Guide to the Africana Studies Program Records, Files, and Reports, 1964-2018
Some material restricted. Consult finding aid for specific information.
Africana Studies Program: Records, Files, and Reports, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine
The George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, like all archives and special collections libraries, is the creation of human beings who have collected, organized, and described things in ways that reflect personal, cultural, societal, and institutional biases. Although we strive to preserve and present collections in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections, we acknowledge that our systems are neither neutral nor perfect. We encourage you to let us know if you encounter materials, descriptive language, or practices that are offensive or harmful, particularly those for which inadequate context or warning is offered. We are committed to modifying and updating our descriptive practices to use respectful and inclusive terminology and appreciate your help in this work. We look forward to supporting you in your research and learning together.
The Africana Studies Program (formerly Afro-American Studies), created in 1969, is a multidisciplinary academic, co-curricular program designed to bring the scholarly approaches and disciplines to bear on an understanding of African-American life. The program runs lecture series, maintains a library and resource center, and functions as a clearinghouse for local community groups interested in African-American history. The first director of the program was Reginald Lewis.
The collection contains annual reports, correspondence, files relating to events sponsored by the program, especially the John Brown Russwurm and Albert C. Boothby Lecture series, files concerning the divestment of the College's investments in South Africa, and a 1976 survey of New England College Black Studies Programs.
This series includes reports of the Committee on Afro-American Studies, reports of the director, and accompanying information concerning meetings. The series also includes a report of the Black Professor Emeritus Project, a proposed program sponsored jointly with Bates and Colby, in which retired African-American professors would be invited to each of the three schools on a semester or yearly basis to participate in seminars and share their life experiences. This program was never instituted.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
CAAS: Organizational Information 1969-1971
CAAS: Appointment of Student Members 1971-1983
Afro-American Studies Committee 1976-1977
CAAS: 1976-1977
AASP: 1976-1977 Annual Report
Report of the Director of the Afro-American Studies Program for the academic year 1976-1977
Director's Report 1976-1977 (Exhibits) [A-B]
Director's Report 1976-1977 (Exhibits) [C-E]
Director's Report 1976-1977 (Exhibits) [F-H]
Black Professor Emeritus Project [1977]
Afro-American Studies Committee 1977-1978
AASP: 1977-1978 Annual Report
CAAS: 1977-1978
Afro-American Studies Committee 1978-1979
AASP: 1978-1979 Annual Report
CAAS: 1979-1980
CAAS: 1979-1980 Annual Report
CAAS: 1979-1980
CAAS: 1980-1981
CAAS: 1980-1981
CAAS: 1980-1982
CAAS: 1980-1981 Annual Report
1980-1981 CAAS annual report and course syllabi
CAAS: 1981-1982
CAAS: 1981-1982
CAAS: 1981-1982
CAAS: 1981-1982 Annual Report
1981-1982 CAAS annual report and course syllabi
CAAS: 1982-1983
CAAS: 1982-1983
CAAS: 1982-1983 Annual Report
1982-1983 CAAS annual report and course syllabi
CAAS: 1983-1984
CAAS: 1983-1984 Annual Report
1983-1984 CAAS annual report and course syllabi
1984-1985 CAAS annual report and course syllabi
1985-1986 CAAS annual report and course syllabi
1986-1987 AAS program and course syllabi
1987-1988 CAAS annual report and course syllabi
1988-1989 CAAS annual report and course syllabi
1989-1990 AAS program and course syllabi
1990-1991 CAAS annual report and course syllabi
1991-1992 CAAS annual report and course syllabi
This series contains copies of outgoing correspondence from the program office.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
September - December 1976 (1)
September - December 1976 (2)
