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.

Box 2 of the Dean Maxwell and Jacqueline Holloway-Thomas Collection contains materials dated from 1969 to 1976 and further documents the professional, academic, and civic engagements of its creators during this period. This box reflects a strong emphasis on administrative, evaluative, and organizational records, highlighting institutional operations, leadership responsibilities, and broader professional involvement in the early years represented within the collection.

The folders within Box 2 are arranged alphabetically by subject and document type and include files such as Reports – Financial, Reports – Scholarship Reports, Reports – Institutional Self-Evaluation, and Resume, as well as Reports – Annual Reports and Reports – General Reports. Additional subject files include Budget Files, Annual Reports to the Florida Legislature, Information for the President, and materials related to The Florida Postsecondary Association. There is also a Report – Correspondence file that contains administrative communications, including items such as “The President’s Report ” and related institutional correspondence.

Within each folder, the materials are arranged chronologically, allowing for a clear and structured understanding of developments over time between 1969 and 1976. The reports provide insight into financial management, scholarship oversight, and institutional assessment processes, while legislative and administrative documents reflect broader institutional accountability and planning during this period. Correspondence files document communication among administrators, educators, and external stakeholders, illustrating professional networks and decision-making processes.

Location: AC.4B.3.1.1- AC.4B.3.4.6

The William H. Gray Jr. Collection, preserved at the Meek-Eaton Black Archives Research Center and Museum at Florida A&M University, is a substantial and multifaceted body of primary source material documenting presidential leadership, institutional governance, and the broader landscape of Black higher education in the mid-twentieth-century American South. The collection is anchored in Gray’s presidency during the 1940s—a period shaped by World War II, postwar transition, and intensified struggles over educational equity within the rigid framework of Jim Crow segregation.

The collection contains extensive correspondence, manuscripts, and administrative documents that illuminate Gray’s executive decision-making and strategic vision for Florida A&M University. Presidential and institutional correspondence reflects sustained engagement with state officials, accrediting bodies, faculty leadership, alumni, and external partners, revealing the political and financial negotiations required to sustain and advance a public historically Black institution. Manuscripts and policy drafts further document Gray’s intellectual approach to higher education leadership, institutional planning, and the articulation of Florida A&M University’s public mission.

Faculty-related materials—including reports, evaluations, appointments, and governance documentation—provide insight into academic labor, professionalization, and the development of instructional and administrative standards during a period of institutional growth and constraint. Of particular significance are documents related to the Florida A&M University Hospital, which underscore the university’s role in professional training, public health, and community service, and highlight the intersection of education, medicine, and racial equity in segregated Florida.

The collection also preserves records pertaining to major cultural and athletic initiatives, most notably the Orange Blossom Classic, situating the event as both a site of institutional visibility and a locus of African American cultural expression, economic impact, and alumni engagement. News clippings, printed programs, and ephemera document how Florida A&M University and its leadership were represented in regional and national media, offering scholars valuable perspectives on public perception, advocacy, and the university’s evolving national profile.

Collectively, these materials document Gray’s efforts to expand campus infrastructure, stabilize governance, strengthen academic and professional programs, and position Florida A&M University as a flagship public HBCU amid persistent racial discrimination and structural underfunding. As an archival resource, the William H. Gray Jr. Collection supports advanced research in African American history, higher education administration, public policy, health and medical history, and cultural studies. It offers a critical lens through which to examine the intersections of race, leadership, and institutional resilience, while affirming Florida A&M University’s central role in the historical development of Black higher education in the United States.

Box 4 contains issues of The Rattler, the official Florida A&M University yearbook, documenting student life, academic programs, athletics, student organizations, faculty, and significant campus events. Included are the 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965 editions of The Rattler. These yearbooks provide a visual and historical record of Florida A&M University during the early years of the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting student achievements, campus traditions, academic life, and the evolving social and cultural climate of the university. Materials are arranged chronologically by publication year. Dates range from 1962–1965.

Box 8 contains issues of The Rattler, the official Florida A&M University yearbook, documenting student life, academic programs, athletics, student organizations, faculty, and significant campus events. Included are the 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1992 editions of The Rattler, including the centennial-themed volume A Legacy to Preserve, A Future to Design: Centennial Celebration (1987), which commemorates the 100th anniversary of Florida A&M University, and Like You've Never Seen Before (1992). These yearbooks provide a visual and historical record of the university's academic, social, and cultural life, highlighting student achievements, campus traditions, and institutional milestones. Materials are arranged chronologically by publication year. Dates range from 1985–1992.

Box 3 contains issues of The Rattler, the official Florida A&M University yearbook, documenting student life, academic programs, athletics, student organizations, faculty, and major campus events. Included are the 1958, 1959, 1960, and 1961 editions of The Rattler. These yearbooks provide insight into the university's growth, traditions, and student experiences during a period of social change and institutional development. Materials are arranged chronologically by publication year. Dates range from 1958–1961.

Box 5 contains issues of The Rattler, the official Florida A&M University yearbook, documenting student life, academic programs, athletics, student organizations, faculty, and major campus events. Included are the 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969 editions of The Rattler. These yearbooks provide a visual and historical record of the university during the late 1960s, capturing student achievements, campus traditions, and the impact of social and cultural changes occurring during this pivotal period. Materials are arranged chronologically by publication year. Dates range from 1966–1969.

Box 6 contains issues of The Rattler, the official Florida A&M University yearbook, documenting student life, academic programs, athletics, student organizations, faculty, and significant campus events. Included are the 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, and 1975 editions of The Rattler, including themed volumes such as Far Above Mutual Understanding (1973) and Portrait of Change (1974). These yearbooks provide a visual and historical record of Florida A&M University during the 1970s, reflecting student achievements, campus traditions, and the social, cultural, and institutional changes shaping the university during this period. Materials are arranged chronologically by publication year. Dates range from 1970–1975.

Box 7 contains issues of The Rattler, the official Florida A&M University yearbook, documenting student life, academic programs, athletics, student organizations, faculty, and major campus events. Included are the 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1983 editions of The Rattler, including themed volumes such as Today Rattler ’76 Tomorrow (1976) and May the Light of FAMU Forever Shine (1978). These yearbooks provide a visual and historical record of Florida A&M University during the late 1970s and early 1980s, highlighting student achievements, campus traditions, academic life, and the university’s continued growth and development. Materials are arranged chronologically by publication year. Dates range from 1976–1983.