In this rare photograph, Althea Gibson is wearing a Florida A&M cardigan and shaking Alice Marble’s hand as they stand over the net conversing. Marble was a heavily decorated tennis player, and her American Tennis Magazine editorial on segregation in tennis paved the way for Gibson’s entry in the 1950 U.S. National Championship (which she won).
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University alumna and Black tennis star Althea Gibson graces the cover of this rare, original 1957 TIME magazine. Just the year prior, in 1956, Gibson became the first African American to win a Grand Slam event. She also was the first to play in the U.S. and French Opens and Wimbledon.
President B. L. Perry gathered records of celebrated alumni and contributors, including Joseph Kershaw, LaSalle D. LeFall Jr., Robert Hayes, Althea Gibson, and Julian and Nat Adderley, reflecting their legacies, notable achievements, and the enduring imprint they left on FAMU’s history.
In 1787, Josiah Wedgwood’s London-based ceramics company created a medallion depicting a kneeling, shackled Black man with the engraved inscription “Am I Not A Man And A Brother?”. This symbol quickly spread across antislavery movements in Britain, France, and the United States and was used on many consumer goods, including this pin dish.
An amendment received by the Florida Board of Regents in 1993 proposing joint research between Florida A&M, FSU, FAU, and the University of Florida history departments. The proposal requested a $50,000 budget to document and investigate the 1923 Rosewood incident, aiding the state of Florida in the research and documentation process.
The Faculty-Student Committee agenda begins with remarks from the chairman, followed by a discussion on redefining its role to emphasize Afro-American studies. Proposed enhancements aim to strengthen the committee’s influence on academic progress and campus dialogue, with all proposals awaiting approval from President Gore.
Case Data and Exhibits for Brown III, a relitigation of Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954) that corrected resegregation issues caused by open enrollment school choice in 1992. This essay from an unnamed author examines thirteen court cases that predated the first Brown case taken on by the Kansas Supreme Court that dealt with segregation.
An obituary honoring President Gore, a Tennessean and visionary leader of FAMC and FAMU, remembers his lifelong dedication to education and service. In loving memory, a service was held in Tallahassee, Florida in 1982, celebrating his legacy and the profound impact he left on the university and community.
A letter to Jacqueline Foster, whose husband was recently killed in the line of duty as a police officer. The author writes that the officer, even though he was Black, was fighting on the side of the “racist, capitolistic (sic) establishment” and therefore his death was not a tragedy but “it was indeed a victory for the people.”
An outline of a proposal of objectives for a national conference submitted by Ahadi Tyhimbe of the Los Angeles New Afrikan Women’s Organization for the consideration of the New York New Afrikan Women’s Organization. Objectives include development of goals and objectives, outlining of projects, and selecting a city to host a national conference.
A copy of a photograph of an unknown woman, Dr. Alferdteen Harrison, and Dr. Cora Norman at the Smith Robertson Neighborhood Folklife Festival, April 9-11, 1983. The festival was a one-time grant sponsored event held on the grounds of the Smith Robertson Museum to celebrate the rich history and culture of the Farish Street Historic District.
Case Data and Exhibits for Brown III, a relitigation of Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954) that corrected resegregation issues caused by open enrollment school choice in 1992. Analysis (handwritten notes and spreadsheets by William Lamson) of numbers and percentages of Black students in Topeka Public Schools from 1950-1983.
Case Data and Exhibits for Brown III, a relitigation of Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954) that corrected resegregation issues caused by open enrollment school choice in 1992. Spreadsheets calculating percentages of white students in Topeka Public Schools plus a handwritten page listing data sources, all by William Lamson.
The autographed baseball belonging to Andre Dawson, an alumnus of FAMU and hall of famer. The baseball is s a tangible piece of history, imbued with the memories and moments of Dawson’s journey from college baseball at FAMU to major league baseball's Hall of Fame.
A biography of congressional candidate Andrew Young. This document explains his education and experience and why he is qualified to run for political office.
As a part of a Woman’s History Month event in the early 1990s, Angela Davis lectured at Florida A&M’s campus. In rare photographs of Davis in dreadlocks, the international civil rights activist and writer spoke for the event sponsored by the Tallahassee National Organization of Women and the FAMU Center for Equity and Cultural Diversity.
Cornett's work shows Stokely Carmichael with angelic features amidst raised hands. He was a key civil rights activist, a leader of the SNCC, and popularized the term "Black Power." He spoke at Texas Southern one month prior to the TSU Invasion, when Houston police invaded the campus, fired 5,000 rounds into dormitories, and arrested 488 students.
Anita Dixon became a Head Start student when she was 5 years old in 1968 in Mendenhall, Mississippi. She talks about her experience as a student, saying she learned things that prepared her to be an elementary student.
Annette Barnes was born in 1905 in Mount Olive, Mississippi. Her family moved to Jackson in 1909 when her father opened Barnes Drug Store. She talks about her childhood in Jackson being fun but also with responsibilities. She recalls the “Good Old Days'' as the times she can look back on and times were not as hard as they were then thought to be.
Annie Morganfield talks about sending her children to Head Start in 1966. She recounts going to community organizing meetings and informational sessions about the beginning of Head Start in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. She also talks about the experiences her children had in Head Start and other schools and touches on racial differences in schools.
Annie Smith was part of the group that started the first Head Start program in Edwards, Mississippi, in 1965. She talks about that process, including buying and renovating the building, hiring teachers, and recruiting students to get the program off the ground.
Annual letters between President Gore and Negro District Agents include invitations to the 4-H Annual Short Course, detailed program statistics, and personal information of agents. The correspondences focused on initiatives to improve educational standards in agricultural and home demonstration programs throughout Florida.
A letter from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Chaplain Wynn thanking him accepting to speak at the Annual Youth Day on March 15, 1959. Unfortunately, Dr. King will not be present to listen to Chaplain Wynn’s sermon due to prior engagements out of the country.
“J”, a White movement leader, writes to “T” to apologize, explain, and take responsibility for past behavior that was in retaliation to the Black Liberation struggle. “J” explains the connection between sexism and racism. “J” acknowledges that Comrade “T” always understood the organization was wrong.
Maggie/Jean, a White revolutionary, writes to an unknown Black Liberation movement leader. The author is apologizing for the way White revolutionaries dealt with the struggle for Black liberation during the time they worked together. The writer says that the criticisms of their group exposed the national chauvinism and racism of their organization.
A letter from Terry to an unknown recipient. The author writes that they need to put past mistakes behind them to begin seriously organizing for the fight for liberation. He makes the argument that a propaganda campaign will be needed to gain the support of the masses.
The unnamed sender addresses the comrades about the mistreatment of women in the Black Panther Party and explains the historical importance of women in the struggle as revolutionaries. The sender urges the revolutionaries to not make the same past mistakes.
