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A Guide to the Records at the Indiana University Archives

Finding aid prepared by Kate Cruikshank

Summary Information

Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives

Creator
Indiana University, Bloomington. African Studies Program.

Extent
9.3 cubic feet

Language
Materials are in English unless otherwise indicated.

Collection no
C217

Abstract
The collection consists of the administrative records and correspondence of directors J. Gus Liebenow and Patrick O'Meara related to the development of the African Studies Program.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.

Administrative History

The formal development of an African Studies Program at Indiana University began in 1961 with the receipt of a five-year developmental grant from the Ford Foundation under the directorship of J. Gus Liebenow of the Department of Political Science. The program was strengthened in 1965 when it was designated as an African Language and Area Center under the National Defense Education Act. In the first ten years of its existence, faculty participants increased from 3 to 23, graduates specializing in African studies from 3 to 95, courses offered during the regular academic year from 4 to 79, graduate enrollments from 26 to 367, and undergraduate enrollments from 17 to 244. A cornerstone of the program was the weekly “continuing seminar,” to which an ever-expanding range of national and international experts in African history and culture was invited for lecture and discussion.

In 1970, when Liebenow as appointed Dean for International Programs and Associate Dean for Research and Advanced Studies, he agreed to continue the directorship of the African Studies Program if he could have the assistance of a deputy director. Patrick O’Meara was appointed to this position, then became director in spring 1972 when Liebenow was appointed Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs. O’Meara continued in this position until his own appointment as Dean for International Programs in June 1993. The records in this collection are from the Liebenow and O’Meara directorships.

Five areas of emphasis characterized the early years of the program: West African regional studies, African humanities with emphasis on the arts and music, problems of development, historical study emphasizing West Africa, and African languages and linguistics. Work in African languages included the preparation of teaching manuals for 14 African languages under contract with the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and with the Peace Corps; coursework was offered in other languages as well. A sixth area of emphasis evolved with the extensive work of Alan Taylor in the development of the library collection on Africa and the training of African bibliographers within the Graduate Library School.

The African Studies Program was from the beginning intended to become a permanent program, drawing on faculty with appointments in established departments, encouraging recruitment of new faculty with African interests for departmental openings, and pursuing interdisciplinary efforts with other campus entities such as the Folklore Institute (joint publication of Cross-Rhythms), the Archive of Traditional Music, the International Development Research Center, and the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis. Its faculty was active nationally and internationally in the development of scholarship on Africa through the support of the African Studies Association, founded in 1956, as well as through individual affiliations and extensive publications. In response to the increasing demands by African-Americans for attention to their African heritage and contributions to American society and the world in 1968, faculty from the African Studies Program were heavily involved in developing and carrying out the extensive Focus: Black America program of speakers, performers, and discussions during the 1968-69 academic year. As Liebenow described the program, it was intended “to educate the university community with respect to the many contributions being made by Black citizens to all phases of American society” and to investigate “the causes and implications of inter-racial conflict in the United States.” His hope was that “Focus: Black America will not only contribute to the launching of the recently approved Program of Afro-American Studies, but will lead also to the hiring of new Black faculty at Indiana and to making the university a more attractive institution for current and prospective Black students” (Dec. 1968 Christmas letter).

Other notable projects of the program’s early years were the annual Hans Wolff Lectures, bringing noted international Africanists to campus for a schedule of lectures and seminars; publications in African humanities; collection of extensive audio and video resources on Africa; the “Living Africa” television production; efforts in support of the Southern African Research Archives Project (SARAP) under the leadership of Gwendolen Margaret Carter, Director of the African Studies Program at Northwestern University and from 1974-1984 a member of the I.U. faculty; and development of the MacArthur Foundation grant that launched the Center for Global Change and World Peace.

