• Classification number: 3L
• Title of Record Series: Department of Black Studies
• Record Group: Faculty
• Sub Group: Departments
• Date:
• Accession Number:
• Source:
• Restrictions: Some material restricted. Restricted files are not listed in this finding aid. Please contact staff for more information.
• Volume: 6 unrestricted boxes

The Records of the Black Studies Department date from 1968 to 1992, with the bulk of the files dating from 1973-1979 and 1981-1986.

Students and faculty petitioned the college for an Afro-American major during the academic year 1967-1968. In the Fall of 1968 the college adopted Afro-American Studies as an interdepartmental major. A committee (one faculty member from each of the Departments of Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology) was selected to direct work of majors. Kathryn Preyer,the History Department member of the committee, was designated as director (1968-1970). In 1970 the name was changed to the Black Studies Program; no specific faculty member is identified as director for 1970-72. In 1972 William R. Scott, Assistant Professor of History, became director of the Black Studies Progam. On May 18,1973, Academic Council voted to make Black Studies a department. In April 1992 the department's name was changed to the Africana Studies Department.

These records are grouped in the following sequence: general departmental files alphabetically by subject; course materials arranged numerically by course numbers; and restricted materials arranged alphabetically by subject.

These records include correspondence, minutes, budget and other financial data, syllabi and other curricular material, lists, newsletters and other publications, programs and fliers. The records show the management of the department, department meetings, events (guest speakers and lecturers), interaction with other departments, scripts, invitations, fliers, and budget information for the Black Repertory Theatre. Material on development of curriculum is primarily from 1973 to 1982. There is information on majors and Black alumnae. The records contain some information on Ethos, the black student organization. For additional Ethos information see 6S Ethos.

• Academic Council: Minutes, Correspondence (1973)
• Academic Council: Minutes, Correspondence (1974-1975)
• Academic Council: Minutes, Correspondence (1975-1976)
• Academic Council: Minutes, Correspondence (1977-1978)
• Academic Review Board
• Admissions: Black Students (1977)
• Affirmative Action: Overview/Policy Statements (1977-1982)
• Afro-American Dance
• Alumnae Association: Alumnae Achievement Awards: (1975)
• Alumnae: Black Studies
• Alumnae Magazine: Reprints: Black Studies Dept. (Fall 1973)
• American Forum for International Study: Correspondence, Program Information (1974)
• American Studies: Teacher Certification (1981)
• Annual Reports to the President (1972-1983)
• Association for the Study of Negro Life and History: souvenir journal (1972)
• Bibliographies
• Collected Bibliography on the American Negro with African Background
• Black Ecumenical Commission (1973)
• Black Centennial Project: Correspondence (1973-1975)
• Black Journal: General (1972)
• Black Quintessence Symposium: Info, Correspondence (1979-1980)
• Black Studies Advisory Comm. And Advisors
• Black Studies Department: General and Curriculum Info: (1974-1976) note: photo copy of the letter addressed to W. Scott from the KKK
• Black Studies Department: Staff Meetings (1976-1985)
• Black Studies Department: Minutes (1975-1976)
• Black Studies: Staff Meetings (1973-1975)
• Black Students Directory
• Black Students (Fall 1982)
• Black Studies Club: Memos, List Correspondence (1977-1978)
• Black Studies Majors: General (1977-1981)
• Black Studies: Majors' Dinner; Memos, Student Lists, Vouchers (12/8/78)
• Black Studies: Requirement for Majors
• Black Studies: Program Majors/Enrollment Statistics (1973)
• Black and Ethnic Studies: Personnel Jobs from outside institutions
• Black Studies: Prizes (1983-1988)
• Black Studies: Projections for Courses
• Black Task Force: Flyer, Correspondence (1974)
• Black Repertory Theatre: "The Agony and the Joy" Budget Information, Cost list, Correspondence (1979)
• Black Repertory Theatre: "A Black Woman Called Moses" Script, Invitations, Flyers, Budget (1977)
• Black Repertory Theatre: Budget and related information "I am a Black Woman" (1975)
• Black Repertory Theatre: Budget Information for "Malcolm X Story", "Black Caravans", (1974 and 1976), "God's Trombones" (1976)
• Black Theatre: Correspondence/New York (1973)
• Black Studies: Trustee Relations, Enrollment Statistics
• Black at Wellesley Brochure
• Center for Research on Women: Black Women's Educational Policy and Research Network
• Black Studies: Book Correspondence Selections (1973-1986)
• Boston Latin/Wellesley Magnet pairing: Correspondence (1 w/copy) (1977)
• Budget Expenditures (1972-1975)
• Budget (1976-1979)
• Brown Sister Literary Magazine (1975-1980)
• Calendar for Academic Department (1977-1978)

