%eadnotat; ]> 6Q006BCC Finding aid for Swarthmore College. Black Cultural Center Records, 1968-2000 Finding Aid Prepared by FHL staff Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 2007 Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by FHL Staff, 2007 ENG FHL staff Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 2007 Descriptive Summary Swarthmore College. Black Cultural Center Records 1968-2000 RG6/Q006 Swarthmore College. Black Cultural Center Records 5 boxes ; 2.5 linear feet Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College.

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081-1399 U.S.A.

For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. Contains the records of the Black Cultural Center, founded in 1969 and located on the campus of Swarthmore College. The BCC serves as a home for a number of organizations on campus including SASS (Swarthmore African-American Student Society), Gospel Choir, and Mjumbe, a literary magazine representing black students. The collection includes constitution, minutes, correspondence, and other records of SASS, the records of the Gospel Choir which was founded in 1971, and recent records of Mjumbe, a literary magazine. There is also miscellaneous material reflecting concerns and interests of black students on campus and alumni.

Repository:

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081-1399

Phone: (610) 328-8496 FAX: (610) 690-5728

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTE

A student organization, SASS (Swarthmore African-American Student Society) was organized in the fall of 1968 and the following year proposed the establishment of a Black Cultural Center (BCC). The BCC found a permanent home in 1970 in a former faculty residence/dormitory which was converted with funds donated by James A. Michener, Swarthmore College Class of 1929.

The mission statement of the Black Cultural Center of Swarthmore College is as follows:

To provide a physical space that reflects the perspectives, values and culture of Black students and people -- safe-space. To provide cultural, intellectual, and emotional support to all Black students and the larger Black community. To support and challenge students interested in the area of culturally centered leadership, and to be an integral part of the College's effort to provide multicultural education for the greater Swarthmore.

The BCC serves as a home for a number of organizations on campus including SASS, Gospel Choir, and Mjumbe, a literary magazine representing black students.

SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE RECORDS

The collection includes constitution, minutes, correspondence and other records of SASS, records of the Gospel Choir which was founded in 1971, and recent records of Mjumbe, a literary magazine. There is also miscellaneous material reflecting concerns and interests of black students on campus and alumni.

Organized into five series:

Organization: SASS Gospel Choir Black Alumni Weekend Mjumbe Miscellaneous ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Accession information

Deposit: Black Cultural Center

Date: 8/6/1999

Accession number: SCA99-013

Deposit: Administration

Date: ca. 1999

Access

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Copyright has not been assigned to Friends Historical Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in to the Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf Friends Historical Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader.

Preferred Citation

[Indicate the cited item or series here], Swarthmore College Archives, Black Cultural Center Records, RG6/Q006, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Swarthmore College Gospel Choir 15th Anniversary Concert [sound recording] : 1986. Concert [sound recording] : April 1, 1979. Concert [sound recording] : April 11, 1976. Concert [sound recording] : April 11, 1976 (2nd half) Concert [sound recording] : April 13, 1980. Concert [sound recording] : April 17, 1977. Concert [sound recording] : April 1975. Concert [sound recording] : April 27, 1975. Concert [sound recording] : April 27, 1975. Concert [sound recording] : April 5, 1981. Concert at BCC [sound recording] : February 2, 1989. Concert [sound recording] : December 4, 1977. Concert [sound recording] : December 7, 1980. Concert [sound recording] : February 18, 1976. Concert [sound recording] : February 9, 1975. Concerts at St. Thomas [sound recording] : November 15-16, 1991. Gospel Choir concert [video recording] / Swarthmore College Gospel Choir. Gospel Choir Concert [video recording] Video recording 84 Sophisticated Gents [Video Cassette Tape] All Campus Talent Show [Video Cassette Tape 1] 1992 All Campus Talent Show [Video Cassette Tape 2] 1993 The Colored Museum [Video Cassette Tape] 1993-94 Black Concert Ensemble [Professional Recording Tape] 1975 Black Concert Ensemble [Professional Recording Tape] 1975 Concert Tape [Professional Recording Tape] 1976 Blue robe and award titled James A Michener/ in gratitude / UNIEBOEK, Holland/ 1982 stored in Relics Photographs removed to SPA 201/B43 (Student Activities/Black Cultural Center) Processing information

The collection was described and organized as received. Gospel Choir robe and award to James Michener transferred to Relics. Campus panorama photograph transferred to FHL Picture Collection, Campus. Phonograph album The U.N. Resolution on Racism, 1975, transferred to Swarthmore College Peace Collection. Video and records transferred to FHL Audio-Visual. Photographs stored in FHL Picture Collection, SPA 201/B43. In 2004, files on SASS, Black Cultural Center, and related topics that had been stored in Parrish North basement and were transferred from Administration to Friends Historical Library with other records were added to Series. 1 and stored in Box 2.