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of records and correspondence from the directorships of J. Gus Liebenow (1961-1972) and Patrick O’Meara (1972-1993). Records of particular note are early annual reports (1960-1972); records related to the continuing African Studies Seminar (1963-1974), the early development of the African Studies Association (1957-1975), and the Focus: Black America Program (1968-69); and correspondence with international scholars in African Studies.

The African Studies Program Directors’ Records are organized into five series: Administration, African Studies Association, Correspondence, Focus: Black America, and University Service, four of which are further arranged into subseries.

Within the Administration series, the first subseries, Annual Reports (1960-1973), is arranged chronologically. The second subseries, “Archives,” consists of files so-designated when the records were received and is arranged alphabetically. The third and fourth subseries, Course Offerings (1963-1988) and Governance (1985-1989), are arranged chronologically to facilitate tracking the development of the program. The four subseries on Intra-university Collaboration (1970-1990), Outreach Activities (1966-1988), Projects (1971-1990), and Publications (1982-1990) are arranged alphabetically, then chronologically within a given activity or project. The ninth subseries, Subject Files (1968-1991), is arranged alphabetically.

The African Studies Association series (1957-1975) is arranged chronologically.

The Correspondence series is divided into five subseries, each arranged alphabetically. The first, Faculty (IU) (1962-1993), contains in particular extensive correspondence with Gwendolen Margaret Carter, J. Gus Liebenow after his leaving the directorship of the program in 1972, Alan Merriam, Emile Snyder, and Alan Taylor. The other four subseries are Faculty Recruitment (1961-1972); Faculty, Visiting (1962-1980); Seminar Speakers and Lecturers (1966-1987); and Other Correspondence (1962-1990).

The Focus: Black America Program series (1968-1969) consists of four subseries. The Initial Planning subseries consists of Liebenow’s files on conceptualization of the program and intensive planning in May and June 1968; it is roughly chronological within that narrow time frame. The subseries of Administration files is arranged alphabetically, as are the two subseries for Events and for Speakers and Performers.

The University Service series (1979-1995) includes substantive information on the establishment of the Mathers Museum (Museum Advisory Committee files) and the early development of instructional technology at I.U. (Center for Media and Teaching files and Media Task Force files), as well as on International Programs and African Exchanges. The series is arranged alphabetically by committee or board, then chronologically.

Arrangement

Organized in five series: Administration, African Studies Association, Correspondence, Focuse: Black America, and University service.

• Indexing Terms

• The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in IUCAT, the IU Libraries' online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the catalog using these terms.

• • Names
  • Indiana University. African Studies Program --Archives.
  • Indiana University. African Studies Program --Records and correspondence.
  • Indiana University. African Studies Program --History --Sources.
  • Indiana University, Bloomington. African Studies Program --Archives.
  • Indiana University, Bloomington. African Studies Program --Records and correspondence.
  • Indiana University, Bloomington. African Studies Program --History --20th century --Sources.
  • African Studies Association --History --20th century --Sources.
  • Indiana University, Bloomington. Dept. of Afro-American Studies --History --20th century --Sources.
  • Indiana University, Bloomington. Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis --History --20th century --Sources.
  • Indiana University, Bloomington. Archives of Traditional Music --History --20th century --Sources.
  • Indiana University. African Studies Program.
  • Liebenow, J. Gus, 1925- --Archives.
  • Liebenow, J. Gus, 1925- -- Correspondence.
  • O'Meara, Patrick --Archives.
  • O'Meara, Patrick --Correspondence.
  • Carter, Gwendolen Margaret, 1906- --Correspondence.
  • Snyder, Emile --Correspondence.
  • Taylor, Alan R. (Alan Robert), 1932- --Correspondence.
  • Liebenow, J. Gus, 1925- Correspondence. Selections.
  • O'Meara, Patrick. Correspondence. Selections.
  • Carter, Gwendolen Margaret, 1906- Correspondence. Selections.
  • Snyder, Emile. Correspondence. Selections.
  • Taylor, Alan R. (Alan Robert), 1932- Correspondence. Selections.
• • Topics
  • Africanists --Indiana --Bloomington.
  • Sound archives --Indiana --Bloomington.
  • College museums --Indiana --Bloomington.
• • Places
  • Africa, West --Languages --Study and teaching (Higher) --Indiana --Bloomington.
  • Africa, West --Civilization --Study and teaching (Higher) --Indiana --Bloomington.

