WFU Student Activism

This guide offers an overview of university archival collections and related resources that highlight the history of student activism and student-led protests at Wake Forest University. Some materials are accessible online through our Digital Collections, while others are available for in-person research. Topics include the Civil Rights and Black Power movements of the 1960s and 1970s, LGBTQ+ rights, as well as anti-war protests related to the Vietnam and Gulf Wars. Additionally, these resources can be used to examine student responses to campus-specific issues such as the mid-20th-century dancing ban, academic freedoms, student rights, and opposition to tuition increases. Records of student involvement in off-campus matters connected to broader local, national, and global concerns can also be found in the resources provided

General Resources – The items listed below are referenced across different student activism subject areas due to their comprehensive and extensive coverage of a diverse range of themes and time periods. They are presented in the listing below as general resources.

Books

Student and Alumni Publications

  • The Student (links to digital collection) – The Wake Forest Student began in 1882 (when the University was still Wake Forest College). The magazine’s current successor is titled “3 or 4 Ounces”.
  • The Howler (links to digital collection) – First published in 1903, The Howler is the annual yearbook for the Wake Forest
  • The Old Gold and Black (links to digital collection) – Founded in 1916, “The Old Gold and Black” is the student-run newspaper of Wake Forest University, named after the school’s colors. News, life, and opinion pieces discuss LGBTQ life and culture, particularly beginning in the 1990s.
  • Wake Forest Magazine A triannual publication featuring stories from the Wake Forest alumni community.

Archival Resources

  • Audio Recordings (Reel-to-Reels) (RG11.1) These reel to reels are a representation of the campus climate from 1960-1985. Many notable speeches, debates, and events that happened on Wake Forest’s campus are in this collection. Topics addressed include racial and gender equality, politics, religion, and environmental concerns.
  • History of Wake Forest Oral Histories – this collection is part of an ongoing project and contains 217 audio and video interviews from student and alumni about the Wake Forest campus experience as well as the academic life of faculty and staff.
  • Lessons from a Time of Upheaval feature in the Wake Forest Magazine wherein six alumni reflect on the campus climate of the 1960s and 1970s covering events such as the Vietnam War, the Black Power Movement, and the second wave feminist movement of the 1960s.
  • Student Organizations. Student Government Records (RG8.19) Since 1923, Wake Forest University’s Student Government has been the representative body for the undergraduate classes and the School of Business. This collection includes election materials, such as advertisements and results, judicial committee materials, leadership conference materials, and information and records regarding the legislature’s work. Sometimes referred to as “Student Legislature” in other collections.
  • Student Clubs. Student Organizations (RG8.56)- Student clubs and organizations range in topic from sports-based, to religious, political, and cultural, to interest and ideology focused, as well as sororities and fraternities. This collection contains fliers from the Anti-Racism Coalition.
  • University Photograph Collection (RG10.1); University Archives Photograph (Digital Collection
  • Vertical Files (RG15) – The Vertical Files Collection contains printed materials, clippings, and ephemera relating to Wake Forest College, now Wake Forest University.
  • Wake Forest Timeline keyword searchable timeline documenting historical milestones for students and alumni at Wake Forest. Can also be filtered by topic
  • Wake Forest Student Protests and Activism, 1950s-1970s LibGuide

Women’s Rights 1960s-1970s

  • Deans Record Group, Dean of Women, Women’s Government Association, (RG4.3) links to finding aid; this collection includes minutes of the Executive Board and general meetings as well as correspondence and administrative materials regarding the conduct and experience of women students on Wake Forest’s campus. The Women’s Government Association operated from the initial admittance of women students in 1943 until 1979.
    • Women’s Government Association Handbooks – links to digitized handbooks; separate handbooks for women students published from 1945-1971 highlighting many of the behavior expectations that women students advocated against in order to gain more social freedoms on campus.
  • RG1.11 President’s Paper James R. Scales (RG1.11) – James Ralph Scales was eleventh president of Wake Forest University from 1967 to 1983. During Scales’ administration students protested for intervisitation between men and women students as well as less restrictive social rules for women students.

