Black Student Association Oral Histories
Collected in 2018 and 2019, these Interviews were Conducted with Former Eastern Michigan University Students and Members of EMU's Black Student Association to Understand Events from February 1969 when Students Brought a Set of Demands to the University Administration.
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Chuck Coleman Chuck Coleman is a former Eastern Michigan University student activist. Before exiting the university in 1978, Coleman was a member of the Black Student Association, Campus Service Corps, and a student representative of the Office of Minority Affairs. Coleman played an important role for bettering conditions for students of color on campus. -
Dr. Mable Jones Dr. Jones is an alumna of Eastern Michigan University, graduating in 1972. Her time is characterized by heavy involvement in student activism that included being a member of Campus Service Corps, the Black Student Association and discussions with administration after the take over of Pierce Hall in February 1969. Dr. Mable Jones came to Eastern as an Upward Bound student. Jones became the chief executive officer of Upward Bound at Wayne State University, and, since retiring, continues to serve the greater Detroit area in the field of child development. -
Floyd Walton Floyd Walton is an alumnus of Eastern Michigan University, graduating in 1973. Walton was a highly involved student activist serving as a member of the Campus Service Corps and the Black Student Association. Walton was also instrumental with the Black Demands and discussions with administration after the take over of Pierce Hall of February of 1969. -
James Beasley James Beasley graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1977 and was an active member of the Student Senate and other associations on campus. Not on campus for the 1969 takeover of Pierce Hall, Beasley was a member of the next generation of student activists on campus, witness to the implementation of many of the changes demanded by earlier activists. -
John Sanford John Sanford is an alumnus in the Eastern Michigan University and was highly involved in student activism. Serving as a member of Campus Service Corps, Sanford was instrumental in discussions with administration after the take over of Pierce Hall in February 1969. -
Ken Moon, Oral History Interview, 2022 In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Ken Moon was a Black administrator at EMU during the lates 1960s and early 1970s, and an important mediator between the students and the administration. Moon was an influential figure on campus and supported students academically and personally. -
Kurt Hill Kurt Hill is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, active member of the Black Student Association, and Campus Service Corps, as well as present during the take over of Pierce Hall take over of February 20th, 1969. -
Marshall Jennings Marshall Jennings is an alumnus of Eastern Michigan University. Jennings was a highly involved student activist, serving as a member of Campus Service Corps. Jennings was an instrumental figure in discussions with administration on bettering conditions for African American students on campus, Jennings began his professional career at Eastern Michigan University working for admissions through recruiting and counseling. Jennings worked for two years as a counselor and recruiter for Eastern before going on to a long and successful career in higher education administration. -
Patricia Davidson Canadians Dr. Patricia Davidson and her sister Roberta were known as an organizational force behind the student demonstrations of 1969. Members of the Black Student Association and Campus Service Corps, the Davidson sisters were among a group of black student activists inside Pierce Hall during the takeover of 1969. Patricia went on to get her master’s degree in chemistry and an MD after attending Eastern Michigan. Dr. Davidson taught at Howard University and the University of Maryland and continues to have a substantial private practice in cardiology. -
Robert Smith Robert Smith is an alumnus of Eastern Michigan University who graduated from the university in 1971. During his time at EMU, Smith was involved with the Black Student Association and Campus Service Corps. Smith was instrumental in the creation of Black Demands and the takeover of Pierce Hall in February 20th, 1969. Smith graduated from Eastern in 1971 with a double major in history and graphic arts. Smith went on to serve the communities of Detroit and Highland Park in roles at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Wayne State University, and the Highland Park School District. -
Steve Spencer Steve Spencer graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1975 with a degree in speech and education and was an active member of the Black Student Association during his time on campus. After attending Valparaiso Law School, Spencer worked for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for 38 years.
Special Project in partnership with the Department of History and Philosophy for the 2020-21 Detroit Theme year.
Information on the physical structures on the campus of Eastern Michigan University.
An exhibit created by 2022 Historic Preservation graduate students to explore how food (or access to food) helps shape the student experience at EMU. This exhibit will focus, in part, on how food has molded and reflected gender issues and activities; how EMU foodways reflect changing demographics of its students; and that students mobilized to help feed their classmates.
The 2024 McKenny Gallery Exhibit, "Let's Get Physical: EMU's Pioneering Efforts in Athletics and Sports," was developed by students in the Preservation Studies program, for GHPR633: Developing Museum Exhibits. This gallery highlights the efforts made by EMU to be an early leader of physical education, and to enhance access to sports and athletics.
A comprehensive look at the Michigan State Normal School's participation in the Columbian World's Fair in 1893. It included essays, a digital reproduction of the exhibit, and complete catalog of images taken for the fair.
Photographic documentation of realia, memorabilia, and artifacts housed at the Eastern Michigan University Archives.
A curated collection of Eastern Michigan University's digitized visual resources
A curated collection of Eastern Michigan University's digitized audio resources
A special project with the Eastern Michigan University Archives and the Eastern Michigan University Archives