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Inventory of the Black Student Alliance records, 1969-2006

Collection Overview

Administrative Information

Contents of the Collection

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Container List:

African and African-American studies, 1979, 1990, 1997-1998

Box 1

Afro-American Society materials, 1969-1971

Box 1

Association of African Students, 1972-1976

Box 1

Alpha Kappa Alpha, fliers, 1998

Box 1

Correspondence, area colleges and universities, 1990-1998

Box 1

Correspondence, ADSU and Young Trustees, 1990-1992

Box 1

Beyond the Dream symposium, 1992

Box 1

Black Cultural Center proposal, 1980

Box 1

Black faculty, 1988-1991

Box 1

Black Gentleman's Club, 1996

Box 1

Black Women's Collective, undated

Box 1

Bouchet Society, undated

Box 1

Campus Community Development, Race and Race Relations Speakers Series, 1997-1998

Box 1

Central Committee (of the Black Student Alliance), minutes, agendas, memos, 1996-1997

Box 1

Contact lists, 1991-1998

Box 1

Correspondence, 1988-1998

Box 1

Duke Women of Color United, flier, 1998

Box 1

Gospel Choir, fliers, undated

Box 1

Calvin Harding correspondence

Box 1

Hurston-James Society, mission statement draft, 1997

Box 1

Inter-Community Council, 1997

Box 1

Kappa Alpha Psi, flier, undated

Box 1

Karamu, flier, 1997

Box 1

Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture, 1997-1998

Box 1

Miscellaneous writings on Black history, undated

Box 1

National Black Family Empowerment Agenda, 1997

Box 1

Samuel DuBois Cook Society, undated

Box 1

Sister to Sister and Brother to Brother discussion groups, flier, undated

Box 1

Students of the Caribbean Association (SOCA), fliers, undated

Box 1

Tobie Wilder, Duke Student Government Candidacy, 1998

Box 1

Brochures, undated

Box 1

Fliers, ca. 1978-1997

Box 1

Revelations (Black Student Alliance newsletter), 1993

Box 1

The Talking Drum (a publication of the Black Student Alliance), 1994-1997

Box 1

The Grapevine, 1981

Box 1

Duke University Black Alumni Connection, 1997

Box 1

Clippings, 1976-1997

Box 1

"Preparation for the '80s: 10 Years Ahead or Behind?", speech given by William Harston, Jr., 1979

Box 1

Scrapbook, 2004-2005

Unbound scrapbook created by BSA, detailing the organization's activities during the 2004/2005 academic year. Includes copies of and reactions to Philip Kurian's "The Jews," information about campus race relations, stereotypes, and police discrimination, as well as minority recruitment weekend, social events, community outreach, and public service activities. Scrapbook was created electronically with scanned materials and digital images, then printed on a color laser printer -- no loose materials glued or mounted.

Box 1

2006 Addition [UA2006-0043]

Black graduation yearbooks, 2000, 2002-2006

Box 2

Talking Drum, vols. 1-4

Box 2

Scrapbooks, 2001-2005

Box 2

Historical Note

The Afro-American Society (now the Black Student Alliance) was established at Duke University in 1967, four years after the first Black undergraduates were admitted. The Afro-American Society was a social and activist group created to support students as they dealt with the challenges of Black life at a previously segregated institution.

The Afro-American Society's first political statement was made at the Hope Valley Study-In on November 13, 1967. Thirty-five members of the Afro-American Society staged a day long study-in protest in the lobby of President Knight's office. The study-in denounced the use of segregated facilities by University organizations and the membership of key University officers, including President Knight, in the segregated Hope Valley Country Club. The 1960s continued to be a turbulent time for race relations at Duke University. On February 13, 1969, Afro-American Society students led a Black student takeover of the Allen Building to spark University action on the concerns of Black students. The Allen Building takeover brought attention to issues such as establishment of an Afro-American studies program, a Black cultural center, and increasing the number of Black faculty and students.

In 1971, the Afro-American Society was renamed the Association of African Students (The Association). In 1976, the Association assumed its present title, the Black Student Alliance (BSA). The Black Student Alliance continued to provide a cultural base for Black students at the University, growing into a major student organization on campus.

In the 1980s, when Black enrollment began to decrease, the Black Student Alliance joined forces with the Undergraduate Admissions Office to make Black recruitment a primary goal. The Black Student Alliance Invitational Weekend, held each spring, allows prospective students to visit the campus and get to know the Duke experience from a Black perspective. The Reggie Howard Memorial Scholarship honors the first Black student government president, who served during 1976. This scholarship is offered to freshman students who demonstrate academic achievement and leadership potential.

Some of the publications of the Black Student Alliance are Revelations, The Talking Drum, and The Grapevine. The Black Student Alliance also coordinates events for Duke University Black Alumni. As of 2003, the Black Student Alliance is active at Duke University.

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