• Career Services: Correspondence, Newsletters, Flyers, etc. (1972-1974)
• Center for Research on Women: Events, Flyers, Program Information Chairman (1977)
• Chairman: Letter to Black Students (1978-1979)
• Classified Salary Plan Members: General/not restricted (1974-1976)
• Class Lists (1989-1991)
• Classes of 1984, 1986, 1987 (1985 missing): Names/Addresses
• Cluster Program (1986)
• Colleges/Universities: Miscellaneous;Correspondence with other Institutions (1972-1974)
• Colleges/Universities: Atlanta University Center for African-American Studies
• Colleges/Universities: SUNY Binghamton W. Scott-Lecture (1974)
• Colleges/Universities: Boston College Correspondence about Black Studies Department at B.C. (1975-1976)
• Colleges/Universities: Boston University Brookline, MA 02146: Correspondence; ML King, JR. Commemorative March, W. Scott (1976)
• Colleges/Universities: Brandeis University African Studies Association Correspondence (1973-1974)
• Colleges/Universities: Brown University Request for Help-Research Center Black Studies (1972-1973)
• Colleges/Universities: Bryant College, Smithfield, R.I.: "Soul Revue" Correspondence w/Carmen A. Jordan Ass't to Vice President, Student Affairs (1973-1974)
• Colleges/Universities: City University of New York Herbert H. Lehman College (1969-1973)
• Colleges/Universities: Cornell University Black Studies Program Africana Studies and Research Center
• Colleges/Universities: Five College Black Studies Amherst, MA
• Colleges/Universities: Florida International University
• Colleges/Universities: Harvard-Radcliffe Afro-American Cultural Center
• Colleges/Universities: Iowa, University of: Afro-American Summer Culture Seminar Correspondence (1974)
• Colleges/Universities: Malcolm X Liberation University Support Committee W. Scott (1973)
• Colleges/Universities: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Urban Studies/Planning Correspondence, W. Scott
• Colleges/Universities: Massachusetts, University of-Amherst and Boston Black Studies Department (1973-1975)
• Colleges/Universities: Northeastern University Boston, MA 02115 Correspondence, Newspaper (1972-1975)
• Colleges/Universities: San Jose State College, Black Studies Department (1971)
• Colleges/Universities: Spelman College Atlanta, GA 30314: Correspondence/Proposal for the National Endowment for Humanities Jane Aldridge
• Colleges/Universities: Tufts University Afro-American Cultural Center (1972-1976)
• Colleges/Universities: Twelve College Exchange Program/Student Lists (1973-1976)
• Colleges/Universities: Vassar College Black Studies Program (1975)
• Colleges/Universities: Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT African American Institute (1973)
• Colleges/Universities: Wisconsin, University of: Correspondence/General Information (1970-1976)
• Commission on Community Life (1973-1975)
• Conferences (1973)
• Congressional Research Service: Blacks on Campus, Report 72
• Consortium-Boston Area Black Studies (1974-1975)
• Continuing Education Department
• Controller's
• Correspondence: Community-Related (1977)
• Correspondence: for Chairman Weldon Jackson (Miscellaneous)
• Correspondence: Inter-departmental (Miscellaneous)
• Correspondence: Miscellaneous (1971-1975)
• Correspondence: from outside Wellesley (miscellaneous)
• Courses: Africana Studies Fall 1992
• Courses: Black Studies 1990-1991
• Courses: Black Studies 1988-1990
• Courses: Black Studies Spring 1988/1989, Fall 1989
• Courses: Black Studies Fall and Spring 1987-1988