Books

Related Resource

Thou Shalt Not Dance: The Wake Forest Dance Ban of 1957 (2021)- student film documenting the pushback from students against the ban on dances imposed by the Baptist State COnvention of North Caorlina

Civil Rights and Black Power Movements (1960s-1970s)

University Records

  • G. McLeod (Mac) Bryan Papers (MS364)- George McLeod (Mac) Bryan was an alumnus and faculty member of Wake Forest. During his tenure at Wake, Bryan introduced courses on feminism, religion and science, medical ethics, and black and liberation theology. Bryan was a supporter of integration, and encouraged his students to participate in the February 1960 sit-ins in downtown Winston-Salem. Bryan encouraged students to establish an African student fund that funded Ghanaian student Ed Reynolds’ studies at Shaw University and later Wake Forest University..
  • Erroll Kemp Reece Jr., Research Papers (MS373 )- Errol Kemp Reece, Jr (‘81)., was a Wake Forest University student. This collection includes his 1981 paper, “The History of Integration at Wake Forest University,” along with research materials and documents. It also features interviews on audiocassettes with campus figures such as Dr. J. Allen Easley, Dr. Clarence H. Patrick, Ed Christman, and R. Steve Bowden regarding the Faculty Committee on Integration. Interview audio is available online.
  • President’s Papers President Harold W. Tribble (RG1.10) – President of Wake Forest from 1950-1967, Tribble’s tenure as president was marked by some of the most challenging but impactful moments in the University’s history. In 1962, Black students were admitted for the first time, as WF began efforts to diversify the student body.This collection contains documentation of opposition Tribble faced from alumni, students, and the Baptist State Convention regarding a number of issues including the campus relocation, racial integration, and intercollegiate athletics.
  • President’s Papers James R. Scales (RG1.11) -James Ralph Scales was eleventh president of Wake Forest University from 1967 to 1983. Under Scales’ leadership Wake Forest moved away from its relationship with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. The collection includes materials from the Afro-American Society, now known as the Black Student Alliance (BSA).
  • Dean of the College. Edwin Graves Wilson(RG4.1.8 ) – Wilson served as Dean of the College from 1958-1967. This collection documents Wilson’s work as a college professor and Dean of the College, as well as personal materials through 1968. Under Wilson’s leadership, college faculty voted to integrate the college. Wilson also served on the Board of Trustees for Winston-Salem State University.
  • Dean of the College. Thomas E. Mullen Records (RG4.1.9)- Mullen succeeded Dr. Edwin Wilson and continued to usher the college through integration as well as helping to expand course offerings focused on the Black experience as well as recruiting Black faculty.
  • Student Organizations. Student Government Records (RG8.19) This collection includes self-study committee reports from different years focused on race relations on campus.
  • Student Clubs. Student Organizations (RG8.56)- Student clubs and organizations range in topic from sports-based, to religious, political, and cultural, to interest and ideology focused, as well as sororities and fraternities. This collection contains fliers from the Anti-Racism Coalition.
  • University Photograph Collection (RG10.1) – includes images of campus life and the Confederate flag burning event
  • RG11.1 Audio Recordings (Reel to Reels) (RG11.1)
  • RG15 Vertical FIles The Vertical Files Collection contains printed materials, clippings, and ephemera relating to Wake Forest College, now Wake Forest University. This collection features materials on the “Lunch Counter Demonstrations”, in addition to other “Student Protests and Demonstrations (1955-1977)” and documented “Women’s Issues” and “Women’s Liberation” materials.

Books

Vietnam War (late 60s early 70s)

University Records

  • Audio Recordings (Reel-to-Reels) RG11.1
  • G. McLeod (Mac) Bryan Papers (MS364)- George McLeod (Mac) Bryan was an alumnus and faculty member of Wake Forest. During his tenure at Wake, Bryan introduced courses on feminism, religion and science, medical ethics, and black and liberation theology. Bryan was a supporter of integration, and encouraged his students to participate in the February 1960 sit-ins in downtown Winston-Salem. Bryan encouraged students to establish an African student fund that funded Ghanaian student Ed Reynolds’ studies at Shaw University and later Wake Forest University..
  • J. Edwin Hendricks Papers (MS507) — J. Edwin (Ed) Hendricks was a professor in the History Department from 1961-2009. Hendricks’ collection includes anti-Vietnam war sentiments from Wake Forest students
  • RG8.19 Student Organizations. Student Government records
  • University Photograph Collection (RG10.1) links to digital collection; includes images from protests, the Vietnam Symposium, and peace vigils.
  • Vertical Files (RG15) – The Vertical Files Collection contains printed materials, clippings, and ephemera relating to Wake Forest College, now Wake Forest University. “Anti-War activities” on campus can be found among materials in this collection.
  • **Related University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Baptist Student Union Records (MS697) This collection documents the work of the University of Chapel Hill Baptist State Union. Materials include conscientious objection to the Vietnam War a well as related correspondence and student writings on the topic.

