Student Organizations. Afro-American Society Records
WFU's Afro-American Society was founded by Howard Stanback and Freeman Mark in 1969; the Afro-American Society later became the Black Student Alliance. The collection contains programs, booklets, photographs, and memorabilia documenting the activities of both the Afro-American Society and the Black Student Alliance.
Biographical and Historical Note
Wake Forest University's Afro-American Society was founded by Howard Stanback (1969) and Freeman Mark (1971) in 1969. The society was a self-help group for all black students on campus; it advocated for black studies and black faculty, and was active in celebrating African-American culture. It emerged as a presence on campus in the winter of 1970.
Despite slow response from the college, the Black Student Union continued to advocate for black faculty, and in 1974 faculty members Dr. Herman Eure and Dr. Dolly McPherson became the first black tenure-track professors. The Afro-American Society also worked to build positive relationships with other campus organizations. The Afro-American Society later became known as the Black Student Union, then the Black Student Alliance.
Collection Overview
This collection contains information about author, poet, and professor Nikki Giovianni, who appeared at Black Awareness Week in 1978, from the American Program Bureau, a booklet about Black student life at Wake Forest, and an event program. Materials from the Black Student Alliance include: photographs and a scrapbook documenting events and student life; a note from alum Brent Cox and a CD "Rhythm Nation 1814" by Janet Jackson; and Black Student Alliance tablet cover and t-shirt.
Administrative Information
- Publication Information
- Processed by Ashelee Gerald Hill, 2019 April 25
- Revision Description
- Revised by Stephanie Bennett, 2021
- Revision Description
- Revised by Meg Campbell, materials added, 2024 April
- Revision Description
- Revised by Kate Trathen, materials added, 2026 April
- Access Restrictions
- This collection is open for use.
- Copyright Notice
- The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
- Preferred Citation
- Student Organizations. Afro-American Society Records (RG8.21), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.