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Center for Student Diversity records

 Record Group — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 004-002-002

Scope and Contents

The Records of the Center for Student Diversity houses the organizatinal records of the Center for Student Divesity. This collection, which dates from 1977 to 2007, consists of flyers, posters, newspaper clippings, correspondence, financial documents and business records, evidencing the social and academic activities of the Center for Student Diversity and its child organizations. This collection documents many of the organizations which fall under the Center for Student Diversity, with the majority of materials coming from the African American Cultural Center. This collection is unique in that it evidences the work of many different student organizations with varying goals. These groups include the African American Cultural Center, the Women's Center and Hillel. Researchers interested in the history of Towson University, especially as it pertains to minority groups within the university will find this collection a valuable resource.

Dates

  • Creation: 1977-2007
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1999 - 2006

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Most materials open to users without restriction. Newcombe Endowment Scholarship Fund Materials restricted. Copyright holder unknown.

Conditions Governing Use

Towson University Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) is the owner of the original materials and digitized images in our collections; however, the collection may contain materials for which copyright is not held. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials. Consult with SCUA to determine if we can provide permission for use.

Biographical / Historical

In the spring of 1969, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare declared Towson State College to be a racially segregated institution. The school was given 120 days to submit a plan to desegregate to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Towson State College fulfilled it's obligation in the fall of 1969 which included hiring four new African-American adminstrators. One of those administrators was Julius Chapman who began his tenure at Towson State College as the Coordinator of the Towson Opportunity Program.

The Center for Student Diversity was founded as the Office of Minority Affairs, and Julius Chapman became the Dean of Minority Affairs in 1973. Over the course of its existence it has had name changes to the Office of Multicultural Student Life, the Office of Diversity Resources, and finally the Center for Student Diversity. The Center for Student Diversity is an umbrella for several other student organizations including the African American Cultural Center (organized in 1974), the Women's Center (organized in 1972), and Hillel (organized in 1997).

Extent

2 Linear Feet

Arrangement

The materials in boxes 1 and 2 were originally housed in eight binders. They have been kept in their original order from the binders and arranged intellectually. The records are arranged in three series, which have all been further arranged in subseries. The series and subseries arrangement of the records is as follows:

Series I: Events Subseries I: Jane Elliott Event Subseries II: Cross-Cultural Retreat Subseries III: Big Apple/NYC Leadership Event Subseries IV: Black Hisotry Month Materials Subseries V: Southern Exposure Materials Subseries VI: Towson University Gospel Choir Subseries VII: Multi-group Events Subseries VIII: Political/Social Justice Events Subseries IX: Personal/Professional Development Events Subseries X: Arts Events Series II: Administrative Subseries I: Newsletters Subseries II: Reports and Goals Subseries III: General Correspondence Subseries IV: Certificates Subseries V: Newcombe Endowment Scholarship Fund Materials Series III: Reference Materials Subseries I: Icebreakers/Team Building Subseries II: Non-Towson University or Non-Center for Student Diversity Arts Events Subseries III: News and Magazing Articles Subseries IV: Inaccessible, Unknown, and Unidentifiable Materials Subseries V: Community Involvement Subseries VI: African American Cultural Center

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

This collection contains multiple, various audiovisual materials. Three VHS tapes require use of a VCR to view materials. All other audiovisual materials are currently inaccessible due to lack of appropriate equipment for viewing or tranfer. These materials include: small and large audio reels; multiple U-matic tapes; Ampex and Ampex 406 tape; BASF Performance Series 1800 tape; and Scotch Dynarange tape.

Custodial History

The Records of the Center for Student Diversity were transfered to the Towson University Special Collections and University Archives.

Existence and Location of Originals

All original Towerlight articles can be found in the Towson University Special Collections and University Archives as well as the Albert S. Cook Library Digital Collections.

Processing Information

No original order was apparent in the collection. Materials were arranged into series and subseries but groupd into folders as they were acquired. Preservation copies of newspaper clippings were made and originals removed. Removed materials with more than two copies.

Title
Guide to the Center for Student Diversity records
Status
Completed
Author
Megan Downey (updated by John Esh, 2020)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Towson University Special Collections and University Archives Repository

Contact:
Albert S. Cook Library
8000 York Rd
Towson MD 21252 United States