Separated Material

Photographs transferred to the University Archives Photographs Collection.

Student files transferred to Office of the Registrar.

Oversized files stored in Box 10.

Administrative Information

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Series: Administration, 1960-1992 

---

Subseries: Annual Reports, 1960-1973 

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Box 1 Status of African Studies at Indiana University, Progress Report on the Decade,

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1960-1970 

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1970-1971

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Annual Report to the College of Arts and Sciences,

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1970-1971 

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1971-1972 

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Draft, 1971-1972 

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Annual Report for the Program of African Studies, 1972-1973 

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Subseries: "Archives," 1960-1972 

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Box 1 Approved Course Offerings

1967-1968

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Disciplines of Students in African Studies 1960-1966 

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Expenditures, African Studies 1965-1968 

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Independent Study Courses 1970-1971 

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Inter-university Cooperation 1966 

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Language Commitment of Graduate Students 1965-1969 

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NDFL Support of Students 1960-1969 

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Student Fellowship Statistics 1970-1972 

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Student Information 1971-1972 

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Teaching Positions of Graduates 1964-1971 

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Visitors to Program 1961-1968 

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Subseries: Course Offerings 1965-1988 

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Box 1 Continuing Seminar 1963-1965 

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African Studies Seminar 1966-1967 

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Seminar Speakers Spring 1968 

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African Studies Seminar 1968-1969 

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Africsan Studies Seminar 1969-1970 

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African Studies Program Summer 1970 

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Summer Language Institute Summer 1970 

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African Studies Seminar 1970-1971 

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African Studies Program Summer 1971 

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Class Schedules Summer 1971 

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Films and Speakers Summer 1971 

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Letters of Inquiry - Summer Session Summer 1971 

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African Studies Seminar 1971-1972 

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African Humanities Film Series Spring 1972 

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African Studies Program Summer 1972 

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Program in African Languages (Univ. of Wisconsin) Summer 1972 

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African Studies Seminar 1972-1973 

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African Studies Seminar 1973-1974 

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Films and Art Information 1974 

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African Studies Seminar Spring 1988 

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Subseries: Governance 1978-1989 

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Box 1 Undergraduate Certificate Committee 1978-1982 

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Committees 1985-1988 

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Faculty Meetings 1985-1986 

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Faculty Meetings Spring 1987 

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Executive Committee 1987-1988 

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Faculty Meeting Fall 1987 

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Faculty Meeting Spring 1988 

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Faculty Meetings Fall 1988 

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Executive Committee Aug 24, 1989 

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Executive Committee Fall 1989 

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Faculty Meetings Fall 1989 

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Subseries: Intra-university Collaboration 1986-1990 

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Box 1 School of Education: Mehlinger Africa Project 1986 

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Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis 1979 - June 1984 

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Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis Jul 1984 - 1985 

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Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis 1986-1990 

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Subseries: Outreach

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Box 1 Art and Archaology Tour 1992 

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Christian Science Monitor Article 1982 

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Conferences: "Archives" undated 

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Conferences: African Arts 1966 

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Conferences: Indiana African Studies 1986 

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Conferences: African Linguistics 1983-1986 

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Confernces: African Librarians & Linguists 1986 

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Films: Library 1971 

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Films: Rental 1987-1988 

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Films: Series 1969 

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Hans Wolff Memorial Lectures 1969-1987 

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K-12 School Curriculum

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Outreach 1984 

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An Introduction to Francophone Africa undated 

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Teaching about Francophone Africa undated 

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MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour Interview 1989 

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Subseries: Projects 1971-1990 

