A detailed account of Benjamin L. Perry Sr.’s life, covering his educational pursuits, influential publications, and key accomplishments. The narrative extends to his son, Benjamin L. Perry Jr., reflecting on his academic journey, early career, and dedication to continuing his father’s legacy as a professor and leader.
Sourced from the Palm Beach Post, this newspaper clipping is a literal snapshot of the state of Black higher education in the early 1970s. The photograph depicts four HBCU presidents, Dr. B. L. Perry, Dr. Royale Puryear, Dr. William Stewart and Richard V. Moore, meeting at Florida A&M University to discuss Florida student opportunities.
These undated handwritten notes, spanning several sheets, contain President Gore's remarks for various meetings and convocations. The notes also include an excerpt on structural unemployment and general unemployment, offering insights into the challenges of the time and Gore's reflections on economic issues.
A bolo knife is a traditional cutting tool with a curved blade, commonly used in agricultural and domestic tasks across various cultures, especially in the Philippines and parts of Africa. Its design allows for efficient cutting and slicing, making it ideal for clearing vegetation and harvesting crops. This knife was used by Benjamin French.
This painting from the FAMU Black Archives/Caribbean Art Collection has limited identification for precise attribution. The vibrantly-painted piece depicts a Haitian village scene and features an unclear inscription in red, cursive font on the lower right corner that could be the artist’s signature.
This painting from the Leo Psam Collection is a textbook example of the colorfully vibrant scenes artists create when depicting Caribbean art. The Haitian art showcases a busy market scene with people selling fruit and customers inquiring and purchasing them.
This red plank is made of wood and painted over to give a shiny luster. The artwork features a soldier, possibly Toussaint Louverture, with the word “Haiti” carved above it. On the back of the piece, an inscription says “Ayiti Cheri ZP”, Haitian Creole for “Haiti my dear/my baby” (it’s unclear what the ZP could stand for).
In response to a letter from Ralph McDonald, the executive secretary at the Department of Higher Education, William H. Gray, Jr. offered his thoughts on problems affecting Black students in higher education in the South. He highlighted two: inadequate technical education and discriminatory Veterans Administration hiring practices.
President W. H. Gray wrote to Mr. Charles G. Hays, expressing support for his bold stance against the parade of hooded individuals in Tallahassee. Gray proposed that FAMC's students and faculty join him in commending Hays for his forthright condemnation of such actions, standing firm against racial intimidation.
A letter between then Director of Research and Grants, B. L. Perry, Jr., and President Gore and an attached report. Both materials discuss the slow rate of collaboration and progress between Florida State and Florida A&M compared to other colleges’ cooperative programs. Perry calls for improvement of the relationship between the two institutions.
This spread, obtained from the 1979 Rattler Yearbook, shows the Funkadelics visiting Florida A&M University. George Clinton, the frontman of the Parliament-Funkadelic collective, is seen performing on stage. As of 2024, Clinton has been a Tallahassee resident for over thirty years.
After student demonstrations afflicted Florida A&M University earlier in the year, the Tallahassee chapter of the National Urban League hired FAMU President Benjamin L. Perry as its full-time executive director. Members of the student organization that led the protest, the Malcolm X United Liberation Front, also joined the board of directors.
The Florida Tuberculosis and Health Association released this press release to raise awareness of how tuberculosis was affecting death rates in ethnic communities versus white communities. Dr. George W. Gore, Jr., as chairman of the Negro Seal Sale, also encouraged audiences to buy “Christmas Seals” to help ward off the illness through education.
This vintage Florida souvenir postcard depicts slave quarters built before the Civil War. The image captures small, weathered structures used to house enslaved people on plantations. Such postcards often romanticized the antebellum South, overlooking the harsh realities of slavery while promoting Florida’s historic landscape to tourists.
This 1954 Florida postcard shows a striking image of an alligator circling a palm tree, with a Black man seemingly holding on for dear life, his expression filled with fear. The alligators in this serve as a symbolic representation of the dangers and challenges faced by Black men in society, reflecting the racial tensions and struggles of the time.
In January 1976, the Leon County Bicentennial Committee nominated and approved Dr. Benjamin L. Perry for “outstanding contributions in the fields of Human Relations and Education.” The document showcases the deep respect Dr. Perry fostered in his community through hard work performed locally, nationally, and internationally.
This article was featured in The Crisis, a magazine published by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In it, William H. Gray, Jr., president of the Florida Normal and Industrial Institute (modern-day Florida Memorial University), became the youngest Negro college president to receive a Ph.D.
The Miami Whip covered the Florida State Legislature’s allocation of one million dollars for FAMC’s maintenance. Tensions arose when Governor Fred C. Cone criticized the late President J.R.E. Lee’s $4,600 salary, stating, “No Negro is worth that much,” revealing racial bias in the funding debate.
Rosewood Massacre-related Florida laws that established legal procedures for investigating the events and compensating affected families. These statutes set the groundwork for the state’s efforts to rectify the injustices of 1923 by ensuring a formal process for recognizing the descendants' claims and preserving the history of the tragedy.
House of Representative bills introduced during the Rosewood investigation outlining committees, subcommittees, and procedures for claim bills under Section 6.63. Included are rosters of families eligible for compensation and an excerpt from the NAACP presenting uncontested facts for consideration throughout the investigation.
The Florida Department of Education conducted numerous conferences over the years. Florida A&M College/University strived to maintain the improvements and promises from the Department of Education years down the line.
In this news article, Florida A&M President Benjamin L. Perry Jr. questioned the federal government, stating, “Is a 3% enrollment of blacks at a predominantly white institution ‘making strides’ toward progress while a similar number of whites at a predominantly black institution is a perpetuation of segregation?”
In the article “Florida A&M Tops List of State-Supported Schools,” FAMC’s historic role in education was lauded. The piece honored President J.R.E. Lee’s two-decade tenure and credited President W. H. Gray for his current leadership. The announcement of a $4 million grant highlighted the university’s commitment to progress and veteran support.
This photograph features two male and female students using a bow and arrow on the field of Bragg Memorial Stadium. Because Florida A&M University does not have an archery club or team, this photograph represents a lost aspect of FAMU student life. It’s unclear when this image was taken or who took it.
This two-page spread was featured in the 1994 Rattler yearbook, showcasing student life at the time. “The Set” was a location on campus in front of the Student Union where students regularly hung around during downtime. These images also highlight the clothing trends of the early ‘90s with baggy jeans, plaid and patterns, and letterman jackets.
This photograph features three (two fully visible) student campaign posters for Florida A&M University’s Royal Court, students who represent the class bodies. One says “Vote For Conchita M. Clarke Sophomore Attendant” while the other says “Vote For Experience Vote Faye Gary Miss FAMU.”
This two-page spread in the 1979 Florida A&M Rattler Yearbook features members from the chapters of FAMU’s Divine Nine fraternerities and sororities. In their organization’s t-shirts and jeans, these Greeks stand on the steps of Coleman Library.
This two-page spread featured in the 2000 Rattler Yearbook showcases various events on Florida A&M’s campus from 1995 to 1998. Titled “A Glimpse Into History,” the spread honors the past by showing political campaigning by Hilary Clinton during the 1996 election, student organizations, and other aspects of student life.
The Pittsburgh Courier discusses Dr. William H. Gray, Jr.'s resignation as president of Florida A&M College. While the reason was unclear, the circumstances surrounding his resignation—charges brought by the federal government, political and faculty allegiances, and Ku Klux Klan intimidations—all climaxed with the end of Gray’s tenure.
