Finding Aid for African American Studies and Research Program Subject File, 1961-2009 | University of Illinois Archives

Title: African American Studies and Research Program Subject File, 1961-2009

ID: 15/42/5

Primary Creator: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. African American Studies and Research Program

Extent: 10.0 cubic feet

Arrangement: Alphabetically by subject

Subjects: Affirmative Action, African-American Cultural Program, Afro-American Studies, Black Studies, National Council for Black Studies

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

The African American Studies and Research Program Subject File (1948-2003) contains correspondence, minutes, reports, news clippings, applications, catalogs, newsletters, bibliographies, brochures, lists, publications, syllabi, curriculum vitae, and photographs concerning the organization, activities, programs, course offerings, and research of the AASRP (originally called the Afro-American Studies and Research Program, later known as the African American Studies and Research Program), including National Council for Black Studies (1982), African American Cultural Center (1971, 1975-1978), Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History (1973-1976), Black Studies (1971-1974), Chicago: Crisis of Leadership lecture series (1982-1983), COPE review (1983), Institute of the Black World (1970-1973), Affirmative Action (1974-1975, 1993-1996), Champaign County Afro-American History Project (1996-1997), Program history (1969-1981), undergraduate essay contest papers (1996-2003), Afro 100 student papers, Universal Negro Improvement Association (1975-1976), SEOP (Special Educational Opportunities Program, 1971-1973), and Student Survey: Black Freshmen at the University of Illinois (1982).

Additional materials on the early history of the Afro-American Studies and Research program can be found in the Gerald A. McWorter Papers, record series 15/42/21.

On February 27, 1969, the Chancellor created the Afro-American Life and Culture Faculty-Study Commission to study the feasibility of Afro-American studies at the University.¹ On July 17, 1969, the Afro-American Cultural Program and Cultural Center was established.² On January 20, 1970, the Chancellor reorganized the commission, reducing the membership from fourteen to five, and renamed it the Afro-American Studies Commission.³ In 1972, three separate programs were listed, each headed by a professional director, and dealing with Afro-American academic, cultural, and community programs. They were the Afro-American Academic Program, the Afro-American Cultural Center, and Afro-American Campus-Community Relations.⁴ In 1974 the duties of the Commission were reorganized under the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.⁵ This is also when the program was officially designated as the Afro-American Studies and Research Program. In 1975 the development of a research assistance program to provide professional services to faculty and students was announced.⁶ In 1975 the Afro-American Cultural program listed a Black Writers Workshop, Afro-American Dance Workshop, the "Uhuru" Ensemble, and a Black Lecture Series.⁷ In 2005, the name of the program was redesignated to the African American Studies and Research Program.⁸

1. Staff Directory, 1969-70, p. 15. Afro American Studies Commission, Purpose of the Center, pamphlet RS 15/42/0/1.

2. Afro-American Studies Commission, Purpose of the Center, pamphlet, RS 15/42/0/1.

3. Staff Directory, 1970-71, p. 16.

4. Ibid., 1971-72, pp. 16-17.

5. Undergraduate Study Catalog, 1975-77, p. 281-82.

6. Ibid., p. 282.

7. Afro American Studies Commission, The Afro-American Cultural Program, pamphlet, RS 15/42/0/1.

8. University of Illinois Board of Trustees, Seventy-Third Report 2004-2006 (2006), p. 170.

Affirmative Action
African-American Cultural Program
Afro-American Studies
Black Studies
National Council for Black Studies

Repository: University of Illinois Archives

Accruals: 6/22/1984; 12/2003; 8/2008; 8/2009, 1/28/2013, 9/20/2014

Other Note: 8 Pages

URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/1542005.pdf

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