Arthur L. Kidd Collection

2 Linear Feet

This collection consists of personal papers from Florida A&M University’s Arthur L. Kidd. Kidd, a native of Pennsylvania, earned a B.A. degree in 1924 from the University of Michigan, and in 1929, a Masters of Arts degree from Columbia University. Kidd also did additional studying at the University of Iowa, Columbia University, and New York University. He began his teaching career at Tuskegee Institute in 1924 before accepting a position at Florida A&M College (FAMCEE) in 1925 as Principal of the High School. Kidd worked at FAMCEE until 1944. During his nineteen years of service to the college, Kidd worked in numerous positions, including: Head of the Department of History, Acting Director of the Extension Division, Acting Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences and College Registrar. In October 1944, Kidd left his position at FAMCEE to work with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, where he worked in various capacities in Washington, D.C., and abroad in locations including France, Germany, and Holland. He returned to the United States in 1950 and worked for a year at Maryland State College before accepting a second appointment at FAMCEE in 1951 as Director of the Division of Social Studies. Upon the college reaching university status in 1954, in the academic re-organization, Kidd consequently became the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Until 1969, he served FAMU in various capacities, including director of institutional studies and director of university administrative planning.

The material type in this collection were mainly magazines, news articles, and news clippings from 1949-19687 that followed local and national events affecting Negro people and occurrences impacting their lives. The records of this collection are especially important and informative in that they as resources that document firsthand the many historic events that occurred during the American Negro Civil Rights Years. Most of the records document the passing of school integration and public desegregation legislation, mass boycotts, sit-ins, and other forms of protest, as well as the brutal, nationwide social turbulence that accompanied this period. Additionally, a small amount of materials related to Kidd's instructional duties at FAMU are included.

Biographical data and inclusive subjects were acquired from Murell Dawson circa 2002.

Members of Kidd’s family donated the records in this collection to the Black Archives in 2000. After a preliminary survey was conducted, it was discovered that the records had no original order. Thus, during the cataloging process, the records were grouped according to similarities in subject matter, material types, and material dates. The records were placed in acid-free file folders. After being appropriately labeled, the folders were put in alphabetical and numerical order and placed in acid-free boxes. A content listing was made, appropriate labels were attached, and the boxes were stored in the archival storage area.

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The record types identified in this collection included articles, news clippings, publications, correspondences, handwritten notes, greeting cards, instructional and administrative materials, and some student papers/reports.

Processing Archivist:
Murell Dawson, Ph. D.
February 4, 2002

Online Publishing:
Cariane Geffrard, IMLS Intern
Tellicia Mitchell, IMLS Intern
June 14, 2024