January - March 1977 (1)
January - March 1977 (2)
April - June 1977 (1)
April - June 1977 (2)
July - October 1977 (1)
July - October 1977 (2)
November - December 1977 (1)
November - December 1977 (2)
January - February 1978 (1)
January - February 1978 (2)
March - June 1978 (1)
March - June 1978 (2)
July - November 1978 (1)
July - November 1978 (2)
December 1978 - February 1979 (1)
December 1978 - February 1979 (2)
March - June 1979 (1)
March - June 1979 (2)
July - October 1979 (1)
July - October 1979 (2)
August - November 1979 (1)
August - November 1979 (2)
September - December 1980
December 1980 - July 1981 (1)
December 1980 - July 1981 (2)
July - December 1981 (1)
July - December 1981 (2)
January - June 1982 (1)
January - June 1981 (2)
July 1982 - June 1983 (1)
July 1982 - June 1983 (2)
July 1983 - June 1984 (1)
July 1983 - June 1984 (2)
July 1984 - June 1985 (1)
July 1984 - June 1985 (2)
July 1985 - June 1986 (1)
1986 - 1987 (1)
1987 - 1988 (1)
1988 - 1990 (1)
Named after the first African-American graduate of Bowdoin College (class of 1826), the lecture series explores the "legacy and status of Black Americans." Notable speakers include Carl Stokes, Vernon Jordan, Shirley Chisholm, Bayard Rustin, Benjamin Hooks, and Julian Bond, among others. The files include information on local arrangements, background information on the speakers, and publicity.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
Russwurm Lecture Series: General Info
Russwurm (Class of 1826) - Biographical articles
Russwurm Lectures-- Initiation of Series
Russwurm Lectures-- Initial Publicity
Russwurm Lecture Series: 1977 Compilation of articles and lectures
Russwurm Lecture: Carl Stokes 1/28/77
Russwurm Lecture: Vernon Jordan 2/24/77
Russwurm Lecture: Vincent Harding 3/22/77
Russwurm Lecture: James Farmer 4/14/77
Russwurm Lecture: Alfred Rattray 10/18/77
Russwurm Lecture: Kenneth Gibson 11/17/77
Russwurm Lecture: John Sengstack 4/20/78
Russwurm Lecture: Bayard Rustin 10/6/78
Russwurm Lecture: Shirley Chisolm 11/17/78
Russwurm Lecture: Benjamin Hooks 3/9/79
Russwurm Lecture: Kenneth Clark 4/10/79
Russwurm Lecture: Wade McCree 4/26/79
Russwurm Lecture: William J. Wilson 9/27/79
Russwurm Lecture: Frances Fox Piven 11/5/79
Russwurm Lecture: Frances Fox Piven 11/5/79 - poster
Russwurm Lecture: Robert Murray 4/16/80
Russwurm Lecture: Ivan Van Serima 11/10/80
Russwurm Lecture: Valdes (non-Bowdoin correspondence) 12/8/80
Russwurm Lecture: Parren Mitchell 4/16/81
Russwurm Lecture: John Gwaltney 11/5/81
Russwurm Lecture: Julian Bond 4/13/82
Russwurm Lecture: Eleanor Holmes-Norton 3/8/83
Russwurm Lecture: Sweet Honey in the Rock 3/3/84
Russwurm Lecture: Paule Marshall 11/8/84
Russwurm Lecture, 1985
Russwurm Lecture: Samella Lewis 4/8/1985
Russwurm Lecture: The Larry Ridley Trio 10/11/1985
Russwurm Lecture: Mary Frances Berry 2/19/1987
Russwurm Lecture: Amiri Baraka 4/27/1988
Named in honor the Maine educator and Bowdoin College graduate (class of 1929), the series was endowed by Boothby's widow and children after his death in 1977. Its purpose is to promote African-American culture and scholarship. The speakers must be African-Americans. Many speakers have been prominent educators, including Maya Angelou, Faith Mitchell, and Douglas Daniels. The material includes information on the publicity for the speakers, and arrangements, etc. to bring the speakers to campus. There are no texts of the lectures.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
Boothby Lecture Series-- General Info
Albert C. Boothby (Class of 1929)-biographical articles
Boothby Lecture: Richard Blackett 10/6/77
Boothby Lecture: Lloyd Sealy 11/3/77
Boothby Lecture: Gerdes Fleurant 1/26/78
Boothby Lecture: Harold Cruse 3/7/78
Boothby Lecture: Jim Loving 4/13/78
Boothby Lecture: William C. King 9/28/78
Boothby Lecture: Selwyn Cudjoe 10/24/78
Boothby Lecture: Frank Pogue 1/28/79
Boothby Lecture: Benjamin Hacker 2/13/79
Boothby Lecture: Aaron Greeson 10/22/79
Boothby Lecture: T.J. Reddy 11/27/79
Boothby Lecture: Johnnella Butleb 12/6/79
Boothby Lecture: Reginald Jackson 3/12/80
Boothby Lecture: Henry LaBrie 3/18/80
Boothby Lecture: Baldave Singh 10/9/80
