This collection showcases the rich legacies of HBCUs through the medium of text. It includes both published and unpublished items such as reports, correspondence, legal documents, books, essays, government publications, and journals.
Ashanti Alston, a Black Liberation Army (BLA) member who was imprisoned for 11 years for a robbery, writes about his plans to retrieve Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika)’s art materials from her property. He tells her that he plans to be out by September and to take care of himself. The letter is dated July 16th with no year specified.
A letter from an unknown sender to an unknown recipient. The letter is written in response to a "General Report on Sectarian Opportunism Within the Black Underground and the Struggle for Consolidation." The sender is very critical of the report writer’s opinions on how to attain consolidation and unity in the movement for Black liberation.
A letter from Ashanti Alston, a Black Liberation Army (BLA) member who was imprisoned for 11 years for a robbery to raise money for the BLA, to Nuh Abdul Qaiyum. The letter includes 2 lists: "Points of Attention In Our World Among Revolutionary Elements" and "Points of Attention in Work Among the Masses"
Handwritten letter from ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen to William Lamson asking Lamson if he has copies of the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) race figures for 1981-1983 and 1985.
ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen writes to William Lamson requesting a first draft of a report and to alert him that depositions are now scheduled for September 18-20, 1984. Hansen writes that Lamson should be present at this round of depositions and they will discuss the matter further.
ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen writes to William Lamson to express his gratitude for working on the case. Hansen thanks Lamson on behalf of the class of Black school children in Topeka and writes that he feels the team presented a strong case that Topeka schools have never been fully desegregated and he expects a ruling sometime in early 1985.
ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen sends William Lamson the order of activities for the case between December 1985 and March 1986. Also attached is the designation of fact witnesses by individually-named defendants associated with the State Board of Education.
ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen writes to Robert Longman of Central Surveys Inc. to confirm a pre-test survey. Mr. Hansen gives background on the case and talks more specifically about the two questions he wants answered in the survey about Topeka residents' perception of whether schools are white or Black and if some schools are less adequate.
ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen writes to Lead Defense Attorney K. Gary Sebelius to outline a possible settlement for the case since the court has again pushed the date of the trial back. Mr. Hansen lists the principles on which a settlement would have to be based, including community involvement in any plans for the district.
This letter from ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen to lead defense Attorney Gary K. Sebelius and Kansas Assistant Attorney General Dan Biles confirms deposition dates for June 7, 8, and 11, 1984, with a completion date of June 12. Hansen notes that formal notice of deposition will be served and a court reporter will be in the depositions.
ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen writes to Elvia Rosales Arriola of the ACLU, William Lamson, Attorney Richard Jones, and Attorney William Rich to send an update on the round of depositions he completed. He also attached superintendent's and principal's annual reports for each school that he obtained on his recent trip to Topeka.
ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen writes to Elvia Rosales Arriola of the ACLU and William Lamson to outline the discovery schedule for the Brown III case. The schedule runs from July 15, 1984 to January 15, 1985 and includes depositions, due dates for interrogatories, tours of sites, and pre-trial orders.
ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen writes to plaintiff expert witnesses Dr. Gordon Foster, William Lamson, Hugh Spear, and Bob Crain to inform them that dates and witness lists did not change after his appearance before the judge in early December. Attached is an early draft of findings of facts that he has shared with the defense.
ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen writes to Dr. Gordon Foster and William Lamson to inform them that he is unavailable for the requested meeting date of June 13th, 1985, but can meet on June 20th instead. Dr. Foster and Lamson were to meet with the plaintiff team about their roles as expert witnesses in the Brown III case.
ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen writes to the members of the Brown III Counsel team to inform them that Lee Henson of the Federal Community Relations Service has offered their service in the case. Mr. Hansen is suspicious of this because of his opinion of the Justice Department under then-president Ronald Reagan.
ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen writes to the members of the Brown Counsel team to inquire about their thoughts on a possible settlement. Attached is the court document containing the order of activities for the case between May and September 1986.
A letter from Nuh Abdul Qaiyum, who is imprisoned, to his wife Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika). He sends the family his love and shares his thoughts on life in prison and conflict within the Black community and the Black Panther Party. He asks her about her upcoming birth and offers guidance and advice. He also includes multiple poems.
In this letter, Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika)’s husband, Nuh Abdul Qaiyum, who is imprisoned, outlines a training and education program for Black liberation. He outlines the goals and priorities of the Black Panther Party moving forward and the means required. Instead of the usual militant rhetoric, he takes a social approach to the Revolution.
A booklet written by Bernice Jones (aka Safiya Bukhari), who was a Black Panther Party member and vice president of the Republic of New Afrika. The booklet lists members of the Black Panther Party who were killed between 1966 and 1981. There is also a memorial write up and poem in the conclusion.
A copy of “The King Alfred Plan,” a fictional CIA-led scheme supporting an international effort to eliminate people of African descent, invented by author John A. Williams in his 1967 novel The Man Who Cried I Am. Copies of the plan circulated in Black communities during the late 1960s and early 1970s, with many people accepting it at face value.
A letter from New Afrikan Women’s Organization (NAWO) leadership to Ibidun Sundiata (aka Dorothy Morrow) inquiring about her sudden resignation from the organization. Ibidun Sundiata was a well-respected and regarded activist and the members of the NAWO want clarification on why she resigned without a conversation with the group.
A journal written by Nuh Abdul Qaiyum while imprisoned and later by Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika), both former members of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. Washington wrote poetry and essays and thoughts on philosophy and religion. Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika) wrote poetry; drafts of letters; and meeting agendas.
A journal written by Frankye Adam-Johnson (Malika)’s husband, former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army Nuh Abdul Qaiyum, from 1975-1977 while imprisoned. Most of the pages are original poetry. He also copied some poems and songs by other writers. There are also several pages of Suras and other verses from the Quran.
A journal written by Frankye Adam-Johnson (Malika)’s husband, Nuh Abdul Qaiyum, during unknown dates. Nuh Abdul Qaiyum was a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army and was imprisoned in 1975. He writes about a variety of topics, including daily rituals; religions; languages and alphabets; and politics and philosophy.
A journal written by former Black Panther Party member and former Jackson State University professor Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika) on unknown dates. Items in the journal include: prayers; writing in Arabic and lists of Islamic terms; rough draft of a resume for a prospective job in Philadelphia, PA; a poem; and a note to her imprisoned husband.
Jones’ senior notebook includes his written philosophy of art, photographs of the artist’s works and his process, and a copy of his senior exhibition brochure. As a part of the Texas Southern art curriculum under Dr. John T. Biggers and Professor Carroll Harris Simms, students would create these notebooks to explain their artistry and showcase the works they created as students.
A chronology of major events in the development of Head Start in Mississippi from January 1, 1966 to December 27, 1966. This timeline covers the sequence of events leading to the genesis of Head Start in Mississippi. The first date on the chronology is mislabeled.
Vital’s senior notebook includes his written philosophy of art, photographs of the artist’s works and his process, and a copy of his senior exhibition brochure. As a part of the Texas Southern art curriculum under Dr. John T. Biggers and Professor Carroll Harris Simms, students would create these notebooks to explain their artistry and showcase the works they created as students.
Handwritten notes of an agenda for a meeting of the Black Panther Foundation. Personality, attitude, behavior, disciplinary policies, and organizational structure were discussed.
