Main content

Swarthmore College. Black Cultural Center Records

Notifications

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 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

Call Number:
RG6.Q006
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
2.5 linear ft. (5 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], Swarthmore College Archives, Black Cultural Center Records, RG6/Q006, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Date:
1968-2000 (inclusive)
Creator:
Swarthmore College. Black Cultural Center
Abstract:
Contains the records of the Black Cultural Center, founded in 1969 and located on the campus of Swarthmore College. The BCC serves as a home for a number of organizations on campus including SASS (Swarthmore African-American Student Society), Gospel Choir, and Mjumbe, a literary magazine representing black students. The collection includes constitution, minutes, correspondence, and other records of SASS, the records of the Gospel Choir which was founded in 1971, and recent records of Mjumbe, a literary magazine. There is also miscellaneous material reflecting concerns and interests of black students on campus and alumni.

A student organization, SASS (Swarthmore African-American Student Society) was organized in the fall of 1968 and the following year proposed the establishment of a Black Cultural Center (BCC). The BCC found a permanent home in 1970 in a former faculty residence/dormitory which was converted with funds donated by James A. Michener, Swarthmore College Class of 1929.

The mission statement of the Black Cultural Center of Swarthmore College is as follows:

  1. To provide a physical space that reflects the perspectives, values and culture of Black students and people -- safe-space.
  2. To provide cultural, intellectual, and emotional support to all Black students and the larger Black community.
  3. To support and challenge students interested in the area of culturally centered leadership, and to be an integral part of the College's effort to provide multicultural education for the greater Swarthmore.

The BCC serves as a home for a number of organizations on campus including SASS, Gospel Choir, and Mjumbe, a literary magazine representing black students.

The collection includes constitution, minutes, correspondence and other records of SASS, records of the Gospel Choir which was founded in 1971, and recent records of Mjumbe, a literary magazine. There is also miscellaneous material reflecting concerns and interests of black students on campus and alumni.

Organized into five series:

  1. SASS
  2. Gospel Choir
  3. Black Alumni Weekend
  4. Mjumbe
  5. Miscellaneous

Deposit: Black Cultural Center

Date: 8/6/1999

Accession number: SCA 1999-013

Deposit: Administration

Date: ca. 1999

The collection was described and organized as received. Gospel Choir robe and award to James Michener transferred to Relics. Campus panorama photograph transferred to FHL Picture Collection, Campus. Phonograph album The U.N. Resolution on Racism, 1975, transferred to Swarthmore College Peace Collection. Video and records transferred to FHL Audio-Visual. Photographs stored in FHL Picture Collection, SPA 201/B43. In 2004, files on SASS, Black Cultural Center, and related topics that had been stored in Parrish North basement and were transferred from Administration to Friends Historical Library with other records were added to Series. 1 and stored in Box 2.

  1. 15th Anniversary Concert [sound recording] : 1986.
  2. Concert [sound recording] : April 1, 1979.
  3. Concert [sound recording] : April 11, 1976.
  4. Concert [sound recording] : April 11, 1976 (2nd half)
  5. Concert [sound recording] : April 13, 1980.
  6. Concert [sound recording] : April 17, 1977.
  7. Concert [sound recording] : April 1975.
  8. Concert [sound recording] : April 27, 1975.
  9. Concert [sound recording] : April 27, 1975.
  10. Concert [sound recording] : April 5, 1981.
  11. Concert at BCC [sound recording] : February 2, 1989.
  12. Concert [sound recording] : December 4, 1977.
  13. Concert [sound recording] : December 7, 1980.
  14. Concert [sound recording] : February 18, 1976.
  15. Concert [sound recording] : February 9, 1975.
  16. Concerts at St. Thomas [sound recording] : November 15-16, 1991.
  17. Gospel Choir concert [video recording] / Swarthmore College Gospel Choir.
  18. Gospel Choir Concert [video recording]
  19. Video recording 84

Organization
Subject

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
Finding Aid Prepared by FHL staff
Finding Aid Date
2007
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Copyright has not been assigned to Friends Historical Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in to the Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf Friends Historical Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader.

Collection Inventory

Archival Resource Key. Attendance, Notes, 1982-84.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Notes, 1987.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Minutes, 1987.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Allison Anderson, 1987.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Kaia Constantine, 1993.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Agenda, Notes, Minutes, 1993-94.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1969-1980.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous Correspondence, including speech from Nigerian Ambassador, Dr. E.O. Ogbu., 1972-1994.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous Correspondence (2), 1972-1994.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1981-89.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Black Curriculum Committee, 1968-1969.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Admissions Committee reports, etc., 1965-1969.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. File from Administration, correspondence, etc., following death of Courtney Smith, 1969.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. President Cross and SASS correspondence, etc., concerning Black Cultural Center, 1969-1972.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Black Student Support Committee, 1972.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1990-94.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Agendas, Minutes, 1970-1992.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Official Documents and Constitutions, 1971-1992.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Platforms Spring 1982 Election, 1982.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Recruitment of Black Faculty, 1987-89.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. President's Report, 1983-84.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Reference Items, 1999-2000.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Student Comments, 1994.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Reference Items, 1976-1986.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Media and Music.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1978-1986.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Includes letter to StuCo about their harassment of Gospel Choir

Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous Items, 1986.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous Items, 1987.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Photographs, 1987.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous Items (including photographs), 1986-87.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Budgets and Financial Info., 1985-86.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Agendas and Schedules, 1985-86.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Concert Programs, 1989, 1990.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Concert Program, 1992.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Annual Fall Concert Program, 1992.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. 25th Anniversary Concert, 1996.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Alumni List, 1998.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Posters for Spring Concerts, 1984, 1990, 2001.
Box Oe
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Forms, Programs, 1981.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Forms, Programs, 1982.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Forms, Programs, 1983.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Forms, Programs, 1985.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Forms, Programs, 1987.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Forms, Programs, 1992.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Forms, Programs, 1995.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1996.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Issue Pages inside large envelope, 1998.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1895-1998.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Budget, Financial, and Printing Info., 1996-97.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous, 1997-98.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Issue Pages, 1996.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Issue Pages, 1997.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Issue Pages, 1997.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, Issue pages, 1987-88.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. BCC News clippings, 1977-1998.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. BCC, 1978-1997.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Black at Swarthmore, 1995.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Black Dance Ensemble, 1975.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Black Studies Curricula Proposals, 1969, 1973, 1985.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Black Theater Alliance Newsletter, 1978.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Desegregation of schools, Durham N.C., clippings, 1959-1972.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Minority Pre-Frosh Weekend, 1989.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Newspaper Clippings, 1970-1986.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Projects for Recruiting Black Students Statistics, 1986.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Senior Dinner Awards, 1991, 1993, 1994.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Sistahs and The Gents A-Cappella, 1987.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Photographs of plants and art in BCC.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. The BCC Newsletter, Volume 1, Issues 1 and 2, 1998,1999.
Box 5
Physical Description

1 folder

Print, Suggest