• Course Enrollment: Spring, Fall 1987; Schedule of Classes 1987
• Courses: Black Studies 1985-1986; 1986-1987
• Curriculum: 1984-1985
• Curriculum: 1988-1989
• Curriculum: 1980-1981 with Schedule Information
• Curriculum: Information 1979/1980
• Curriculum: Changes and Information for Catalogue 1978-1979
• Curriculum: Course Descriptions for 1976-1982
• Curriculum: Course Description, Information for Spring 1980
• Curriculum: Proposal 1976-1977
• Committee on Curriculum and Instruction (1972-1975)
• Correspondence: Dean Chaplin to Department Secretaries (copies to Chairman)
• Correspondence: Scarborough, Danny (1973-1976)
• Correspondence: Scott, William (1976-1977)
• Correspondence: Small Business Association (1986)
• Correspondence: Spillers, Hortense (1976)
• Correspondence: Stubbs, Marcia (1974-1974)
• Correspondence: Waddell, Chauncey (1973)
• Crossroads: Africa Summer Work/Study 1976/1977
• Dean of Academic Programs: Blake, Elizabeth (1976/1977)
• Dean of the College: Ilchman, Alice F. Correspondence/ Memos 1974-1977
• Department Chairman List
• Department: General Chronological Files 1978-1979
• Department: General Chronological Files 1977-1978
• Department: General Chronological Files (1/1977 to 6/1977)
• Department: General Chronological Files (8/1976 to 12/31/1976)
• Department and House Connection List 1980
• Departmental Newsletters: 1978-1983, 1987, 1992
• Directives 1973-1980
• Economics Department Memorandum 1972-1975
• Educational Research and Development Memorandum 1973-1977
• English Department: Beverly Layman (Chairman)
• Enrollment Information (1983-1986)
• Enrollments: 1981-1982
• Enrollment Information (includes Class List) (1979-1980)
• Enrollment Information: 1976, 1977; Fall 1978
• Ethnic News Service
• Ethos: Newsletter (1975-1986)

