Collection ID: C176
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Indiana University, Bloomington. Office of African American Affairs.
Abstract:
The Office of Afro-American Affairs was established in the spring of 1968. Its purpose was to organize some of the social and academic activities of African American students at Indiana University. The collection is comprised of two series, Administrative and Information. The Administrative series spans 1950-1998 and is further organized in eight subseries, including Correspondence, Faculty and Student Information, and Proposals. The Information series spans 1972-1997 and is arranged chronologically. This series consists of information not initially generated by the Office of African American Affairs such as newspaper clippings and IU News Releases.
Extent:
6.6 cubic feet
Language:
Materials are in English unless otherwise indicated.
Preferred citation:

[Item], Indiana University Office of African American Affairs records, Collection C176, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

The Office of Afro-American Affairs was established in the spring of 1968. Its purpose was to organize some of the social and academic activities of African American students at Indiana University. The major goals of the Office were:

  1. The establishment of a Black Studies Program.
  2. The recruitment of qualified African American administrators and faculty for the Black Studies Program.
  3. The increase of enrollment of African American students at Indiana University at Bloomington.
  4. The dissemination of pertinent social and academic information, which was to include a News Service (general information), a publications center (scholarly work), and a community relations bureau.
  5. The establishment of an action center to order and interpret information, and to implement programs directed toward the solution of discriminatory practices and problems.

The Office grew over the years under the leadership of Herman Hudson, who served as Dean of Afro-American Affairs from 1970 until June of 1981 and then again from 1990 to 1993. Dr. Joseph J. Russell manned the post in the interim years from 1981 to 1990. In 1993, Lawrence J. Hanks was appointed Dean of Afro-American Affairs, and served in this position until 1998.

Following Hanks resignation, Dr. Gloria Gibson was named the Associate Vice Chancellor for Multicultural Affairs. The Office of African American Affairs became defunct as the newly established Office of Multicultural Affairs took over its responsibilities. The OMA is comprised of the African American Cultural Center, the African American Arts Institute, the Asian Culture Center, the Latino Culture Center (La Casa), the Latino Student Advocate, and Diversity Education Program. The OMA serves as an advocate for all students of color at Indiana University.

Scope and Content:

The records of the Office of African American Affairs is comprised of two series: Administrative, 1950-1998 and Informational, 1972-1998. The Administrative series is organized in eight subseries: Correspondence, Personal files, Faculty and Student Information, Curriculum, Proposals, Publications, Reports, and Subject Files.

The Correspondence subseries (1977-1996) consists of in-going and out-going mail of the Office of African American Affairs. The file folders are arranged alphabetically while the documents inside are in chronological order. Some of the noted correspondents include Kenneth Gros Louis, Herman B Wells, and Dr. Joseph J. Russell. Some folders contain letters of recommendation and are restricted.

The subseries of Personnel files (1968-95) consists of correspondence and newspaper clippings of university faculty, staff, alumni and prominent community members arranged alphabetically. Prominent persons included are Herman C. Hudson, Camilla Williams, and George Taliaferro. Some folders contain letters of recommendation and are restricted.

Faculty and student information (1973-98) is arranged chronologically and primarily contains minority enrollment statistics at Indiana University and Faculty and Staff rosters.

The contents of the Curriculum subseries (1981-1996) are arranged chronologically. It contains class information such as course listings, core curriculum, and masters program information.

The Proposals subseries (1977-91) is arranged chronologically and contains proposals from the Office. Included are proposals for the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center and the Afro-American Arts Institute.

The Publications subseries (1972-97) consists of non-serial publications generated by the Office of African American Affairs and are arranged chronologically. One of the noted selections is entitled Denver Smith Revisited, compiled by Dr. Joseph J. Russell and Stephanie Jones.

Reports (1976-1998) is arranged chronologically and contains reports generated by the Office of African American Affairs. Prominent items include an incomplete collection of annual reports as well as the Theatre/Neal-Marshall Education Center Schematic Design Report.

The Subject files subseries (1950-1998) is by far the largest in the collection. It is arranged alphabetically by subject. Items of note include exhaustive files on the Neal-Marshall Center as well as incomplete coverage of Black History Month at IU.

The Informational series (1972-1997) is arranged chronologically and consists of information not initially generated by the Office of African American Affairs such as newspaper clippings and IU News Releases.

Acquisition information:
Accession #2000/052
Processing information:

Processed by Paul C. Heyde

Completed in 2001

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Select files are closed to researchers. These files are marked RESTRICTED in the finding aid.

Advance notice required for access.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

Copyrights for records originating with Indiana University administrative units, departments, and other offices are held by the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.

The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.

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PREFERRED CITATION:

[Item], Indiana University Office of African American Affairs records, Collection C176, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-1127
archives@indiana.edu