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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.

Attorney Armstrong Purdee (1856-1937), was the first professionally trained African American lawyer in Jackson County, Florida. According to the online resource Roots Web, "Armstrong Purdee was born into slavery on the Wardell Plantation in Jackson County, FL, March 16,

1856. His account of the Battle of Marianna was published in The Kalendar, the monthly publication of the Men's Club, St. Luke Episcopal Church, Marianna, FL, Vol. | No. 3. June 1.
1857. After slavery. Purdee, a protégé of Florida State Senator William H. Milton, became the first African American lawyer in Jackson County, a successful businessman, and an influential community leader. Froma the 1890s until the mid- 1920s. Purdee published the West Florida Bugle, a Black newspaper.*
      Source: Armstrong Purdee - Roots Web htps://sites.rootsweb.com/-gals/Actstrats.homl

Attorney Joseph Gibbs was a law professor and professor of political science at Florida A&M College. In the early 1950s, when the Florida A&M College of Law was first established, he served as the Librarian for the Law School. He would later serve as an associate professor of law. When the FAMU College of Law closed in 1986, Gibbs served as an associate professor of political science and public management. During the period of racial desegregation and school integration, Gibbs served on numerous legal committees and research teams such as the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), in efforts of devising and monitoring desegregation programs that were fair and equitable to all citizens, especially African Americans.

Gibbs was born in Caroline County, Maryland, and attended school in Chester, Pennsylvania. He attended Morgan State College in Baltimore, Maryland, where he studied education and economics. He served in the United States military during World War II and afterward enrolled at St. Johns University Law School, where he earned a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 1949. Gibbs also earned a master's degree from Temple University, where he majored in public administration and economics. He and his wife Cordelia lived in Fayetteville, North Carolina, before he began his teaching career at FAMCEE. Gibbs retired from FAMU in 1982 and lived in Clearwater, Florida, until his death in the mid-1990s.

The records in this collection consist of the professional papers of Attorney Joseph Gibbs. The records include correspondence, court cases, publications, reports and research logs. The documents reflect Gibbs' legal activities and work regarding school integration at the college level during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The main threat and growing trend at this time was to close historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and merge them with large white institutions. Numerous public and private HBCUs joined alliances in efforts to retain their sovereignty.

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

The majority of records in this collection were hand-written letters from Bishop Sims to his sister Mrs. Miriam Sims-Tooke. The majority of the letters were written by Sims while he was working in South Africa. The collection also contained cards and photographs.

His father, Rev. Felix Rice Sims, was well educated and of high standing in his community, and the son has kept the family traditions. While at Oberlin College, he was noted for his ability as an athlete, playing on both the football and track teams. He was a winner of scholarships for four successive years at Oberlin College. He was elected treasurer of the Divinity Council while at Oberlin. He was elected by his class of several hundred white men and women to deliver the "Mantle and Key" Oration at Commencement on graduating from Oberlin Divinity School.

He was the coach of the Football and Baseball teams at Morris Brown University from 1912-1917 and at Allen University from 1917-1924. He was a Football Official under the auspices of the Rules Committee, of which Walter Camp was President, 1918-24.

President Sims was appointed a special messenger representing the State of South Carolina to attend the National Educational gathering at Topeka, Kansas, by Governor McLeod? (source text unclear), in July 1925.

Inclusive subjects and description of processing procedures provided by E.M.V., S. Y. Wilks, and Murell Vinson circa 1985.

The records in this small collection consist of certificates, policyholder documents, news clippings, occupational licenses, and photographs.

***Special Note: The Central Life Insurance Company of Florida records were forwarded to the Black Archives from the Florida Department of Insurance.

Inclusive subjects, special note, and description of processing procedures provided by Armentha Ray and supervised by M. Dawson circa 1995.

Mr. Charles Hamilton was an African-American landowner, farmer, and businessman who lived
in Marion County, Florida, during the late 1800s and turn of the twentieth century. Marion
The county is located in Central Florida. According to information from the 1900 US Census, the
Hamilton Family patriarch, listed as Charly Hamilton, was born during slavery in 1853 and
possibly migrated to Florida from South Carolina after the Civil War. Charly and his wife
Georgia had three sons, Richard, Charlie, and Jonas, and two daughters, Estelle and Texella.
Hamilton and his descendants also owned property and conducted business in neighboring Levy
County.

This collection is comprised of printed records that document Davis' military career and his various recognitions for rendering service to the United States as a member of the historic Montford Point U.S. Marines. Included in the records are: cassette tapes (inaudible); correspondence; legislative recognitions from the U.S. Congress, State of Florida, and City of Quincy; news articles, photographs of medals, awards, and resolutions; and a copy of Davis' World War 2 service record.

Born June 24, 1907, Dean Maxwell S. Thomas was a highly honored Dean of Mechanic Arts at FAMU, educator, advocate for students, and native of Ocala, Florida. The documents in this collection consist of reports, correspondences amongst FAMU presidents and faculty, and documents that highlight his involvement in organizations such as the Orange Blossom Classic Committee and FAMU Foundation. In addition to Dean Thomas’ professional documents, news articles honoring his life and correspondence to his wife, Jaqueline Holloway-Thomas, expressing condolences can be found.