Boothby Lecture: Faith Mitchell 10/20/80
Boothby Lecture: Leahcim Semaj 10/30/80
Boothby Lecture: Johnetta Cole 3/23/81
Boothby Lecture: Hershelle Challenor 9/22/81
Boothby Lecture: Mary Ruth Warner 10/20/81
Boothby Lecture: Deborah McDowell 1/28/82
Boothby Lecture: Anselme Remy 4/19/82
Boothby Lecture: Manning Marable 10/14/82
Boothby Lecture: Douglas Daniels 9/27/82
Boothby Lecture: Cynthia Neverdon-Morton 11/1/82
Boothby Lecture: Michael Witter 11/15/82
Boothby Lecture: Johnetta Cole 3/24/83
Boothby Lecture: Carol Randolph (daughter of Herman Dreer '10) 4/19/83
Boothby Lecture: C. Valentine Carnegie 4/26/83
Boothby Lecture: Peter Phillips 9/13/83
Boothby Lecture: Bettye Collier-Thomas 11/10/83
Boothby Lecture: Dennis Brutus 2/17/84
Boothby Lecture: Sam Floyd 2/19/84
Boothby Lecture: Dallas Brown 4/23/84
Boothby Lecture: Maya Angelou 9/24/84
Boothby Lecture: Sybil Patterson 10/23/84
Boothby Lecture: VeVe Clark 1/30/1985
Boothby Lecture: Harold Weaver 2/4/1985
Boothby Lecture: Norris B. Johnson 2/11/1985
Boothby Lecture: Tudier Harris 2/21/1985
Boothby Lecture: David Driskell 2/28/1985
Boothby Lecture: Toni Cade Bambara 9/26/1985
Boothby Lecture: Hilbourne A. Watson 3/6/1986
Boothby Lecture: Tommy Lott 9/18/1986
Boothby Lecture: Dr. Cheryl Townsend Gilkes 11/10/1986
Boothby Lecture: Maurice Bennett 3/11/1987
Boothby Lecture: Freda Merritt 4/7/1988
Boothby Lecture: Kenneth Manning 10/7/1987
Boothby Lecture information, 1985-1987
This series contains lectures sponsored, or co-sponsored by the Africana Studies program, but not part of an endowed series. Files include information on the Black Arts Festival, film festivals and other events.
Restricted 20 years after date of creation.
Arranged alphabetically.
Afro-American Society -- Miscellaneous lectures
Afro-American Society:Reaganomics 3/15/82 (Johnson, Dana, Leonard, Goldstein)
Afro-American Studies: Dr. James H. Cone 2/3/78
AASP, History,Romance Languages: Ousmane Sembene Film Festival
Black Arts Festival: 1978
Black Arts Festival: February 1979
Black Arts Festival: 1981
Black Arts Festival Lecture: Gil Noble 2/27/81
Black Arts Festival: 2/12/82
Black Arts Festival: 2/6-12/83
Black Arts Festival: 1984
Black Arts Festival: 1985
Black Arts Festival Lecture: Ben Hooks 2/6/1985
Black Arts Festival: 1986
Black Arts Festival Lecture: Randall Robinson 2/11/1986
Black Arts Festival: 1986-1987
Black Arts Festival: 1987-1988
Black Arts Festival Lecture: Floyd Barbour '60 2/16/1988
Black Arts Festival: 1988-1989
Black Arts Festival: Harlem Renaissance Theater Group 2/19/1989
Black Arts Festival Lecture: Dick Gregory 2/22/1989
Bowdoin Colloquium:"Reagan Politics: Impact on Third World Nations"
Caribbean Film Festival: 3/31/1986-4/29/1986
Clarice Davis/Herman Dreer's Daughter
A Day Against Racism: In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1/20/81
Buchi Emecheta 10/10/84
English Dept./Afro-Am Studies: Derek Walcott 11/20/81
Films: 1981-1982
Alex Haley: 10/5/84
History, SCAR, AASP, Struggle and Change: Michelle Mugo 10/28/82
In Celebration of Black Culture: Maine and Beyond: USM Fall 1983
Martin Luther King, Jr. May 1964
Loretta Long 10/14/84
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: 1/29/1988
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: Society/Gus Adair 2/1/1989-2/4/1989
McCartney Lecture Series #1: John McCartney 10/7/76
McCartney Lecture Series #2: Gerald Talbot 11/9/76
McCartney Lecture Series #3: William Boyd 12/2/76
McCartney Lecture Series #4: Richard Barksdale 1/20/77
McCartney Lecture Series #5: Orde Coombs 2/3/77
McCartney Lecture Series #6: Patricia Jacobs 3/3/77
National Newspaper Paper Publishers Assn. "Black Press of America" Workshop, Washington D.C. 3/16-3/19/77
Lea A. Rieber '21
Project Bread: Dr. Bereket Salassie 4/16/1985
Russwurm Funding Alumnae Giving 1980-1985
Santagata Lecture: Toni Morrison 9/21/1987
Say Amen, Somebody 2/24/84
Susana Blaustein Munoz: 3/3/1986
Tallman Lecturer Search 1978-1979
Tallman Lecturer 1978-1979: John Walter/Government Department selection
Tallman Lecturer - Spring 1981 : Harold W. Cruise
20th Year Celebration: Billy Taylor Trio 4/28/1989
20th Year Celebration: Department of Music
20th Year Celebration: Dodge Van Lee Leasing