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Box 1 Center for Global Change and World Peace 1988  View item(s)

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Constitutional Law Youth Exchange Project 1989-1990 

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Box 2 Living Africa 1979-1982 

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TV Proposal Dec 1979 

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NEH Proposal Jun 1980 

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NEH Proposal (bound copies) Jun 1980 

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Correspondence 1981-1983 

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Publicity 1982 

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Photo Album 1982 

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SARAP (Southern Africa Research Archives Project) 1971-1975 

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Correspondence Sep-Dec 1971 

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Proposal Drafts 1971-1972 

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Correspondence Jan-Apr 1972 

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Correspondence May-Jun 1972 

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Correspondence Jul 1972-1975 

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Subseries: Publications 1972-1990 

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Cross-Rhythms 1986-1989 

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Box 2 Cathy Spicer 1988-1989 

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Outstanding Orders 1986-1989 

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Publicity undated 

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Vol. 3 (author typescripts) 1988-1989 

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Vol. 3 (typescripts) 1989 

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Vol. 3 (typescripts) 1989 

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Vol. 3 (typescripts) 1989 

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Vol. 3 (final copy) 1989 

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Hans Wolff Memorial Lecture

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Wilfrid Whitely, To Plan Is to Choose 1972 

(transferred to oversize storage box)

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Ousmane Sembene, Man Is Culture 1975 

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Peter Garlake, Structure and Meaning in the Prehistoric Art of Zimbabwe 1987 

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Humanities Series: James Bellis, The 'Place of Pots' in Akan Funerary Custom 1982-1983 

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Sawyer, Amos, The Emergence of Autocracy

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Ch. 1-4 1990 

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Ch. 5-7 1990 

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Ch. 8-12 1990 

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Working Papers: Tim Gerrard, Word Lists Relating to Metalwork and Metal Technology 1986 

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Subseries: Box 3 Subject Files 1968-1991 

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Campus Reorganization 1968 

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Chronological File 1974 

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Current Policy 1980 

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Fall Reception 1989 

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Funding Application (US Dept. of Education) 1982-83 

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IU Foundation Accounts 1988 

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IU Press - Remainders 1987 

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Miscellaneous Correspondence 1972-76 

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MUCIA 1973-74 

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Neal Party 1989 

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Papers, Graduate Competition 1990 

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Papers, Special Students' 1979 

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Research adn Graduate Development Distinguished Lecture 1986 

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Research Files (J. Gus Liebenow) 1991 

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Africa-in-General

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Angola

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Benin

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Burkina Faso

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Burundi

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Cameroon

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Cape Verde

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Central African Republic

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Chad

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Comoros

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Congo

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Djibouti

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Equatorial Guinea

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Francophone Links

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Gabon

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Gambia

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Ghana

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Guinea

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Guinea-Bissau

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Ivory Coast

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Kenya

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Lesotho and Botswana

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Madagascar

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Mauritania

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Mozambique

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Namibia

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Niger

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Reunion

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Rwanda

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Sao Tome and Principe

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Senegal

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Seychelles

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Sierra Leone

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Sudan

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Togo

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Uganda

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Western Sahara

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Zambia

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Zimbabwe

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South African University Scholars 1975-1986 

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Series: Focus: Black America Program 1968-1969 

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Subseries: Initial Planning, May-August 1968 

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Box 7 Background View item(s)

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Focus: City Experience View item(s)

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Textbook Problem View item(s)

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General View item(s)

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Planning Notes View item(s)

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Planning View item(s)

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Planning Committee View item(s)

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Focus Outline View item(s)

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Indianapolis Series View item(s)

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Indianapolis: Budget View item(s)

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New Faculty View item(s)

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Institute of African-American Studies View item(s)

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Focus Statement View item(s)

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Subseries: Administration, 1968-1969 

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Box 7 Afro-American Studies View item(s)

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Anthropology View item(s)

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Anthropology Museum View item(s)

