This collection showcases the rich legacies of HBCUs through ephemera and material objects, including maps, blueprints, audiovisual materials, newspaper articles, buttons, collectibles, memorabilia, clothing and accessories, scrapbooks, speeches, photographs, brochures, and posters.
A multi-colored button with a photo of Lumumba Shakur. He was the first husband of Afeni Shakur and the two worked with the Black Panther Party in Harlem, New York, helping Black tenants organize rent strikes for adequate housing. In 1969, they were charged with conspiracy to bomb police buildings along with 19 others, known as the Panther 21.
Ludie Neal began working for Head Start in 1965 with the position of teacher, eventually moving to resource teacher in 1970. She talks about her role as a resource teacher, making daily and weekly lesson plans for the 25 students she taught. She also discusses the origins of Head Start in her community.
Lucille Shepherd moved to the Farish Street District in 1955 at the age of 40. She shares recollections of her younger days in the district. She then talks about the deterioration of both buildings and the Black business sector in the district. She also discusses the improvements she'd like to see made.
London Moffet Jr. moved to Jackson at the age of 14 in 1931 with his parents. Mr. Moffet discusses his recollections of nightlife in the Farish Street District during his time there as a teenager. He mentions several places by name, including the Crystal Palace and Savoy. He ends by explaining the changes over time of nightlife on Farish Street.
Ms. Weakley was born in the Farish Street District in the 1920’s after her parents moved there following World War I. She talks about her childhood in the district and recounts what life was like for people there. She discusses some of the businesses, including doctors and lawyers. She also talks about her education at the Smith Robertson School.
Lizzie Garner was born in 1903 and moved to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1940. She talks about her education, church life, and marriage and family. She recounts stories of experiences with segregation and talks about some of the changes in Jackson over the years. Her ideas about the "Good Old Days" of her childhood center around fun at school.
A photograph of Lillie Bell James, Mayor Dale Danks (1977-1989), Jr., and Elbert Hilliard at the Smith Robertson Neighborhood Folklife Festival, April 9-11, 1983. The festival was a one-time grant sponsored event held on the grounds of the Smith Robertson Museum to celebrate the rich history and culture of the Farish Street Historic District.
Lillie B. Jones came to Jackson in 1935, eventually working at the Young Women’s Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.) in the Farish Street District. She was instrumental in the building of the new $250,000 facility in 1964-1965. She discusses her time as director of the Y.W.C.A. and the influence the Y.W.C.A. had on local young people.
Lillie B. Jones worked at the Farish Street Young Women’s Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.) from the beginning and talks about her experiences there and what the YWCA meant to the community. She also talks about her childhood and young adult days and going through the Great Depression. The transcript is edited heavily with handwritten notes.
Lillie Ayers was an employee at the Child Development Group of Mississippi (CDGM) from 1965 until 1971. She talks about her husband's involvement with the fight for equal rights and equal pay at his job, and her work with CDGM and Head Start as well as the benefits the programs had for her family and the community.
A newspaper article from The Black Panther. This is the publication of a letter from Ericka Huggins to her late husband John Huggins (February 11, 1945-January 17, 1969) before he was killed in a gun battle in Los Angeles by rival Black Nationalist group the US organization. She writes that she believes they were destined to die for liberation.
Leroy Smith was born in Jackson in 1918 and lived in Jackson his entire life. He attended Smith Robertson School until 6th grade and talks about his time there. He discusses the nightlife in the district beginning in the 1930s, including a number of restaurants, ballrooms, limited options to watch movies, and the red light district.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about Lennox Hinds, president of the National Conference of Black Lawyers, being cited by The Ethics Committee of the Middlesex County Bar Association. Chief defense counsel William Kunstler, representing Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) in her trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, protested it.
Lee Williams was born in 1900, moved to the Farish Street District in 1915, and lived on various streets for the rest of his life. He attended Smith Robertson School. In the interview, Mr. Williams recounts the different businesses, people, and schools over the years in the district. The transcript contains handwritten edits.