• Events: Programs and Flyers (1973-2000)
• Events: Lecturers-General Information (1971-1976)
• Events: Lecturer-Adams, Hussein (Lecture 4/12/1978)
• Events: Lecturer-Allen, Sam (Poetry Reading 3/19/1981)
• Events: Lecturers-Baldwin/Morrison Program (1975)
• Events: Lecturer-Bond, Julian (1975)
• Events: Lecturer-Boyer, Horace (Dr.) (1979-1980)
• Events: Lecturer-Brath, Elombe (speaker-5/3/1978)
• Events: Lecturer-Brooks, Gwendolyn (1973)
• Events: Lecturer-Chrisman, Robert (11/1977)
• Events: Lecturer-Cornish, Sam (Poetry Reading 3/19/1981)
• Events: Lecturer-Garvey, Marcus Jr. (Lecture 4/30/1977)
• Events: Lecturer-Franklin, Milton (3/2/1977)
• Events: Lecturer-Jackson, Marie O. (Judge)
• Events: Lecturer-Mallory, Mac (1977)
• Events: Lecturer-Moses, Robert (5/2/1977)
• Events: Lecturer-O'Bryant, John (1982)
• Events: Lecturer-Patterson, John (1976)
• Events: Lecturer-Pottinger, George F. (1979)
• Events: Lecturer-Scott, Patricia Bell (1979)
• Events: Lecturer-Seale, Bobby (1978)
• Events: Lecturer-Todd, Beatrice (1973)
• Events: Lecturer-Wallace, Michelle (1979)
• Events: Lecturer-West, Cornell (1979)
• Events: Lecturer-Williams, John A. (author) (1979)
• Events: Lecturer-Yarde, Richard-Exhibit (1975-1976)
• Examinations (1974-1975)
• Examinations (1976, 1977, 1980)
• Faculty Appointments Committee (1972-1974)
• Faculty Awards
• Faculty Grants: Travel, Lecturers, etc.
• Federal City College: Black Studies: Course Descriptions, Position Paper, Pamphlet
• Fellowship Information (1973-1975)
• Films
• Financial Aid Info/Student Employees
• Ford Foundation Venture Fund (1974)
• Foreign Study (1973-1976)
• Form Letters: Acknowledgement of Vitae
• Freshman Handbook (1981-1982)
• Grade Distribution Data (1977-1978)
• Grenada Forum (1983)
• Harambee House (1973-1983)
• History Dept. Correspondence/Memos (1972-1982)
• History of the Major: Establishment of Black Studies Curriculum and Major
• History of the Major: Proposal: Department of Black Studies (1973)
• History Weekend (April 1974)
• Honors Program (1974-1985)
• Horton, Jennifer: Speech at 1973 commencement
• Humans as Experimental Subjects (1976)
• The Institute of the Black World (1981)
• Information Services: "The Sheet" Correspondence (1975-1976)
• Internship Program: General Information (1973-1977)
• Karefa-Smart, John: Correspondence, Resume (1974-1975)
• Karefa-Smart, Ms. Rena: Curriculum Information (1974)
• Library: Correspondence (1974-1975, 1985)
• Library: Reserved Book Lists (1974-1975)
• Majority-Minorities Affairs: Memorandum (1972-1973)
• Many Roads Career Conference (1974)
• Martin, Tony: Correspondence (1974-1976)
• M.I.T. Summer Teaching "Exploration": 1977
• Menkiti, Mr. Ifeyani: Correspondence (1976-1977)
• "Men of Bronze" Documentary Film (1978)
• Mezcla: Correspondence (1975)
• Mini Film Festival: Danny and Tony (1976-1977)
• Museum of Afro-American History, Boston
• National Council for Black Studies (1978-1984)
• Open House: Black Studies (1978)
• Personnel Bulletins (1977-1981)
• Phi Beta Kappa (1976-1982)
• Philosophy Department: Correspondence (1973)
• Political Science Department: Correspondence (1973-1985)
• Premedical Advisory Committee Report (1980-1981)
• President's Advisory Council (1973)
• Publicity (for and about Black Studies Department)
• Psychology Department: Memorandum (1972-1975)
• Racial Concerns Group (1974)
• Racism and Sexism Conference (1975)
• Recruitment Information: Forms, Job Descriptions, etc. (1973, 1976-1986)
• Regret Form Letters: Black Literature
• Registrar: Correspondence (1973-1986)
• Religion and Biblical Studies: Correspondence (1972-1975)
• Trustees, Board of: Meeting Reports (1977)
• Scholarship Information: General (1976-1980)
• Sheet (The): Faculty Activities Column (1976-1978)
• Sociology Department: Correspondence for Position
• South African "Teach-in": Sponsored by The Martin Luther King Memorial Fund (1976-1977)
• Student Assistants: General (1982-1985)
• Student Poetry: Tambian
• Students: Transfers (1977-1984)
• Upward Bound: MIT/Wellesley (1974-1975)
• Urban Studies: General Information
• Voices: Black Musical Theater (1973-1975)
• Vouchers: General (1975-1976)
• Wellesley College: Black Faculty and Administration (1972)
• Wellesley News: "Footnotes" Column (1976-1977)
• Wellesley Senior High School: American Ethnic Studies (correspondence 1974)
• Winterterm (1974-1975)
• Women's Studies: General (1986)

