of the opportunity. "I feel as though the Professors in their classes should let the students know about the Heartman Collection and to make sure they visit at least once, "Bledsoe said.