Books

Environmental advocacy and protests (1970s- present) solt book

LGBTQ (1980s-1990s)

  • Student Organizations. Gay Straight Student Alliance Records(RG8.22) – The Gay Straight Student Alliance (GSSA) was originally founded as the Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA) in 1990. This collection contains materials documenting GSSA’s advocacy and community members. Materials include a petition, newspaper clippings, a timeline about the GSSA, plaques, photographs, brochures, programs, and artifacts.
  • Student Organizations. Student Government Records (RG8.19) Since 1923, Wake Forest University’s Student Government has been the representative body for the undergraduate classes and the School of Business. This collection includes an LGBTQ Climate Report from 2000.
  • Von Maur, Justice. An Oral History of Gay and Lesbian Activism at Wake Forest University 1985 to 2000. — A thesis for History 392: Research Seminar, Justice von Maur analyzes LGBTQ activism at Wake Forest University in the 1980s and 1990s, in comparison to other North Carolina campuses. It covers events such as Senator Sam Nunn’s 1996 commencement speech and a controversy over a same-sex wedding in Wait Chapel from 1999-2000.
  • President’s Papers. Thomas K. Hearn III papers, 1983-2008 — In 1983 succeeded Dr. James Ralph Scales by becoming the twelfth president of Wake Forest University. During Hearn’s tenure, Wake Forest’s governing relationship with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina was ended. Many documents in this collection reference the controversy regarding the denial of a same-sex union between Susan Parker and Wendy Scott in Wait Chapel on Wake Forest University’s campus. He was president from 1983 to 2005. **links to dig. resources
  • Academic Departments Records, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies — Established as Women’s Studies with a minor in 1983, the department expanded in the 1990s. Collection materials include symposium agendas, fliers, and newsletters.
  • Student Organizations. Gay Straight Student Alliance Records(RG8.22) – The Gay Straight Student Alliance (GSSA) was originally founded as the Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA) in 1990. This collection contains materials documenting GSSA’s advocacy and community members. Materials include a petition, newspaper clippings, a timeline about the GSSA, plaques, photographs, brochures, programs, and artifacts.
  • LGBTQ Center — WFU’s LGBTQ Center is the campus location where students, faculty, staff, and alumni connect for resources, services, education and leadership programs related to gender identity and sexual orientation. The LGBTQ Center was established in 2011 to service the need of LGBTQ students at Wake Forest. The LGBTQ Center Records in the university archives contain documents pertaining to Wake Forest’s LGBTQ Center. Materials include news clippings, correspondence, flyers, and materials.
  • LGBTQ Oral History Interviews — *date back to 2012. The following page contains **15 interviews of Wake Forest alum who are a part of the LGBTQ community.
  • “Mother So Queer: A Queer History of Wake Forest University.” — Mother So Queer is an interactive, online exhibit that contains full length interviews conducted by past and current students, segments from interviews curated by theme, and a timeline of Wake Forest’s LGBTQ History.
  • Rising Voices Panel and Keynote Address (Video and Transcript) -This LGBTQ History Panel was part of the 2015 Rising Voices: Wake Forest LGBTQIA Alumni Conference. The panel was moderated by Mary Gerardy and Hu Womack. Speakers shared personal experiences as LGBTQ individuals at Wake Forest University, covering topics such as early organizations like the Gay-Straight Student Alliance (GSSA), anti-discrimination policies, campus firsts, coming out, religion, collaboration with student groups, negative responses, and institutional support (or lack thereof) from administration, faculty, and staff across the 1980s-2010s. The panel also addressed the 2000 controversy over a same-sex marriage ceremony in Wait Chapel.

Related Resources

Apartheid and the Gulf War (1990s)

  • Dean of the College. Thomas E. Mullen Records (RG4.1.9)- This collection contains materials regarding “Students Against Apartheid”. The student organization held a rally attended by students, faculty, and administrators. The group pushed for divestment of funds from Wake Forest in South Africa.
  • Student Organizations. Student Government Records (RG8.19) Since 1923, Wake Forest University’s Student Government has been the representative body for the undergraduate classes and the School of Business. In 1985 the Wake Forest Student Government Association held hearings on Apartheid research, these materials can be found in this collection.**
  • Vertical FIles (RG15) – The Vertical Files Collection contains printed materials, clippings, and ephemera relating to Wake Forest College, now Wake Forest University. Related materials can be found under “Anti-Apartheid Group”

Books

Gladding, Samuel T., The History of Wake Forest University, Volume VI (1983-2005), Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 2016.

Additional Research and Document Resources