Affichage de 36 résultats

This collection, titled Florida’s Black Junior Colleges, spans the years 1943–2012, with the bulk of materials concentrated between 1958 and 1966. The collection documents the lives, administration, and institutional development of Black junior colleges in Florida that operated primarily from the late 1940s through their closure in 1966 during the era of desegregation. It provides insight into the educational experiences of students, as well as the professional and administrative networks that sustained these institutions.

The collection consists of a wide variety of paper-based and photographic materials, including agendas, applications, correspondence, directories, meeting minutes, memoranda, reports, newsletters, programs, speeches, yearbooks, and photographs. Also included are items such as guidebooks, maps, manuals, musical compositions, poems, resolutions, and personnel records. These materials reflect both the daily operations and broader cultural and academic environments of the institutions.

Of particular significance is a comprehensive study conducted by Dr. Walter L. Smith titled “A Study of Black Junior Colleges in Florida 1957–1966,” which documents key events, institutional challenges, and the lasting impact of these colleges on students, faculty, and surrounding communities. The collection also contains extensive correspondence that highlights collaboration among administrators, educators, and state officials during a pivotal period in Florida’s educational history.

Arranged across three boxes, the collection captures themes of education, segregation, integration, and desegregation within the state of Florida, with a strong emphasis on the role of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and their junior college counterparts. The materials provide valuable context for understanding the transition from segregated educational systems to integrated institutions and the effects of these changes on Black communities.

The Reverend Thomas B. Carr Collection documents the life and work of Reverend Thomas B. Carr, an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) minister and landowner in Leon County, Florida, with materials dating from 1912 to 1954, and concentrated between 1924 and 1946. This collection highlights Carr’s religious leadership, agricultural involvement, and community engagement within both ecclesiastical and civic spheres.

The materials consist primarily of textual records, including correspondence, deeds, programs, reports, sermons, financial and legal documents, advertisements, and other printed matter. These records provide insight into Carr’s role within the AME Church, as well as his participation in agricultural and landownership activities. The collection reflects his involvement with organizations such as the Florida State Dairymen’s Association, the Cooperative Extension Office, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Credit Administration.

Significant topics represented in the collection include African American land ownership, agricultural education, and federal, state, and municipal agricultural programs during the early to mid-twentieth century, including the World War II era. The records also document the organization and activities of the Black church in supporting farmers and rural communities. Additionally, the collection contains several of Reverend Carr’s sermons, which address religious observances such as Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Psalm 91, offering further perspective on his spiritual leadership.

Overall, the Reverend Thomas B. Carr Collection provides valuable documentation of the intersection of religion, agriculture, and community development among African Americans in Florida during the first half of the twentieth century.

George Whitefield Conoly, (born 1902, died 1980) was instrumental in developing the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association and served Florida A&M University for almost 36 years as executive secretary and director of FAMU Alumni Affairs. He founded the FAMU Alumni Association in 1925 as an unfunded personal project. He spent his free time traveling across the U.S. to meet with alums and build deeper comradery; deeper social, professional, and financial commitment to FAMU; and continued participation in University affairs.

This collection contains alumni chapter meeting records, financial records, photographs, and correspondences from the years George Conoly was most active in build the Florida A&M University alumni network, along with some of the personal effects of George and Eunice Conoly.

Location: AC.8.B.1.2.1 - AC.8.B.1.2.2

This file documents the life, professional career, and institutional impact of Dean Maxwell S. Thomas, a highly respected educator, administrator, and advocate for students at Florida A&M University. Spanning the years 1941 to 1987, with concentrated materials dating from 1973 to 1983, the collection provides a comprehensive view of Thomas’s contributions to higher education, his involvement in key university initiatives, and his broader engagement with community and professional organizations.

Born on June 24, 1907, in Ocala, Florida, Dean Maxwell S. Thomas served as Dean of Mechanical Arts at Florida A&M University and was widely recognized for his leadership, commitment to student development, and dedication to institutional advancement. The materials within this collection reflect his extensive professional network and influence, including correspondence with university presidents, faculty, and external organizations. His work with entities such as the Orange Blossom Classic Committee and the FAMU Foundation is well represented, illustrating his role in shaping both academic and extracurricular aspects of the university. In addition to documenting his professional achievements, the collection also captures personal dimensions of his life, including biographical materials, handwritten notes, and correspondence addressed to his wife, Jacqueline Holloway-Thomas, particularly letters of condolence following his passing in 1983.

The collection consists of manuscripts, photographs, publications, reports, correspondence, organizational records, programs, and printed materials that collectively highlight Thomas’s contributions to Florida A&M University and the broader educational landscape. These materials include annual and financial reports, institutional evaluations, program development documents, and publications that reflect the evolving priorities of the university during the mid- to late-twentieth century. News articles and obituaries further contextualize his legacy, emphasizing his impact as an educator and leader within the Tallahassee community and beyond.

At the time of processing, the collection had no discernible original order. The materials were therefore reorganized by subject and record type, with correspondences grouped by date and organizational records categorized by affiliated institutions or committees. Items were arranged in both alphabetical and chronological order to enhance accessibility and preserve contextual relationships. The collection was rehoused in acid-free folders and archival boxes, expanding to two boxes totaling approximately one linear foot. Processing also included preparation for digitization and the replacement of deteriorating fasteners with archival-safe materials. This collection serves as a significant resource for researchers examining the history of Florida A&M University, African American leadership in higher education, and the institutional development of historically Black colleges and universities during the twentieth century.

