In this rare, yellowing photograph, former FAMU President Benjamin L. Perry, Jr. is seen as a young boy in fields with older relatives. While we cannot confirm if they were sharecroppers, Perry’s father was heavily involved in agriculture; when Perry was an undergrad, his father brought him a farm to operate (though this photo is before that time).
In Nigeria, the Yoruba Gelede performance celebrates women (awon iya wa; “our mothers”), including mothers, grandmothers, living and dead female ancestors, and elderly women. Performers wear the headdress like the one here and have their faces covered by a cloth veil. Each wooden mask is repainted in vibrant colors for each performance.
This wooden sculpture has faded paint, but the features – including scarification marks and large ears – are still prominent. The Yoruba people of Nigeria made this mask to honor their ancestors in masquerade ceremonies, known as Odun Egungun (egungun meaning “power concealed”), meant to maintain the spiritual morality of previous generations.
This sculpture is reminiscent of the twin commemorative figure, but its facial features have faded. This figure is cared for as if it were a child; in Yoruba culture, twins are considered powerful spirits who bring riches to the family. The cowrie shell top it wears serves as an offering to Sango, the deity who rules over the twins’ health.
The Yaka mask, traditionally crafted by the Yaka people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is known for its striking design and vibrant colors. Often used in initiation ceremonies and cultural performances, the mask features exaggerated facial features that convey power and spiritual significance.
This World War II Marine overcoat issued to J. W. Cooley was donated by Alma McMillian, and owned by George Richardson of Tampa, FL. The garment was used to provide protection to soldiers against rain and cold weather conditions they faced during grueling warfare.
There is limited information on this vintage African artifact, but it is confirmed to be a hand-carved wooden sculpture in fair condition due to a crack on the back leg of the piece. The piece features a small boy sitting on what appears to be a tree branch (or bone marrow) with two human faces on it while a snake wraps around the tree.
This hand-carved, wooden sculpture depicts a Caribbean or African man holding what appears to be a pipe and sheathed weapon, possibly a machete, ax, or knife. The object he is holding could also be a musical instrument, but similar statues can attribute him to a farmer or worker.
There is limited information on this African artifact. Still, it is confirmed to be a hand-carved wooden replica of a Tiki or totem pole in fair condition due to visible scratches and patina. It features two long-bearded men sitting on top of each other. They could be ancestors, spirits, or essential pillars in the community.
Although there is limited information about this artifact, it is believed to originate from the Baoulé (Baule) people, an Akan group from the Ivory Coast who historically migrated from Ghana. The Baule consider their ancestors’ spirits present daily; thus, their art, like these masks, mainly centers on ancestral veneration.
This unique 3D painting by Richard Atkinson, a Jamaican-born artist, could only be achieved through paper mâché. Belonging to the Leo P. Sam collection, the piece features a woman in white picking what appears to be fruit but could be flowers, from a tree.
This document is a map of Rosewood on New Year’s Day 1923, taken from the article, “Wiped Off the Map” by Gary Moore for the Miami Herald Tropic’s March 1993 issue. The points on the map detail the homes of every name involved in the story to show the proximity of the witnesses and the paths the mob traveled when destroying the town.
Dr. W. H. Gray’s appointment as FAMC president was celebrated in a newspaper article, where he discussed his vision for practical education. Focused on agriculture, trades, and two-year programs, Gray’s approach aimed to prepare Black students for leadership, an ode to his prior experience leading a Baptist institution.
After five years as FAMC president, W. H. Gray tendered his resignation to the Board of Control, effective July 7, 1949. He expressed gratitude for his tenure and interest in pursuing new opportunities. In a separate note, he cited developments prompting his decision and plans to discuss further with Dr. C. C. McCracken.
These newspaper clippings discuss the unfortunate passing of former Florida A&M President Dr. William H. Gray, Jr. Gray allegedly had a premonition of his death before it occurred, giving his wife instructions on what to do.
