African American Studies Program Records

Series

Identifier: Series 198

Staff Only

Scope and Content

Collection contains the administrative records of the African-American Studies Program at the University of Florida, including syllabi and course outlines for courses offered as part of the program. Also included are descriptions of African-American Studies programs offered at universities outside of UF. Publications related to African-American Studies, and publisher's catalogs that contain books related to African-American Studies are included. Some information on the formation of the Institute of Black Culture at UF (formerly called the Black Cultural Center) is included.

In February 2020, the Program celebrated its 50th anniversary. Programs from the celebration events are included, as is a stole woven in Ghana that was given in celebration of the anniversary. Also included is a DVD of two films that were produced by the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program. The films are The Making of La Casita and The Making of IBC [Institute of Black Culture].

Many of these records were held by Dr. Ronald C. Foreman, Jr., the first Director of the African-American Studies Program at UF.

Dates

Creation: 1969 - 2020
Creation: Majority of material found within 1969 - 1973

Creator

University of Florida. African American Studies Program. (Organization)

Access

University Archives collections are available for research. Portions of the collections may be restricted due to the requirements of applicable state and federal laws, including but not limited to FERPA and HIPAA, and in accordance with best practices as defined by the Society of American Archivists.

Biographical/Historical Note

The African-American Studies Program at the University of Florida was established in 1969, with its first students enrolling in the program in Fall 1970. The first certificate in African-American Studies was granted in 1971.

Key figures in the establishment of the African American Studies Program at UF included administrators: Dr. Manning J. Dauer, Chairman, Social Sciences Division; Dr. Harry H. Sisler, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences; and Dr. Harold Stahmer, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences. The faculty who assisted in the earliest development of the program included: Dr. Hunt Davis, Jr., (History Professor); Dr. Seldon Henry, (History), Dr. Steve Conroy, (Social Sciences), Dr. James Morrison (Political Science); and Dr. Augustus M. Burns (Social Sciences, History). The students who played a role in the program’s development included: Samuel Taylor (the President of Black Student Union in 1970 and the First Black Student Government President in 1972), David Horne (Doctoral candidate in History), Emerson Thompson (undergraduate student), and Larry Jordan (undergraduate student).

In 2006, the program began offering an African-American Studies minor and began offering an African-American Studies major in the Fall 2013 semester.

Directors of the African-American Studies Program:

Dr. Ronald C. Foreman, 1970-2000

Dr. Darryl M. Scott, 2000-2003

Dr. Marilyn M. Thomas-Houston, 2003-2004

Dr. Terry Mills, 2004-2006

Dr. Faye Harrison, 2006-2010

Dr. Stephanie Evans, 2010-2011

Dr. Sharon Austin, 2011-2019

Dr. James Essegbey, 2019-

For more information, and for the source of the content of this Scope note, see the History page from the African American Studies Program at UF.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Arrangement

Arranged into six subseries: Administrative Records, 1968-1988; African-American Studies Program Courses and Course Development at University of Florida, 1969-1986; African-American Studies Courses and Programs at Other Universities, 1969-1970; Institute of Black Culture, 1971-1986; Publications and Publisher's Catalogs, 1969-1996; Subseries 6: 50th Anniversary Celebration Materials, 2020.