Save the Date announcement for Douglass Day on February 13, 2026, featuring the Colored Conventions Project. The design shows historical illustrations of Dred Scott and Harriet Robinson Scott, with a faded convention scene in the background. A torn paper effect reveals 'Fourteenth Amendment, June 1866.' Website: DouglassDay.Org. Color scheme has  pink and cream colors.

Friday, February 13, 2026
12-3 PM (EST)

A day of love & collective action for Black history!

Register

Join us for Douglass Day 2026!

Every Valentine’s Day, we invite you to a birthday party for Frederick Douglass. Although Douglass never knew his birthdate, he chose to celebrate every year on February 14th. We celebrate this date as a moment for creating Black history together.

How can I get involved?

  • Host an event with your community or organization.
  • Bring Douglass Day to your school.
  • Join us online from wherever you are.
  • Find a public event near you!

FAQ

What is Douglass Day?

Douglass Day is an annual program that marks the birth of Frederick Douglass. Each year, we gather thousands of people to help create new & freely available resources for learning about Black history. We frequently focus on important Black women’s archives, such as Anna Julia Cooper (2020), Mary Church Terrell (2021), Mary Ann Shadd Cary (2023) and plenty more to come in future years. Learn more about the history of Douglass Day.

See our Douglass Day pages for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

What is a transcribe-a-thon?

Transcribe-a-thons are events in which people gather together to work side-by-side on a crowdsourcing transcription project. We feature a different project each year. We always try to have food, music, and a fun time! Want to hold a transcribe-a-thon? Our program team prepares a set of plans and resources each year to help you bring Douglass Day to your group, school, or community. Free and open to all!

What are we going to transcribe this year?

This year we are going to be transcribing a vast new collection of records on the Colored Conventions movement. Our transcriptions will range across dozens of states and stretch from the start of the movement in 1830 through the turn of the 20th century.

This new collection shows the role of Black communities in organizing and agitating across the century. Together we can transcribe these records and make them more accessible. Help us show the ways that the Colored Conventions helped to imagine, pass, and protect all of our 14th Amendment Rights, including birthright citizenship, due process, and equal protection under the law for all persons.

Want a preview? Browse the site of the Colored Conventions – Digital Records!

Will this year’s events be held in person or virtually?

Douglass Day 2026 will take many forms — in-person, online, or hybrid! We are delighted to present Douglass Day featuring new offerings. Our main event will be live-streamed for everyone to watch online. If you choose to hold a virtual event, you may wish to consult our guide for hosting virtual events.

Where can I see highlights from previous celebrations?

Watch Douglass Day videos and highlights on our YouTube channel.

Who is behind Douglass Day this year?

Our team includes lots of different people. Meet everyone on our About page.

6th Annual Douglass Day Bake Off

A cake made at Bellingham Elementary School, with green icing, the words "happy birthday Frederick Douglass" in red and a collection of drawings of Mary Ann Shadd Cary in round papers.
Cake Winner 2023

This year we are delighted to announce our fourth annual cake contest. Make your best cakes and desserts to celebrate Douglass. Post photos of your creations using the hashtag #DouglassDay on Bluesky and Instagram to enter our contest!

See more about the Great Douglass Day Bake Off, including past winners.

Explore Douglass Day

New for 2026!

Giving to Douglass Day

To make a gift to support Douglass Day, please visit give.ucsb.edu/english. and select “English Department” > “Douglass Day.”

We believe these resources should be available to everyone, regardless of their budget. Your contribution helps us keep it that way. Happy Douglass Day!

Follow us on social media