Office of Black Affairs administrative records (Accession 1981-102)
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 1981-102
Administrative records for the Office of Black Affairs. These materials were created and maintained to facilitate the operations and management of the unit. Records include monthly and periodic reports, publications, correspondence, meeting minutes, and materials related to the Tutoring program. Records are arranged in the order in which they were received, and for the most part, have retained original file names.
Some materials in these records contain sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal and/or state privacy laws. Because these records must be reviewed by Archives and Special Collection staff prior to access, research requests must be made 48 hours in advance by contacting archives@louisville.edu. In keeping with our use policies, researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications. Researchers who find sensitive personal information in any collection should immediately notify an ASC staff member.
3.5 linear feet (2 records center boxes and 2 manuscript boxes)
In 1968, the Black Student Union (BSU) which was organized the previous year, protested the university’s lack of attention to the needs and concerns of student of color. Negotiations between the BSU and the university administration lasted for a year with little progress. In April 1969, the BSU submitted a detailed plan that called for greater efforts to recruit faculty and students of color, increase financial aid support for Black students, and expand course offerings in Black history and literature. In response, the University established the Office of Black Affairs (OBA) in May with Hanford D. Stafford as interim Coordinator. Stafford was charged with implementing and directing the Black Studies program, which included services such as student recruiting, tutoring, and counseling. According to a c. 1974 brochure, the OBA “assists U of L in developing new approaches toward the enhancement of Black students’ life styles and facilitating the university effort in community services.” It lists the following as specific OBA activities: "1. Recruiting and retaining Black undergraduates 2. Delivering tutorial and counseling services 3. Sponsoring social and cultural activities 4. Improving the university’s relationship to the Black community 5. Coordinating student development activities; e.g. Black student newspaper, Black Diamond Chorus." In 1976, OBA was renamed the Office of Minority Affairs.
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