A Web site designed by UW history professor Quintard Taylor for student use has unexpectedly become what he calls "the Google of African American history."

Blackpast.org explores the stories of African-Americans who are not mentioned in the history books, but deserve to have their story told, Taylor said.

This site began about two years ago as a faculty page for Taylor, who specializes in African American history in the Western United States.

Graduate student George Tamblyn was the first to suggest Taylor expand the site, and helped Taylor design it.

Taylor initially posted profiles of individuals that were meant to be starting points for research for students, Taylor said.

About a year later, the professor received an e-mail from a student who had a number of questions about African American history.

When Taylor suggested the student meet him in his office to discuss her inquiries, the student replied that she would not be able to meet him because she lived in New Zealand.

"All of a sudden I realized the information was going far beyond the intended audience," Taylor said.

Although Taylor describes the Web site as the "Google of African American history," the site includes not only a search feature, but other reference sources as well.

An encyclopedia serves as a research starting point filled with primary documents and stories of unsung citizens.

Multimedia is also becoming a large part of this site, including recordings of speeches, video lectures and documentary trailers.

The online encyclopedia portion is divided into sections, including: people, places, churches, events, groups and organizations.

In the "places" section, site visitors can learn about Centralia, Wash., a city founded by an African American man who came west to escape discrimination.

Under "events" is the story of Juneteenth: A day of celebration started in Texas that commemorates the day bondsmen were legally freed from slavery.

"Most of the Web sites that deal with African American history have what I call the hundred top names ... our goal is to go below the radar screen," Taylor said.

This site does just that.

There is the story of Charlotta Bass, who started out selling subscriptions of the California newspaper the Eagle and then went on to own and edit the paper. She was the first African American woman nominated for vice president, was under surveillance from the FBI and wrote editorials on the rise of Hitlerism in Europe.

This woman may not be mentioned in any history books, but she can be found on this Web site — fulfilling one of Taylor's goals.

"Coming from a small town, I know how easy it is to forget or miss altogether people whose contributions have and continue to enrich our lives," said site contributor Zanice Bond de Perez, a doctoral student in American Studies at the University of Kansas.

A timeline on the site makes information more accessible for those who are not well versed in African American history.

"It is ... through timelines that the historical relationship of events can be initially appreciated," Tamblyn said.

Blackpast.org was created by an all-volunteer group of contributors who "share in common their love of history and love of the individuals they've written about," Taylor said.

These contributors include independent historians, historical societies, graduate students, professors, handpicked undergraduates and a high school web intern.

Taylor said he hopes high school as well as university students will use this site as these stories are often glossed over or left unmentioned in history lessons.

The purpose of the site is to make African American history accessible at any time, Taylor said.

"These are bits of America's past that few people are aware of," said graduate student Chris Ott. "This site brings to the rest of the world the experiences of hundreds and, eventually, thousands of African Americans that are an integral part of our societal fabric."

For more information, visit www.blackpast.org.

Reach contributing writer Sarah Greenleaf at development@thedaily.washington.edu.