BLACK STUDENT UNION, 1968

President John Oswald described the UK campus in 1968 as a state of ferment.  Free speech, anti-war protests, the women's movement, and student rights issues consumed the campus.  But the push by African-American students for a range of issues needing attention and change was at the forefront of the ferment because of its historical antecedents and its impact on the university's future.

UK President John Oswald and BSU President Theodore Berry

The UK Black Student Union, founded in January 1968 and led by its first president, Theodore Berry, became the focus of the movement on campus.  On February 15 the BSU met with President John Oswald to state their goals.  The BSU called for more black students at UK, as well as more black professors, administrators, and staff.  Noting the difficulty of recruiting black professors because of UK's "white image," the BSU argued that black faculty needed to be "actively recruited by UK in order to get them to come here."  President Oswald agreed emphasizing that "UK should make a greater effort to recruit Negro teachers on a personal basis."

The BSU also demanded an end to off-campus housing discrimination.  Even though the university maintained a list of housing that did not discriminate by race, incidents of discrimination remained.

A course in African-American history became central to BSU's call for action.  Not only did the UK History Department not offer such a course, Professor Carl Cone, History Department Chair, attended the February meeting to say that he would "not recommend that the course be included in its curriculum for the next year."

Cone argued that "the course was too specialized for general interest."  This was a History Department that among its regular curriculum taught two courses on Japanese history; one to 1600 and another from 1600 to the present that likely did not have "general interest!"  He did concede that an existing course in American history "would be broadened to include more about the American Negro."

Cone's comments received a "dubious reaction" from the audience.  The BSU presented Cone a petition signed by 900 UK students stating their interest in a black history course.  In 1968 only 150 African-American students attended UK.

In its reporting on the meeting between President Oswald and the BSU the Kernel identified the organization as a "militant Negro group."  Responding to the label Theodore Berry pushed back saying, "If militant means speaking up for what is rightfully ours without asking, then we are militant, but not in a sense of violence."

But events during 1968 moved at a frantic pace. Assassinations took the lives of Dr. Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy creating unrest and uncertainty across the nation.  President Lyndon Johnson announced that he would not run for re-election and Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

Locally, President Oswald left UK in April precipitated by disagreements with Kentucky Governor Louie Nunn and other politicians over free speech and other university policies.  Jim Embry replaced Theodore Berry as presidents of the Black Student Union.

In October 1968 the once recalcitrant Professor Cone announced that a new course in Negro history would be available for the spring 1969 semester.  The course, to be taught by white professor Steven Channing, "will be offered at least once every year and will be open to about 100 students."

Jim Embry, 1968

Cone noted that his change of heart resulted from a change nationally in the history profession in the previous eight to nine months that now considered a black history course a relevant part of the curriculum.

Noting the BSU's long advocacy for such a course, BSU President Jim Embry reacted by noting that, "Our asking for the black history course last spring is now showing its effects.  It should have been done in the first place.  My elation is not that great, but I am glad it's going to be started."

The University of Kentucky owes a debt to Theodore Berry, Jim Embry and many others who forced the university to be more progressive in regard to race and diversity.  Over the past five decades much progress has been achieved but much more remains to be done.  Black History Month is a time to reflect and reaffirm UK's commitment to diversity but the effort must continue throughout the year.

SCRC offers "Archives Basics" for community record-keepers

Participants in the "Archives Basics" workshop represented 15 community organizations.

The UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center hosted 15 community archivists and genealogists for a three-hour “archives basics” workshop on March 9, 2016.  Central Kentucky non-profit organizations represented included: the African American Genealogical Group of Kentucky, Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, Faulkner-Morgan Archive, First African Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Berea, Isaac Scott Hathaway Museum/Robert H. Williams Cultural Center, Lexington Community Land Trust, Lyric Theatre, Main Street Baptist Church, Mary Todd Lincoln House, The Plantory, and U I D yoU IDentify local African American Friends and Family Facebook page. Several of the participants who attended are active in multiple organizations.

Topics included the historical value of organizational records, selecting records for permanent retention, inventorying and storing physical and digital records, providing access to researchers, digitization methods and standards, and outreach and exhibits. A break and a tour of Special Collections offered networking and small group discussion opportunities, as well as the possibility of seeing archival work in action.

The workshop built on a successful workshop that Special Collections held last November for African American church clerks and secretaries. Demand for an archival basics workshop grew as a result.

SCRC staff presenting included: Ruth Bryan, director of Technical Services and University Archivist; Nancy DeMarcus, University Records manager; Sarah Dorpinghaus, digital archivist; Reinette Jones, oral history librarian and African American studies academic liaison; Matthew Strandmark, education archivist; and Stacie Williams, Learning Lab manager. 

 “The records of community organizations and of individual community members are of great value to all of us in helping us understand who we are and what we can achieve together. Reaching out to community members and providing support for preserving and sharing those records is an important role for the Special Collections Research Center. We look forward to continuing to work together with former and future workshop attendees to advance our common mission,” said workshop organizer Ruth Bryan.

Editors of "Kentucky African American Encyclopedia" honored with 2016 Legacy Award

Drs. Smith, McDaniel, and Hardin received the 2016 Legacy Award
in Frankfort

Dr. Gerald Smith, Dr. Karen Cotton McDaniel and Dr. John A. Hardin, co-editors of the Kentucky African American Encyclopedia (University Press of Kentucky), were recipients of the 2016 Legacy Award at the 13^th annual Black History Month Celebration at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort. This year’s event, hosted by the Kentucky Black Legislative Caucus, focused on the theme “The Unfinished Business of Kentucky: ‘Symbolism and Reality.’”

Dr. Smith, professor of history and Martin Luther King Center Scholar-in Residence at the University of Kentucky, delivered the keynote address, “What is Kentucky Saying About Us (African Americans)?” to a standing room only crowd in the Capitol rotunda. Dr. Smith spoke just a few feet from the Jefferson Davis statue that was the symbolic focus of his presentation.

 “This is not just a celebration of African American history,” Senator Gerald Neal explained. “This is a celebration of American history. Black History Month presents us an opportunity to remember the important legacy of African Americans in Kentucky and the nation – much of which would have been lost over the years if not for this special time of remembrance. It is important that we know and honor many of the notable citizens who have contributed to our history as well as pay respect to the many, many others whom history has forgotten. I encourage all Kentuckians to join me as we observe Black History Month.”

SCRC hosts Black History Month exhibit

Jackie Robinson (left) and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (right) during a Civil Rights
march in Kentucky. Georgia Davis Powers (right) looks on.

The UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center exhibit for Black History Month is titled “The Civil Rights Movement in the Bluegrass, 1960-1967.” The exhibit explores the civil rights movement in Lexington and Frankfort from 1960 to 1967 through rare photographs, documents, and biographies from the collections of the SCRC. The photos and artifacts will remain on display until mid-March on the first floor of Margaret I. King Library.