Location: AC.3.B.1.4.4 - AC.3.B.1.5.1

The Mrs. Willie Ziegler White Collection consists of 5 boxes of materials documenting her involvement in education and parent-teacher organizations, particularly within the Florida State Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers and related networks. The collection reflects her role as an educator and community leader engaged in advancing African American education and parental involvement during the era of segregation.

The collection includes correspondence, news clippings, directories, handbooks, ledgers, notepads, and record books, as well as files related to Parent Teacher Association activities. These materials document both administrative functions and community outreach efforts. Also included are records from affiliated organizations such as the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers, the National Convention of Christians and Jews, and the Georgia Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers.

Additional materials consist of songs, poems, manuals, publications, and magazines that reflect the educational, cultural, and organizational priorities of the groups with which Mrs. White was associated. Correspondence within the collection highlights communication between educators, administrators, and community members involved in improving educational opportunities.

Collectively, the collection provides insight into the leadership, organization, and advocacy efforts of African American educators and parent organizations, as well as the broader network of institutions working to support Black education in the early to mid-twentieth century.

Location: AC.7.A.1.2.2 - AC.7.A.1.5.3

The Black Schools in Florida Collection documents the history, administration, and cultural life of African American education in Florida during the era of segregation and beyond. Comprising twelve boxes of materials, this collection provides rich insight into the development of Black primary and secondary schools, as well as the educators, administrators, and communities that sustained them. The records collectively highlight the structure of segregated schooling, the professional networks of Black educators, and the efforts toward institutional improvement and accreditation.

The collection consists of a wide range of materials, including correspondences, school records, conference records, and publications that reflect the daily operations and broader educational initiatives of Black schools throughout the state. Printed materials such as programs, event programs, yearbooks, newspapers, and school publications illustrate student life, extracurricular activities, and community engagement. Additional items, including certificates of membership, certificates of accreditation, high school diploma covers, plaques, and school emblems, provide evidence of institutional identity, achievement, and recognition.

Educational development and administrative practices are further represented through instructional materials and reports, including a self-study of Nims Middle School, an instructional book for Duval County middle schools, a junior high school handbook, and documentation related to teacher workshops and professional training. The collection also includes records such as a statewide list of Negro principals and materials pertaining to educators in Gadsden County, offering valuable context on leadership and staffing within Black educational institutions. Notably, one empty box labeled “Foreign Affairs” is present, suggesting either removed or relocated materials.

Photographs within the collection visually document school buildings, faculty, students, and events, complementing the textual records and enhancing the historical narrative. Together, these materials provide a comprehensive view of the educational experiences of African American students and educators in Florida, emphasizing both the challenges of segregation and the resilience and accomplishments of Black school communities.

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.

Location: AC.8.B.1.6.2

This file documents the life, military service, and posthumous recognition of Chester Lee Davis, Sr., one of the pioneering African American Marines trained at Montford Point during World War II. Spanning the years 1942 to 2017, this collection provides valuable insight into both Davis’s individual experiences and the broader historical significance of African American service members who served under segregated conditions in the United States Marine Corps.

Chester Lee Davis, Sr. (1923–1981) was born in Quincy, Florida, to Tommie and Iola Davis and was raised in a large farming family. Prior to the outbreak of World War II, his family relocated to Orlando, Florida. In 1943, at the age of eighteen, Davis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, becoming part of the first generation of African American Marines admitted into service. Due to racial segregation, he trained at Montford Point Camp in North Carolina, a facility established specifically for Black Marines and located near Camp Lejeune, where white Marines trained. Despite facing systemic discrimination and harsh conditions, Davis served with distinction as a member of the 2nd and 3rd Marine Depot Companies. His responsibilities included transporting ammunition and supplies to troops on the frontlines, and he later participated in combat operations throughout the Pacific theater, including assignments in New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands, the Marshall Islands, Guam, and Okinawa. After completing his service, Davis returned home as a corporal and lived in Gadsden County, Florida, where he raised a family. He passed away in 1981 at the age of 58. In 2011, his service, along with that of fellow Montford Point Marines, was formally recognized when the United States Congress awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal, a distinction signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Donated to the Meek-Eaton Black Archives by Chester L. Davis, Jr. on June 13, 2017, the collection reflects a deliberate effort to preserve and share the legacy of Davis and other Montford Point Marines. The materials within the collection collectively document Davis’s military career, his contributions during World War II, and the national, state, and local recognition he received posthumously. The collection includes correspondence, legislative recognitions from the United States Congress, the State of Florida, and the City of Quincy, news articles, photographs depicting medals, military service, and commemorative events, as well as official service records and cassette tapes. These materials not only highlight Davis’s individual achievements but also situate his experiences within the broader narrative of African American military service and the struggle for equality within the armed forces.

At the time of processing in February 2017, the collection lacked an original order. As a result, the materials were organized by subject matter and date, then arranged alphabetically and housed in acid-free folders within a single archival storage box. Where applicable, items within individual files have been arranged chronologically to preserve contextual relationships. The collection was processed and cataloged by Dr. Murell Dawson, Senior Archivist, with assistance from undergraduate intern Shaarnè Morris, and is currently stored in the archival storage area on the third floor. As a cohesive body of records, this collection provides an important resource for understanding the experiences of Montford Point Marines and the enduring legacy of their service, sacrifice, and recognition within American military and social history.