• BS 105: Introduction to Black Experience (1977-1984)
• BS 150A: Black Americans and the Electoral Process (Fall 1984)
• BS 150A: International Black Power (Mr. Martin) semester I and II
• BS 150A: Freshman/Sophomore Colloquium, "1919 Year of the New Negro"
• BS 150B: African Diaspora Black Poetry (Miss Spiller) (1977­1977)
• BS 150B: Internationalization of Black Power (Tony Martin) Spring 1986
• BS 151: 1919 Year of the "New Negro" (Martin) Fall 1978
• BS 200: Africans in Antiquity (Martin) Spring 1979
• BS/Philosophy 202: Introduction to African Philosophy (Mr. Martin) II 1977
• BS 203: Research Methods in Afro-American Anthropology (Ms. Bruce) II 1978
• BS 203: Intro. To Afro-American Sociology (Mrs. Howell) Fall 1979
• BS 204: Oral History and Social Science Methodology (Ms. Darling) Spring 1980
• BS 204: Intro. To Afro-American Sociology (Ms, Fleurant) 1978
• BS 204: Intro to Afro-American Anthropology (Mrs. Bruce) 1977-1978
• BS 204: Afro-American History, Extra-departmental 204 1972
• BS 205: Introduction to the Black Experience, Extra-departmental 205 1973
• BS 206: Afro-American History 1978-1980
• BS 207: Revolution and Insurrection (Mr. Scarborough) Fall 1977
• BS 208: Revolution and Insurrection (Mr. Scarborough) Sem. II Spring 1978
• BS 209: The Black Total Theatrical Experience 1972-1980
• BS 210: Black Drama in the 20Th Century
• BS 212: Introduction to Afro-American Politics (Mr. Jackson) 1977-1979
• BS 212: Race and Racism in American Politics (Mr. Jackson, Fall 1980)
• BS 213: Political Development in the Black Community 1978 and 1980
• BS 214: Blacks and the US Supreme Court 1979-1980
• BS 215: Nationalism and Political Integration in Tropical Africa 1975
• BS 216: History of the West Indies (Martin) 1977-1978
• BS 217: Africa in World Politics 1973
• BS 217: Sociology of the Black Family (Mrs. Howell)
• BS 220: Black Ghettoization (Mrs. Howell) Spring 1980
• Bs 220: The Black Religious Experience in America Spring 1974
• BS 224: Sociology of the Black Community (V. Gordon) Fall 1986
• BS 228: Religion and Biblical Studies 1973-74
• BS/English 228: Black Literature in America (Ms. Spillers) II 1977
• BS 230: The Black Woman 1974-84
• BS 235: Women Writers, English Speaking Caribbean Spring 1988
• BS 264: Afro-American Literature Survey 1978
• BS 264: Black Literature in America (Mr. Chambers) Spring 1980
• BS 267: History of Pre-colonial Africa, History Dept. 1977-1978
• BS 302: Introduction to African Philosophy Extra-departmental 302 Spring 1975
• BS 305: Minority Marginality: The Uncertain Americans (Mrs. Howell) Spring 1980
• BS 310: Seminar Black Literature (Mr. Chambers) 1978-1980
• BS 310: Black Lit. ­ Authentic (Mrs. Barfield) Spring 1978
• BS 310: Seminar Slave Narratives (Mr. Scarborough) Sem. I and II 1976-1977
• BS 310: Langston Hughes Seminar Fall 1975
• BS 312: Race and Sex Seminar Spring 1975
• BS 315: Urban Politics in the South (Mr. Jackson) 1977-1978
• BS 316: History of West Indies (Mr. Martian) I 1976
• BS 317: Political Sociology of Afro-Americans (Mr. Jackson) Fall 1979
• BS 319: Pan-Americanism 1976-1978
• BS 320: Black Institutions (Ms. Bruce) 1977-1978
• BS 321: Seminar on the 1920s in America
• BS 340: Afro-American History Seminar Spring 1979 (Mr. Martin)
• BS 340: Black Political and Social Thought Spring 1983
• BS 340: Blacks and Communists (Martin) Spring 1975
• BS 340: Seminar ­ Marcus Garvey 1977-1978
• BS 345: Women and International Development 1986-1987
• BS 350: East Africa Culture, Literature and Languages 1972-1973
• BS 350s ­Black Studies Information 1976
• Music 106: Lemuel Martinez-Carroll 1976-77

• Listing of Black Alumnae By Class
• Newspaper Articles

• Restricted: General: (1973-1975)
• Restricted: Correspondence: Student Grades, 350s, general miscellaneous (1973-1975)
• Restricted: Grades 1972-1975
• Restricted: Honors Program 1974-1985
• Restricted: Plan for the Major: General Student Correspondence (1971-1976)
• Restricted: Plan for the major: General Student Correspondence (1977-1986)
• Restricted: Pre-Freshman ­ Black Studies: Correspondence to prospective Black Studies Majors (1977)
• Restricted: Quinn, Shirley (Mrs. Patrick): Dean of the Class of 1977 ­ correspondence (1974)
• Restricted: Search Committee Correspondence (1977)
• Restricted: Search Committee: Black Studies Director (1977)
• Restricted: Student Evaluations: Faculty (1976-1978)
• Restricted: Student Evaluations: Faculty (1975-1976)
• Restricted: Student Evaluations: Faculty (1974-1975)
• Restricted: Student Evaluations: Faculty (1973-1974
• Restricted: Student Evaluations: Faculty (1972-1973)

• Restricted: Student Files (11 folders)
• Restricted: Student Recommendations: Essence Magazine (1975) Outstanding Achievement
• Restricted: Student Recommendations: General
• Restricted: Waddell Fellowships: Students and Awards (1973-1975)