Activism Exhibit
The OSU Special Collections & Archives Research Center recently curated an exhibition featuring activism in the collections and various OMA collections are included!
Exhibition Information:
Dates: October 2013 – March 2014
Location: OSU Valley Library, 5th Floor, 8:30am – 5pm
The exhibit is organized chronologically; here are a few photos and information about the featured OMA collections…
1940s
The 1940s
1945 Establishment of the Urban League of Portland
For over 70 years the Urban League of Portland has been empowering Oregon’s African American community. Established in 1945, the Urban League is a community-based organization with a mission to empower African Americans and other Oregonians to achieve equality in education, employment, and economic security, and emerged as a strong force and community partner in advocating for fair housing laws, education, and employment assistance.
In the OMA…
1960s
The 1960s
1964 OSU Men’s Basketball Team Desegregation
Norm Monroe was the first black walk-on player for OSU’s basketball team; instead of pursuing basketball, Monroe became a track star for OSU’s track team. Charlie White was OSU first black player for OSU’s basketball team recruited on scholarship. Both men shared their stories through oral history interview now available in the archives.
In the OMA…
- “Glory Road and the Desegregation of College Basketball: the Untold Story at Oregon State University” – a panel presentation hosted in the Spring of 2011 with guests: Norm Monroe, first black walk-on player during the 1960-1961 season; Charlie White, first black player recruited on scholarship and later assistant to the freshman coach, 1964-1967; Paul Valenti, OSU Basketball Head Coach, 1964-1970; Craig Robinson, OSU Basketball Head Coach, 2009-present; Dr. Larry Griggs, Director of the Educational Opportunities Program, 1985-2008. For more information and a link to a video recording of the event, see the “Basketball Desegregation Event” blog post
- Oral History Interview – Norm Monroe, first black walk-on player during the 1960-1961 season
- Oral History Interview – Charlie White, first black player recruited on scholarship and later assistant to the freshman coach, 1964-1967
1969 OSU’s Black Student Union Walkout
In February of 1969 the OSU head football coach required Fred Milton, a black athlete, to shave his facial hair. Milton refused. The Black Student Union (BSU) declared that the request was unreasonable because it forced African American players to conform. They approached the administration for support but were rebuffed. In late February and early March the BSU students organized various protests, class boycotts, and a walkout.
In the OMA…
1970s
The 1970s
1971/1972 OSU’s NAL establishment
Oregon State University’s Native American Longhouse was established in 1971 with a mission to provide the opportunity to build a bridge of understanding between the regions’ Tribes and visitors of all cultures.
In the OMA…
1973 Establishment of the Colegio César Chávez
The Colegio César Chávez was established in 1973 as a four year Chicano serving institution in Mount Angel, Oregon. The mission of the Colegio was to provide educational opportunities for people who were denied access to higher education, to create a “college without walls” that emphasized collaboration between students, staff, administrators, their families, and the greater community.
In the OMA…
1975 OSU’s Black Cultural Center Official Opening
Oregon State University’s Black Cultural Center was established with the mission to complement the academic program of studies and enrich the quality of campus life for the university’s African and African-American students.
In the OMA…
1977 OSU’s Centro Cultural César Chávez Official Opening
Oregon State University’s Centro Cultural César Chávez, originally established in 1972 as the Chicano Cultural Center, strives to inform both the respective cultural groups and the greater university communities about issues central to the Chicano/Latino/Hispanic culture and heritage.
In the OMA…
1980s
The 1980s
1980-1982 OSU Anti-Apartheid Protests
The Oregon Anti-Apartheid Scrapbook documents the protest and educational campaign led by the OSU African Students Association (ASA) in response to wrestling coach Dale Thomas’ association with the South African wrestling community. Thomas’ hosting of visiting South African coaches and proposed team tour of the country drew fire because of an international ban upon competition with South African athletes as a protest of the racist apartheid political system.
In the OMA…
1990s and 2000s
The 1990s and 2000s
1991 OSU’s APCC establishment
Oregon State University’s Asian & Pacific Cultural Center was established in 1991 with the mission to educate students and members of the community about various Asian/Pacific Island cultures and heritages and to provide leadership development through events, activities, and other resources at the center.
In the OMA…
2008 OSU’s Japanese American Students during WWII – the honorary degrees awarded to students
In 1942, over 35 Japanese American students were forced to leave OSU in accordance with an executive order that affected thousands of Japanese Americans across the nation. Over 60 years later two OSU students, Andy Kiyuna and Joel Fischer, lobbied both OSU and the Oregon legislature to give honorary degrees to the interned students. On May 31, 2007, Governor Kulongoski signed House Bill 2823 that allowed state institutions of higher education to award honorary post-secondary degrees to an individual ordered “evacuated by Presidential Executive Order 9066″ to an internment camp during the Second World War. In 2008, OSU awarded honorary degrees to some of the students who had been interned.
In the OMA…
And, here are a few more images of the exhibit…