This letter between former Florida A&M president William H. Gray, Jr. and Walter White of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) discusses discrimination of jitney companies that have exclusive airline contracts in the South. These companies refuse to provide transportation to Negro airplane passengers.
Joseph B. Rowles himself wrote this document when he felt his illness was worsening and death was imminent. Within this will and testament, Rowles divided his estate, which included slaves, between his wife and brother. Descriptions of the enslaved were included, ranging from “good” to “doubtful” and “bad,” along with other numerical information.
Entrusted to FAMU based on the university's studies in agriculture, the spirit depicts an eviscerated body of a woman, that serves as a clear warning to trespassers. The spirit gives the impression of a healthy woman on the right with a clear stark warning on the left with the face and upper body hollowed out to the bone.
Entrusted to Florida A&M because of the university’s studies in agriculture, this spirit is a mound of body parts that appears to display the grim consequence of trespassing. Three severed heads with gruesome expressions are conjoined together – attached only by naked bone and brain matter.
In this letter between Dr. B. L. Perry, Jr. and Ifekandu Umunna, Perry updates Umunna, a Nigerian master’s student, on his and his family’s personal lives. This was an example of the long-lasting, sentimental bonds Perry created during his visit to Nigeria.
This program booklet is from an event that Tougaloo College, in Tougaloo, Mississippi, set up from July 23 to July 26, 1992. With the theme, “The Beginning That Never Ends,” Tougaloo College president Adib A. Shakir honors Rosewood victims by putting on a family reunion complete with a Sunday school and banquet.
The totem, while not a field spirit, serves as a significant cultural artifact representing ancestral lineage, identity, and community values. Often intricately carved, it embodies the spirit of unity and protection.
This riveting black-and-white photograph is an action shot of three running soldiers seemingly engaged in battle, holding weapons and engulfed in smoke. It is unclear who took this picture or when, but it was found in the Thelma Gorham collection, the former Florida A&M Dean of Journalism and Graphic Communication and wife of a Black soldier.
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson's speeches included two addressing the Negro in America and the pursuit of social justice, advocating for equality and civil rights. The third speech focused on the importance of the educational system and higher education, emphasizing its role in fostering opportunity and progress for all Americans.
In this February 1923 article by the Jacksonville Times-Union, the paper details a report sent by the Associated Press. A special grand jury investigating the Rosewood Massacre, with Jude A. V. Long on the panel, got thirteen witnesses to testify with twenty-five more to testify the next day.
As President of Florida A&M University, Dr. George Gore made a plea to supporters on this mailing list asking for volunteer donations. For every dollar raised in the NDEA and Federal Work-Study programs, nine dollars were to be matched in grants, but because FAMU didn’t raise enough money, it lost out on funds at a detriment to its students.
In this form, Dr. B. L. Perry, then serving as the Director of Research and Grants, pens a fervent letter of recommendation for a young Thelma T. Gorham, applying for a Graduate Fellowship for Women by the Danforth Foundation. Gorham would go on to become the founder and Dean of Florida A&M University’s distinguished Journalism school (SJGC).
Utilizing data from the 1930 U.S. Census and 1937-1938 school data from the State Departments of Education and the United States Office of Education, this study is an analysis of Florida’s Negro population. It holds statistics on the Negro population, economic status, higher education opportunities, occupations, and more.
This untitled painting from the FAMU Black Archives/Caribbean Art Collection has limited identifiers for proper attribution but is associated with Dr. James Eaton and Frank Pinder Collections. The piece is of a boating community sailing in the ocean and features an illegible inscription on the lower left corner that could be the artist’s signature.
Dr. Benjamin L. Perry, Jr delivered this speech to the Florida Association of Secondary Principals in 1970. In it, Perry offers a historical snapshot of the current events of the time, i.e., the moon landing, civil unrest, and political assassinations, to discuss the future of education amongst its leaders.
