This file contains general correspondence dating from 1949 to 1964 generated during the presidency of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) President George W. Gore Jr. The materials are arranged alphabetically by name and reflect the routine administrative, professional, and external communications of the Office of the President during this period.
The correspondence documents interactions between President Gore Jr. and an ambassador of the Embassy of Ghana concerning a campus visit, as well as correspondence with the Elementary Study Coordinator of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and a Sanitary Engineer of the Florida State Board of Health. The file also includes correspondence related to out-of-state student aid and communications with the Executive Secretary of the West Tennessee Educational Congress, the State Advisor of the Arkansas New Farmers of America, and the President of the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. Additional materials include correspondence between President Gore Jr. and the Alabama State Leader for Negro Work, Cooperative Extension, with attached scripts for weekly tape-recorded programs. The file further contains correspondence with the Tallahassee City Manager, the Director of the Dade County Board of Public Instruction, judges, surgeons, editors, and civil rights attorneys. Topics represented include international relations, accreditation and educational standards, public health, student financial assistance, agricultural and extension education, civic and governmental affairs, and civil rights–era legal and professional matters.
Collectively, these papers provide insight into Florida A&M University’s broad administrative, civic, and professional networks during the mid-twentieth century. The correspondence illustrates the diverse responsibilities of the university presidency, including international engagement, collaboration with educational and governmental agencies, and participation in civic, legal, and civil rights–related affairs within the context of segregation-era higher education.