20th Year Celebration: Ed Bradley 10/10/1989
20th Year Celebration: Eleanor Burnette
20th Year Celebration: Expanded Video
20th Year Celebration: Laurie Ourlicht 11/15/1988-11/20/1988
20th Year Celebration: Mellon Grant Proposal
20th Year Celebration: Related Courses
20th Year Celebration: Sonny Rollins 10/29/1988
20th Year Celebration: Spreadsheets and Budgets
20th Year Celebration: The Copasetics 10/14/1988
20th Year Celebration: The Honorable Henry Cisneros 2/28/1989
20th Year Celebration: 20 Years Ago - Retrospective
20th Year Celebration: Twentieth Anniversary File
20th Year Celebration: Walker Art Museum
Bowdoin Graduation - 5/26/90
The Copasetics
David Driscoll
Interviews : 5/23/90
Lorie Ourlicht/Eleanor Burnette/Augustus Adair/Ed Bradley
Billy Taylor/Copasetics/Henry Cisneros
Billy Taylor Trio
Augustus Adair - HR1
Henry Cisneros - HR2
Anton Kucer - Interview - HR4 5/23/90
Lorie Ourlicht - HR1
Workshop Dance (Copasetics) 10/14/88
This series contains departmental files concerning the non-re-appointment of John Walter, director of the Afro-American Studies Department.
Arranged chronologically.
Closed for 75 years from date of creation.
John Walter Re-appointment
Student Support
Spring 1978
Fall 1978
Spring 1979
Fall 1979
Mellon Grant and Others
Publicity, etc.
This series contains departmental subject files concerning special subjects, including South Africa divestment, recruitment of students in Jamaica, and the creation of the John Brown Russwurm Afro-American Center Library. This series also includes news clippings of events concerning the African-American community at Bowdoin and the 1976 Survey of New England Colleges and Universities for Black Students.
Arranged alphabetically by key word.
Closed for 20 years after date of creation.
AASP Description Revision for Bowdoin Catalogue 2/27/81
Admissions and Student Aid Committee
Africa Network
Black Studies
Lynn Bolles
James Bowdoin Institute: Bowdoin General
CAAS, Afro-American Studies, Struggle and Change: "South Africa Awareness Week" 11/4-11/11/85
Bowdoin Alumnus: Alumni Magazine, Charles Calhoun
Chairmanship Of The Afro-American Studies Committee
Collegiate Divestment
Conference Fall 1982 (Patrick Smith Bowdoin College)
Conferences
Dedication RAAC Library: Herman Dreer Reading Room 2/11/82
Afro-American Studies and Afro-American Society events: 1970-1971 clippings
Afro-American Program and Afro-American Society events: 1972 clippings
Afro-American Program and Afro-American Society events: 1973 clippings
Afro-American Program and Afro-American Society events: 1974 clippings
Afro-American Society and Afro-American Program events: 1975 clippings
1976 Events
Freedom Struggle
Handouts
Jamaica: Dr. Inez Carnegie
Jamaica: Embassy Reception Bowdoin Alumni (John Walter)
Jamaica: Information Agency
Jamaica: Manley
Jamaica: Professor Exchange
Connecting the Struggles: Liberation in Africa
Posters
RAAC Library
Russwurm Library Project
Self Study of the Afro American Studies Program
Political Economy of South Africa
South Africa Investment
Black Alumni Statistics (Wanda Fleming - August 1982) The Black Experience at Bowdoin College 1826-1982
1976 Survey of New England Colleges and Universities For Black Studies Programs (1)
1976 Survey of New England Colleges and Universities for Black Studies Programs (2)
1976 Survey of New England Colleges and Universities for Black Studies Programs (3)
Afro-American Studies Program: Twelve College Exchange
Video
Video: Bishop Desmond Tutu 3/7/85
John C. Walter - Old Syllabi
Certificate: Race Unity Day 12 June 1983
Provenance, background, and transparencies: Michael Waterman's portrait of Martin Luther King, Jr., 2000
30th Anniversary Celebration of the John Brown Russwurm African American Center, 2000 Apr 14-16
Symposium on Race, Justice, and the Environment 22-23 February 2002
This series contains clippings from the Bowdoin Orient concerning issues impacting the African-American community at Bowdoin.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1970-1993, n.d.
"The Black Current," 1989-1990
This series contains posters created to accompany Africana Studies events.
Unarranged
No restrictions.
