African American Studies Records

Collection

Identifier: 2001-005

Staff Only

The processed collection consists of 8.5 linear feet of materials. These materials arrived at the archives in relatively good order, which has been maintained where possible. The collection includes information about the history of the African American Studies Program, the First Annual Wilson Whitley Golf Tournament, fellowship programs, and study abroad programs. Materials in the collection include annual reports, brochures, catalogs, development plans, grant proposals, and reports to the community. This collection is divided into four series: Administrative Records, Wilson Whitley Memorial Celebrity Golf Tournament, Scholarships, Fellowships, and Awards, and Study Abroad Programs. The collection covers the years from 1990 to 2004 with one item, a Tribute to Lynn Eusan, from 1971.

An additional 6 linear feet of material has since been added to the collection, but is not yet fully processed. Please contact curator Mary Manning (mmmanning@uh.edu) with questions about access to these materials.

Dates

1990-2004

Creator

University of Houston. African American Studies Program (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Special Collections owns the physical items in our collections, but copyright normally belongs to the creator of the materials or their heirs. The researcher has full responsibility for determining copyright status, obtaining permission to publish from copyright holders, and abiding by current copyright laws when publishing or displaying copies of Special Collections material in print or electronic form. For more information, consult the appropriate librarian. Reproduction decisions will be made by Special Collections staff on a case-by-case basis.

Extent

8.50 linear feet

Additional Description

Historical Information

In response to student demands, the African American Studies Program was established during the late 1960s. The program offers courses that focus on the history and culture of African Americans and the contributions that people of African descent have made to American and world civilizations.

Over the past thirty years the African American Studies Program has added new courses, received additional and continuous funding, stimulated increased student interest, and expanded its associated cultural activities and community presence. Recruitment and retention of African American students has also been an important goal of the African American Studies Program. Enrollment as of 2002 stood at over 1,600 students.

The organization outlined its goals for the nineties as: (1) creating a new generation of leaders who challenge stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination and belief systems that hinder the intellectual emancipation and personal growth of all members of society, (2) promoting a mutual understanding between various ethnic and cultural groups of the university, and (3) developing an awareness of the richness of the African American experience and the contributions of African Americans to society.

References:

African American Studies Program Handout, Box 2, Folder 1.