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Bernstein, Mrs. Linda

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Bibliographies - Requests View item(s)

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Bookstore Reorders for Bibliographies View item(s)

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Campus Sources View item(s)

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Checklists for Speakers View item(s)

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Commitments - Depts., Divisions View item(s)

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Courses View item(s)

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Courses First Semester View item(s)

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Courses Second Semester View item(s)

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Dissertations View item(s)

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EOF Arrangement View item(s)

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Exhibits,

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Ballantine View item(s)

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Books View item(s)

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Bookstore

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Fine Arts View item(s)

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Lilly Library View item(s)

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The Festival View item(s)

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Films View item(s)

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Ford Fellowships View item(s)

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Mailing List View item(s)

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Negro Colleges and Universities View item(s)

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Off-Campus Sources View item(s)

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Publicity,

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Clippings View item(s)

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Box OS6 Posters

(oversize)

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Box 7 Posters: correspondence View item(s)

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Press View item(s)

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Radio-TV View item(s)

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University View item(s)

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Special Events View item(s)

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Tapes View item(s)

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Thank-You Notes View item(s)

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University Extension - Bureau of Public Discussion View item(s)

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Subseries: Events, 1968-1969 

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Box 7 Approaches to Improving the Economic Position of Black Americans View item(s)

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Art Exhibit View item(s)

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The Blacks View item(s)

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Black Panthers View item(s)

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The Black Soldier View item(s)

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Community Racial Integration View item(s)

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Economics Forum View item(s)

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Education School View item(s)

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Films View item(s)

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Goodbye and Good Luck View item(s)

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Mali Dancers View item(s)

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Medical Panel View item(s)

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The Military View item(s)

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The Politics of Confrontation View item(s)

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The Preservation Hall Jazz Band View item(s)

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Racial Discrimination in the Labor Market - Panel View item(s)

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Science Education View item(s)

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Science and Technology View item(s)

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Soul on Ice View item(s)

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The Spirit House Movers View item(s)

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Urban Ghettos and Black Americans View item(s)

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The Way It Is View item(s)

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Subseries: Speakers and Performers, 1968-1969 

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Box 7 Roger Abrahams View item(s)

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Samuel Allen View item(s)

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Thomas I. Atkins View item(s)

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Dave Baker - Concert View item(s)

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Barrett, David B. - Comp. Religion View item(s)

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Alan Bell View item(s)

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Julian Bond View item(s)

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Edward Brooke View item(s)

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Wilfrd Cartey View item(s)

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Bill Cosby View item(s)

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Harold Cruse View item(s)

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Glenna Dockery View item(s)

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Ivanhoe Donaldson View item(s)

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Edward English View item(s)

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Erenburg and Films View item(s)

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Mari Evans View item(s)

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Alex Haley View item(s)

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Roy Innis View item(s)

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Louis Farrakhan View item(s)

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Dick Gregory View item(s)

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David Henderson View item(s)

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Donald Henderson View item(s)

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Robert Ingram View item(s)

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Blyden Jackson View item(s)

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Johnson, John View item(s)

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Lerio Jones View item(s)

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Albert Klassen View item(s)

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Elizabeth Koontz View item(s)

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Law School View item(s)

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Don Lee View item(s)

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Myron Lieberman View item(s)

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Elliott Liebow View item(s)

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Frank Livingstone View item(s)

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Louis Lomax View item(s)

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Chase Mooney View item(s)

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Roy Moore View item(s)

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Baba Kofi Omowale View item(s)

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Gladys Perry View item(s)

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Thomas Pettigrew View item(s)

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Alex Poinsett View item(s)

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Lou Rawls View item(s)

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William Staff View item(s)

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Rockie Taylor/Larry Coleman View item(s)

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Arthur Tuden View item(s)

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Gary Wamsley View item(s)

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Norman E. Whitten, Jr. View item(s)

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Benjamin Willis/Rhody McCoy View item(s)