When people think about Black History Month, they don't always consider the accomplishments of those who are not African-American.

In celebration of Black History Month, the Special Collections Library is featuring an exhibit on Jamaican poet Vivian Virtue.

A Jamaican Voice: The Life and Poetry of Vivian Virtue will be on display from Feb. 4 until March 15 in 104 Paterno Library.

Although Virtue was Caribbean, not African-American, his life and writings are relevant to Black History Month, said Michelle Dzyak, library assistant of Special Collections.

Virtue was born in 1911 in Kingston, Jamaica and devoted his life to the creation of poetry.

"For me, poetry is not a mere hobby or pleasant accomplishment. Rather, it is a way of life," said Virtue, during a radio broadcast on the BBC.

Virtue, a poet, translator and broadcaster died in 1998, leaving his works to friend and correspondent Alan McLeod, a Penn State graduate who donated the writings and mementos to Penn State's Rare Books and Manuscripts Division.

"It's a romantic story," said Erin Dini (senior-English), a Bednar Intern in Rare Books and Manuscripts, who served as the exhibit's curator. "[The papers] arrived in an old suitcase. It's like someone dumped out a desk drawer into the suitcase."

It took all of last semester for Dini to process and archive the papers.

"It was like a big puzzle," she said. "After processing the collection, I had to decide what went on display, and create a sort of Cliff's Notes version."

While the papers that Dini deemed most relevant fill six sizeable display cases, the remaining materials remain filed in three large boxes.

The "Cliff's Notes version" of Virtue's life includes treasures such as Christmas cards from Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes, personal photographs, various drafts of several of Virtue's poems and much more.

"The Langston Hughes [letters] are most interesting for students," said Dini. "Langston Hughes is a household name."

Another feature that interests Dini is a copy of Virtue's book Wings of the Morning. Virtue's only published volume of poetry, Wings of the Morning includes 47 poems, focusing on diverse issues ranging from nature to specific cultural events.

Virtue's poems also addressed diverse political concerns of Jamaica and the African American community.

Dini acknowledged that Virtue was not a prominent poet, but insisted that students should still see this exhibit "because of the fact that we have a suitcase of a person that really tried. He made his whole life about trying to produce poetry."

Viewing the artifacts of Virtue's life can provide a deeper insight into the Jamaican poet's life.

Dzyak said that students who view the Vivian Virtue papers "get a feel for what real life would have been like for somebody, rather than reading it in a book."

She added, "I also think it's good for students to get a feel of different aspects of the library. It's not just those rows of books outside."