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Brandon D. Holt Collection of Oral History Interviews on Black Student Activism at Princeton
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Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: University Archives. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Brandon D. Holt is a member of the Princeton undergraduate class of 2015 who undertook an oral history project on black student activism as part of his senior thesis. Entitled "Power in Resistance a History of Black Student Protest at Princeton, 1967-1978", it features interviews with prominent members of the Association of Black Collegians and other activists groups. Holt received a Bachelor of Arts in History and a certificate in African American Studies.
The collection consists of eight transcripts of Holt's interviews with black alumni from the classes of 1969-1981. The interviews address the formation of campus activist groups including the Association of Black Collegians and the People's Front for the Liberation of Southern Africa. Furthermore, the interviews provide details about the organization of campus demonstrations in the 1960s and '70s including the takeover of the New South building, sit-ins at Nassau Hall and Firestone Library, and various other demonstrations.
The collection was transferred to the University Archives in March of 2015.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection consists of PDF files. Researchers are responsible for meeting the technical requirements needed to access these materials, including any and all hardware and software.
University staff and the collection creator edited transcripts for clarity.
This collection was processed by Rossy M. Mendez in August 2015 .Finding aid written by Rossy M. Mendez in August 2015.
No materials were separated from the collection at the time of accessioning.
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- University Archives
- Finding Aid Date
- 2015
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research use. Original audio files exist but are restricted.
- Use Restrictions
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Collection Inventory
Austin tells of his experience as a black student at Princeton and his role in coordinating activities for the Association of Black Collegians including a Black Panther Teach-in and the takeover of the New South building. Austin also discusses his participation in the Hackney Committee for a black studies program and a series of incidents involving black students at the Rockefeller Suite and Brown Hall.
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Byfield discusses her experiences as a black female student at Princeton and her role in organizing the 1978 Nassau Hall sit-in. She also addresses her experiences as a member of the Third World Center and the Women's Center.
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Collins recounts his participation in the New South takeover and in the Malkiel Committee for Apartheid Divestment. Also mentioned are Yale's Transitional Year program, eating club reforms and the Rockefeller Suite Incident.
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Hamm describes his experiences as an African-American student at Princeton including his role in founding the People's Front for the Liberation of Southern Africa and his participation in the Harambee student group later operating as the May 4th movement . Other topics discussed include the Newark race riots of 1967 and Hamm's role as the youngest board member of Newark's Board of Education. Individuals mentioned include Amiri Baraka, Bobby Seale, and Professor Jan Carew.
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Henry discusses his involvement with the Association of Black Collegians and serving as an alumni member of the Board of Trustees. The interview includes details regarding the New South takeover and other demonstrations related to the South Africa divestment issue, the black host families in Princeton and the beginnings of the Black Studies program. Among the individuals mentioned in the interview include President Robert F. Goheen, Eric F. Lum '72, civil rights leader Leon Sullivan, Professors Martin B. Duberman and Cecilia Hodges Drewry.
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Pearson describes events affecting black students at Princeton including the Shockley-Innis controversy, the founding of the People's Front for the Liberation of South Africa, and the May 4th movement. Other events mentioned include the library workers demonstrations and demonstrations against the JP Stevens Corporation. Individuals mentioned include Kevin Gover, former secretary of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor '76.
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Price discusses his experience as a black student at Princeton including his participation in the bicker process and his involvement with the Association of Black Collegians (ABC). Topics addressed include "Yale Soul Weekend," Kodak Corporation protest, ABC's role in the organization of a memorial services for Martin Luther King Jr., and interactions with Students for Democratic Society (SDS). Price also mentions an anti-Semitic attack against Paul Balaran '70 and the creation of an African American Studies program. Persons of interest mentioned include President Robert F. Goheen, Edgar Allen Dunham III, Burton Malkiel, Dr. Carl Fields, and Cecilia Hodges Drewry.
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Thomas recounts her experiences growing up in Newark, New Jersey and her participation in the Association of Black Collegians, Third World Center activities, and in the Ajile African Dance group. She also mentions the Newark Riots of 1967, Shockley-Innis controversy and the founding of the Third World Center. Other items of note are the Minority Recruitment's three-week orientation program lead by Robert Barragan and the role of women in ABC leadership.
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