Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture records, 1979-2017 and undated
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Summary
- Abstract:
- The Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture was established in 1983 to share information about Africana and African-American culture with both the Duke and Durham communities. The collection contains materials regarding the general origins, development, and oversight of the Mary Lou Williams Center, as well as files related to programming hosted by, or sponsored by the Center. There are also a small number of files, mostly course materials, related to Leon Latimer Dunkley, Jr., who was the director of the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture from 1999-2005.
- Extent:
- 7.5 Linear Feet (4500 items)
- Language:
- Material in English
- Collection ID:
- UA.09.16.0001
- University Archives Record Group:
- 09 -- Student Affairs
09 -- Student Affairs > 16 -- Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture records contain materials regarding the general origins, development, and oversight of the Mary Lou Williams Center, as well as files related to programming hosted by, or sponsored by the Center, or at other black culture centers and in higher education in general. Among the materials are articles; plans; Board of Directors meeting minutes, agendas, and draft policies; event and exhibit flyers; black-and-white photographs; mailing and contact lists; correspondence, reports, and budgets; and reservations. Many of the events involve poetry or jazz. There are also a small number of files, mostly course planning materials, related to Leon Latimer Dunkley, Jr., was the director of the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture from 1999-2005.
- Biographical / historical:
-
The Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture (MLWC) was established in 1983 to share information about Africana and African-American culture with both the Duke and Durham communities. It is named for the jazz pianist and composer Mary Lou Williams who was a Duke Artist-in-Residence from 1977 until her death in 1981. The Mary Lou Williams Center (as described on its website) seeks to:
"... promote racial understanding, build community, and foster an appreciation for and increase knowledge of Black people, Black history, Black culture, and the vast contributions of people of the African Diaspora. We provide programs and services which contribute to the successful academic and personal development of Black students at Duke University and positively impact the lives of all those whom they encounter. We seek to be a hub for information and activity related to Black students, alumni, and other Black members of the Duke community. We welcome all who seek to engage with and be empowered by a greater understanding of Black experience."
- Acquisition information:
- The Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture Records were received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1997-1998, and 2018.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Sally Sullivan, July 2008
Encoded by Sally Sullivan, July 2008
Addition UA2018-0059 processed by Jasmine Alexander-Greene and Alice Poffinberger, December 2019
Accessions UA97-87, UA98-2, and UA2018-0059 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.
- Arrangement:
-
Organized into the following series: Administrative, Programming/Events, and Leon Dunkley papers.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.
- Subjects:
- African American college students -- North Carolina -- Durham
African Americans -- Education (Higher) -- North Carolina -- Durham
African Americans -- Education (Higher)
Jazz -- North Carolina -- Durham
Poetry, Modern -- 20th century
Special events -- Planning - Format:
- Black-and-white photographs
- Names:
- Williams, Mary Lou, 1910-1981
Dunkley, Leon Latimer
Contents
Using These Materials
- Using These Materials Links:
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Using These Materials
- Restrictions:
-
For a period of twenty-five years from the origin of the material, permission in writing from the office of origin and the University Archivist is required for use of administrative records. After twenty-five years, records that have been processed may be consulted with the permission of the University Archivist. Contact Research Services for more information.
Records of the University's Board of Trustees which have been in existence for at least fifty years are available for scholarly research with the permission of the University Archivist. Access to records which have been in existence for less than fifty years shall be granted only by special permission, in writing, from the Board of Trustees. Contact Research Services for more information.
Materials have not been screened for sensitive or restricted content. Staff will need to screen materials before use. Please contact Research Services for more information.
- Terms of access:
-
Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
- Before you visit:
- Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture Records, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m13d9r