Collection contains the office files of the Director of African and African American Studies. Materials and topics in the collection include course materials for courses taught under the aegis of Black Studies' instructors; the large efforts channeled into recruitment of full-time faculty for the program; committee work related to Black Studies proposals and to the program's departmental status; budgets; information concerning similar programs and problems at other schools; and printed material received by the office which gives something of the flavor of minority affairs and resources around the country. Two 7-inch magnetic tape reels are also present documenting the 1972 Black Religion Symposium. The materials date from 1966-1981.
The initiative for the establishment of the Department of African and African American Studies began in October of 1968 when at an ad hoc meeting called by Dean William Griffith (at the request of the President of the University) Duke's Afro-American Society presented 12 demands. One of these demands called for the establishment of a Black Studies Program consisting of courses on Afro-American History, socio-economics, community development, black arts, black people in American politics, Afro-American literature, etc. Although there appeared to be general receptiveness to the proposition of a Black Studies Program, concern was expressed by some administrators present that "'funding and the ability to secure competent teachers' might present an obstacle to formation of the program." After a few meetings the momentum for the creation of Black Studies Program staled.
On February 13, 1969 sixty members of the Afro-American Society occupied the Allen Building (the main administrative building on campus) for eight hours and presented the university administration with a list of thirteen demands. The demands once again included the "establishment of a fully-accredited department of Afro-American Studies."
In response to the Allen Building Takeover the administration met with the Afro- American Society and accepted 12 of their 13 points. Following this acceptance the Supervisory Committee on Black Studies chaired by Louis Budd of the English Department was formed. The composition of the committee was contested by the students who demanded equal representation among the faculty and students. The final composition of the committee, however, was 5 faculty members and 3 students.
In May 1969, the Black Studies Committee submitted and received approval for the Black Studies Program from the Undergraduate Faculty Council of the Arts and Sciences (UFCAS). Walter Burford was named program head in 1970. Since its creation the program and eventually department has undergone various name changes. Some previous names include Black Studies Program, Afro-American Studies, African and Afro-American Studies, and its most recent (2007) incarnation African and African American Studies.
For a more in depth history of the department until 1984 please consult Report of Ad Hoc Committee on African and Afro-American Studies located in the Black History at Duke Reference Collection.
Processed by Sherrie Bowser, September 2007
Encoded by Sherrie Bowser, September 2007
Encoded for digitization project by Jessica Carew, December 2011
Accessions 76-141, A83-94, A86-64 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.
