It’s not often that one can get a glimpse of a portrait of Phillis Wheatley, the first African American poet, or see a book signed by Gwendolyn Brooks. These and about 20 other books and photographs will be on display at Founders Memorial Library for Black History Month.

“The display is a sampling of what we have in the African-American special collection,” program administrative assistant Kay Shelton said.

The African-American special collection was started in 1991 in conjunction with the renovation of the King Memorial Commons, Shelton said.

“Sam Huang, now-retired rare books librarian, helped coordinate a $1,000 donation from the Presidential Commission on the status of minorities and a $4,000 donation through the office of now-retired President John La Tourette to initiate the collection,” Shelton said.

LaVerne Gyant, director for the Center for Black Studies, visited the display.

“There are books there that I would be interested in reading myself, particularly between the 1900s and 1940s,” Gyant said.

Many of the books and photographs were purchased by the library, Shelton said.

“One book was dedicated to the library from Brooks,” she said.

The display was put up at the end of last month and will be changed in August or September, Shelton said. The displays are changed once every six months.

“When the books aren’t on display, they are kept in an environment where the temperature and humidity are controlled,” Shelton said. “Students cannot check out or take home the books.”

Shelton said the African-American special collection doesn’t get used that much.

“It has nice items, and it’s a good idea to put the items on display to draw attention to them,” Shelton said. “The impact that African Americans have had is larger than one month.”

The display hasn’t drawn too much attention from students, Shelton said.

“It’s on the fourth floor, so it’s hard to find,” she said. “And it’s only open during the week, so there aren’t as many opportunities for people to come in. About a half-dozen people have come in so far.”

Everything on display is identified and there always is staff available to answer any questions, Shelton said.

The display is located within Rare Books and Special Collections and is open from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.