SELECTED SEARCH TERMS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Friends Historical Library (TRIPOD). Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings:

Swarthmore College Mjumbe African American students Swarthmore College. Gospel Choir Swarthmore College. Black Cultural Center Swarthmore African-American Student Society Swarthmore College. Gospel Choir Swarthmore African-American Student Society DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS

Note to Researchers: To request materials, please note both the location and box numbers shown below:

Series 1: SASS

SASS (Swarthmore African-American Student Society) intends to provide support for its members primarily through political and community building activities. The primary goals of the organization are to increase the number of black students, faculty and staff; infuse a greater black perspective into the curriculum; improve the quality of life for black students on campus; advocate for the advancement of black people beyond Swarthmore College; and to maintain a strong, supportive black community.

SASS Notebook Attendance, Notes 1982-84 1 folder 1 Notes 1987 1 folder 1 Minutes 1987 1 folder 1 Allison Anderson 1987 1 folder 1 Kaia Constantine 1993 1 folder 1 Agenda, Notes, Minutes 1993-94 1 folder 1 SASS Miscellaneous Correspondence 1969-1980 1 folder 1 Miscellaneous Correspondence, including speech from Nigerian Ambassador, Dr. E.O. Ogbu. 1972-1994 1 folder 1 Miscellaneous Correspondence (2) 1972-1994 1 folder 1 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1981-89 1 folder 1 Black Curriculum Committee 1968-1969 1 folder 2 Admissions Committee reports, etc. 1965-1969 1 folder 2 File from Administration, correspondence, etc., following death of Courtney Smith 1969 1 folder 2 President Cross and SASS correspondence, etc., concerning Black Cultural Center 1969-1972 1 folder 2 Black Student Support Committee 1972 1 folder 2 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1990-94 1 folder 3 Agendas, Minutes 1970-1992 1 folder 3 Official Documents and Constitutions 1971-1992 1 folder 3 Platforms Spring 1982 Election 1982 1 folder 3 Recruitment of Black Faculty 1987-89 1 folder 3 President's Report 1983-84 1 folder 3 Reference Items 1999-2000 1 folder 3 Student Anti-Defamation Vigil Student Comments 1994 1 folder 3 Series 2: Gospel Choir

The Gospel Choir was founded in 1971 and serves as a spiritual uplift, a cultural identification, and a special outlet for Black students at Swarthmore. It performs periodically throughout the year. After graduation, former choir members are eligible for membership in the Swarthmore Alumni Gospel Choir.

Reference Items 1976-1986 1 folder 3 Media and Music 1 folder 3 Correspondence 1978-1986 1 folder 3 Miscellaneous Items 1986 1 folder 3 Miscellaneous Items 1987 1 folder 4 Miscellaneous Items 1986-87 1 folder 4 Budgets and Financial Info. 1985-86 1 folder 4 Agendas and Schedules 1985-86 1 folder 4 Concert Programs 1989, 1990 1 folder 4 Concert Program 1992 1 folder 4 Annual Fall Concert Program 1992 1 folder 4 25th Anniversary Concert 1996 1 folder 4 Alumni List 1998 1 folder 4 Posters for Spring Concerts 1984, 1990, 2001 1 folder Oe Series 3: Black Alumni Weekend Forms, Programs 1981 1 folder 4 Forms, Programs 1982 1 folder 4 Forms, Programs 1983 1 folder 4 Forms, Programs 1985 1 folder 4 Forms, Programs 1987 1 folder 4 Forms, Programs 1992 1 folder 4 Forms, Programs 1995 1 folder 4 Series 4: Mjumbe

For over 30 years Mjumbe, a literary/informational magazine, has been the Swarthmore black student community's literary voice.

Issue Pages inside large envelope 1998 1 folder 4 Correspondence 1895-1998 1 folder 4 Budget, Financial, and Printing Info. 1996-97 1 folder 4 Miscellaneous 1997-98 1 folder 4 Issue Pages 1996 1 folder 4 Issue Pages 1997 1 folder 5 Issue Pages 1997 1 folder 5 Correspondence, Issue pages 1987-88 1 folder 5 Series 5: Miscellaneous BCC News clippings 1977-1998 1 folder 5 BCC 1978-1997 1 folder 5 Black at Swarthmore 1995 1 folder 5 Black Dance Ensemble 1975 1 folder 5 Black Studies Curricula Proposals 1969, 1973, 1985 1 folder 5 Black Theater Alliance Newsletter 1978 1 folder 5 Desegregation of schools, Durham N.C., clippings 1959-1972 1 folder 5 Minority Pre-Frosh Weekend 1989 1 folder 5 Newspaper Clippings 1970-1986 1 folder 5 Projects for Recruiting Black Students Statistics 1986 1 folder 5 Senior Dinner Awards 1991, 1993, 1994 1 folder 5 Sistahs and The Gents A-Cappella 1987 1 folder 5 Photographs of plants and art in BCC 1 folder 5