Dr. Mary Frances Berry. 19 Feb 1987
"El-Hajj Malik El Shabazz: A Tribute to Malcolm X" speaker: Gil Noble. 27 Feb 1981
"A Black Woman Writer Thinks Back Through Her Mothers" speaker: Paule Marshall. 8 Nov 1984
"Economic Recession, Women's Employment, and Affirmative Action" speaker: Eleanor Holmes Norton. 8 Feb 1983
Derek Walcott poetry reading. 20 Nov 1981
"Up From Malinowski: Native Anthropology & the New Pluralism" speaker: John Gwaltney. 5 Nov 1981
"Larry Ridley Trio." 11 Oct 1985
Maya Angelou. 21 Sep 1984
"Political Outlook for the 1980s" Julian Bond. 13 Apr 1982
Sonia Sanchez poetry reading. 10 Apr 1984
"Which Way America: Socialism of Fascism?" speaker: Amiri Baraka. 27 Apr 1988
Benjamin Hook. 1985
"Elizabeth Catlett: Her Life & Her Work" speaker: Dr. Samella Lewis. 8 Apr 1985
"African Extensions: A Photographic Search for African Survivals in the Americas." Reginald L. Jackson. 7-22 Mar 1981
"Forum: South America" speaker: Randall Robinson. 11 Feb 1986
"The African Basis of Cuban Culture" speaker: Rafael Lopez Valdes. 8 Dec 1980
"Rebuilding Cities: The Role of Black Political Involvement" speaker: Parren J. Mitchell. 16 Apr 1981
"A Day Against Racism: in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr." 20 Jan 1981
"South Africa: Voices of Resistance to Apartheid." speaker: Dennis Brutus. 17-18 Feb 1984
"20th Anniversary Symposia." 1988-1989
"Billy Taylor Trio." 28 April 1989 [framed]
"Blacklight" [performance]. 28-30 Apr 1990[?]. [framed]
"Ed Bradley: Past Present, and Future" signed by Bradley. 20 Oct 1988 [framed]
"Edwidge Danticat reading from her works." 29 Nov 1995 [framed]
"Everybody Knows the Real Thing, but Magic Brings Us Home: Notes for a Multicultural Age" signed by speaker Dr. Houston A. Baker, Jr. 10 Feb 1994 [framed]
"An Exploration of the Work of Eleanor Burnette." 12 Apr 1989 [framed]
"From Brownsville to Broadway" signed by speaker Nelson George. 14 Mar 1995 [framed]
"Gloria Naylor Speaks" signed by speaker. 8 Feb 1991 [framed]
"Hispanics in the Future of the United States" speaker: The Honorable Henry Cisneros. 28 Feb 1989 [framed]
"History as Fiction, Fiction as History, a Reading with Commentary" signed by speaker Michelle Cliff. 23 Oct 1995 [framed]
"Life After MoTown: Lecture and Poetry Reading" signed by speaker Patricia Smith. 7 Apr 1994 [framed]
"Making Room for Ourselves" signed by speaker Lorene Cary. 29 Jan 1992 [framed]
Ntozake Shange lecture signed by speaker. 13 Apr 1991 [framed]
"Race Matters" speaker: Cornel West. 15 Apr 1993 [framed]
"Remembering Anna Julia Cooper: A Century of Black Feminist Thought" signed by speaker Beverly Guy-Sheftall. 18 Sep 1995 [framed]
"Toni Morrison reading from her works." 21 Sep 1987 [framed]
"Women, Culture, and Politics" speaker: Angela Davis. 24 Feb 1990 [framed]
"The African Presence in Ancient America" speaker: Ivan Van Sertima. 10 Nov 1980
"A Day Against Racism in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." 20 Jan 1981
Essex Hemphill. 16 April n.y.
"I Love Myself When I Am Singing:African-American Women and their Music." 17-19 Nov 1989
"Hispanics in the Future of the United States: speaker: The Honorable Henry Cisneros. 28 Feb 1989
"Ed Bradley: Past Present, and Future." 20 Oct 1988
"An Exploration of the Work of Eleanor Burnette." 12 Apr 1989
Poster with Russwurm's image, signature, and quotation from the 1827 Mar 16 "Freedom's Journal," for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the John Brown Russwurm African-American Center, 2000 spring
Establishing the Past: Problems in Nineteenth-Century African American Literary Studies (a one-day symposium, 2010 Apr 9)
Black History Month: Liberation Through Activisim, 2016 February
Introduction to African Spirituality & Philosophy, 2016
The Black Arts Festival, 1980
Apartheid Posters
"Ain't I a Woman" (2017)
Miscellaneous posters