Lee Williams became a homeowner in the Farish Street District in 1924. At the time of the interview he was Vice President for Administration at Jackson State. Mr. Williams discusses a variety of aspects about the district in relation to his time growing up there, including childhood activities and the different jobs he did.
Mr. Lee moved to Dreyfus Street in the Farish Street Historic District in 1924. He attended schools in the district and eventually served as Vice President of Administration at Jackson State for many years. He talks about his time living in the district and the social and cultural life there, including businesses, churches, and music.
Laverne White moved to Jackson when she was 9 years old and was married to Jackson’s police sergeant for over 40 years. In the interview she talks about her education; her 21-year employment at Boot's Flower Shop in the Farish Street District; her participation in civil rights marches; and the deterioration of the Farish Street District.
Lavaree Jones interviewed by Major O'Neal; both are students in Dr. Alferdteen Harrison’s Oral History class at Jackson State University. He asks her 3 questions about the origins of the Head Start program in Mississippi and the role Head Start plays in the Black community.
This interview was recorded in Dr. Alferdteen Harrison's oral History class at Jackson State University and is conducted between two students. Lavaree Jones gives a rundown of the history of the beginnings of Head Start starting with the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party registering voters and Freedom Schools during Freedom Summer.
LaCrystal Evans was a graduate student at Jackson State University at the time of the interview. She talks about her experiences as a Head Start student in the Greenville, Mississippi, Head Start program in 1969.
A newspaper article from The Home News about arguing between chief defense counsel William Kunstler and Superior Court Judge Theodore Appleby in the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. The argument centered on a citation given to Lennox Hinds, president of the National Conference of Black Lawyers.
In this interview, Texas Southern art alumnus Kermit Oliver discusses his time at Texas Southern (1962-1967) and his artistic philosophy & practice with Dr. Alvia J. Wardlaw, director and curator of the University Museum. He highlights the religious, personal, historical, and political influences that shape his artwork.
This is a brochure for Perez’s senior art exhibition. The culmination of the Texas Southern art curriculum is a senior exhibition where students showcase artwork created over the course of their undergraduate studies. The brochure features a brief biography, a photograph of the artist, an artistic philosophy, a catalog of the artwork featured in the exhibition, and five photos of her artwork.
This is a brochure for Takahashi’s senior art exhibition. The culmination of the Texas Southern art curriculum is a senior exhibition where students showcase artwork created over the course of their undergraduate studies. The brochure features a brief biography, an artistic philosophy, a catalog of the artwork featured in the exhibition, exhibition viewing information, and three photos of her artwork.
Katherine Mosley moved to the Farish Street District in 1949. She recounts her time as a young person in the district, specifically the entertainment she enjoyed. Ms. Mosley also goes into detail about the decline of the district and lack of Black businesses and she gives her opinions about urban renewal on Farish Street.
This is a brochure for Hall’s senior art exhibition. The culmination of the Texas Southern art curriculum is a senior exhibition where students showcase artwork created over the course of their undergraduate studies. The brochure features a photo of Hall, a brief biography, a catalog of the artwork featured in the exhibition, and a photo of one of his paintings. It is inscribed with a note from Hall.
A newspaper article from The Black Panther. It is a transcript of Kathleen Cleaver's speech at May Day (International Workers Day) on May 1, 1969 in San Francisco, California. Cleaver’s speech, like many of the speeches given that day, centered on the calls to Free Huey Newton from his arrest on murder charges on October 28, 1967.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about defense attorneys for Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard), who was on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, filing a complaint claiming that the jury selection in her murder trial is biased toward the prosecution. Shakur was convicted in 1977 of the killing and escaped prison in 1979.
A newspaper article from The Daily News about items entered into evidence by the prosecution in the Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. The slain trooper’s bloodied uniform shirt was submitted into evidence, as well as bullet fragments pulled from the body, and empty shell casings.
An article from the Asbury Park Press about the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Jury selection continued as prosecutors awaited ruling on their appeal of suspended court sessions, granted by a federal appeals court panel in respect to the defendant's Muslim faith.
