Showing 47 results

Archival description
Only top-level descriptions
Print preview Hierarchy
Card view Table view
12 results with digital objects Show results with digital objects
Dr. Leonard H.B. Foote Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0003

AC.3.B.3.1.2- AC.3.B.3.2.2

Dr. Leonard Hobson Buchanan Foote was born April 11, 1898 in Cockeysville, Maryland, son of John L. and Emma A. Foote. In 1926, Dr. Foote accepted a number of positions at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College including college physician, director of student health, medical director and administrator of FAMU Hospital. He died on May 31, 1993.

-https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/44584

 Leonard H. B. Foote
Dr. Joseph Avent Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0008

AC.1.B.1.4.3

Dr. Joseph Avent was a prominent FAMC professor who was known for his contributions to the institution's development and his engagement with students.
Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins Collection
Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0012 · Collection

Location: AC.3.B.1.5.2

"The nation’s first Black junior college, Booker T. Washington Junior College, opened in Pensacola, Florida, in 1949 on the campus of all-black Booker T. Washington High School. The two institutions shared a name, a building, and an administrator: Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins.

Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins was, at the time, the only educator in all of northwest Florida with an earned doctorate, and he served as founding (and only) president and dean of the college and principal of the high school and was known as “the smartest man in the county.”

Before landing at Booker T. Washington, Wiggins served on the faculty at Florida A&M University. He’s remembered as “an educational catalyst, dedicated to the concept that black children must realize the importance of receiving an education.”

Booker T. Washington Junior College provided many Black students with a foundation to transfer into Bethune-Cookman College, Edward Waters College, and Florida A&M University with a solid foundation in teaching, medicine, law, and theology.

In 1965, Booker T. Washington “merged” with then Pensacola Junior College, and Wiggins went on to serve as Pensacola Junior College’s Director of Research until his retirement. However, many argue the school was effectively closed, as Pensacola Junior College did not make a great effort to include the Booker T. Washington’s students or faculty into the fabric of the institution.”

https://a2arnett.medium.com/february-10-remembering-dr-garrett-t-wiggins-and-booker-t-washington-junior-college-b1b3d85bf650
Dr. Alex Brickler, Sr. Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0032

AC.1.B.1.6.3

Dr. Alexander Dumas “A.D.” Brickler (1929–2023) was a pioneering physician and respected obstetrician whose decades-long career had a lasting impact on the Tallahassee community. A graduate of Howard University and Meharry Medical College, Brickler began practicing medicine during segregation and became one of the Black physicians who helped integrate local healthcare systems.
Throughout his career, Dr. Brickler delivered more than 30,000 babies and was widely known for his compassion, professionalism, and dedication to equitable care. He worked extensively at the Florida A&M University Hospital and later at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, where a women’s pavilion was named in his honor.
In addition to his clinical work, Brickler served as a mentor to generations of medical professionals and remained committed to patient care well into his later years. His legacy endures through the thousands of families he served and his contributions to advancing healthcare in Tallahassee.
Dean Maxwell & Jacqueline Holloway-Thomas
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0010 · Collection · 1941 - 1987

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.
Dale Thomas Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0029

AC.3.B.1.1.1 - AC.3.B.1.1.3

Dale Thomas is a Florida A&M University graduate, author, and educator dedicated to preserving the history of Black music and culture. A native of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Thomas attended Florida A&M University beginning in 1980, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education. He later obtained master’s degrees in educational administration and leadership and in library and information studies from Florida State University.

Thomas is the author of “Bands on ‘the Hill’: A Pictorial History of Bands at Florida A&M University,” a self-published 236-page book released through his company, Harmonie Publications. The work highlights the legacy of FAMU’s band and instrumental music programs through rare and exclusive photographs, reflecting his passion for African American history and music. Professionally, he serves as an academic advisor at Tallahassee State College, where he continues to support student success while contributing to the preservation of cultural history. https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2024/09/03/dale-thomas-publishes-pictorial-book-to-highlight-famu-bands/74407038007/
D. E. Williams Collection
D. E. Williams Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0123

Location: AC.8.A.3.3.1 - AC.8.A.3.4.4

DeWitt Everett Williams served as the State Agent of Negro Schools in Florida from 1927 to 1962 under the Florida Department of Education. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing and supporting the development of African American education during the era of segregation. His work placed him in direct contact with schools across the state, documenting their conditions, operations, and communities during a critical period in the history of public education in Florida.

The D. E. Williams Collection consists of six boxes of materials documenting African American education in Florida during the Jim Crow era. The collection primarily contains photographs of segregated African American schools across the state, reflecting both rural and urban educational environments. These images provide visual documentation of school buildings, classrooms, students, and faculty, offering insight into the conditions and experiences within segregated educational systems.

The photographs are arranged alphabetically by county, facilitating geographic access and highlighting regional differences in school infrastructure and resources. Collectively, the collection serves as an important resource for understanding the historical landscape of African American education in Florida and the broader social and institutional context of segregation in the twentieth century.
Coach Alonzo "Jake" Gaither Collection
Coach Alonzo "Jake" Gaither Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0002 · File · 1938 - 1984

Location: AC.2.A.3.3.1 - AC.2.A.3.5.2

Born April 11, 1903 in Dayton, Tennessee, Alonzo S. "Jake" Gaither was head football coach of the FAMC Rattlers from 1945 to 1969. During his 25-year tenure, Gaither compiled a record of 203 wins, 36 losses, and 4 ties - for a winning percentage of .844, the highest for any college coach of his time, Black or white, with 200 victories.

Forty-two student athletes under Gaither's coaching went on to play in the National Football League including: "Bullet" Bob Hayes, a star wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys who also earned two gold medals for track during the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo; Willie Galimore, an acclaimed running back with the Chicago Bears; Ken Riley, a defensive back with the Cincinnati Bengals; and Robert Paremore, a halfback with the St. Louis Cardinals. Under his leadership, the Rattlers won 6 Negro Collegiate Football championships. Recognizing the dynamic impact of his coaching career, Gaither was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1975.

Gaither retired on August 31, 1973. He died February 18, 1994, at the age of 90. In Tallahassee, a FAMU gymnasium, community playground, public golf course, recreation center, street, and neighborhood are named in his honor. His private home, located at 212 Young Street, which he shared for more than 40 years with his late wife, Sadie (an English professor at Florida A&M University), has been preserved as a cultural center and museum to honor the Gaithers, the people of Tallahassee, the State of Florida, the nation, and the world. A historic marker was also installed in the home’s hilltop yard and the home listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 Jake Gaither
Chester L. Davis, Sr. Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0016 · Collection · 1942 - 2017

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.
Charles Hamilton Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0011 · Collection

AC.8.B.2.4.3

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.