Object 23/160
The Eileen Southern Report for 1976
Report
The text to the left of the line reads "1. Harvard should reaffirm in principle and practice that Afro-American Studies is an appropriate and important academic endeavor and that a permanently established department of high quality sharing equitably in the resources of the University is necessary.
1a. Association and interchange between the department of Afro-American Studies and Harvard's other disciplines and departments which tend to isolate the department must be ended."
The text to the right of the line reads "The relationship between the department and other departments has improved drastically. Two members who have joint-appointments attend their respective departmental meetings and serve on committees. The Department chairman was elected to Faculty Council in the Spring term of 1976 and has served on Council subcommittees. She is also a member of the DuBois Institute Board of Directors. There are presently no activities within the Department that isolate it from other departments. In general the Harvard community has failed to respond to the Department's efforts to join in. During the Fall term, for example, the Department sponsored a series of six lectures on the Afro-American folk arts, and desire the extensive advertisement (including announcements in the campus newspapers and personal invitations), only four faculty members from other departments attended any of the lectures.
Copies of the Departmental newsletter, Nimba, are sent to every department as well as other academic and administrative units on campus. Only one or two chairmen have even acknowledged receiving the newsletter.
At present, all overtures with regard to association and interchange between the Department and other departments are emanating from the Department. It is important that other departments and programs' (p. 6)."
1a. Association and interchange between the department of Afro-American Studies and Harvard's other disciplines and departments which tend to isolate the department must be ended."
The text to the right of the line reads "The relationship between the department and other departments has improved drastically. Two members who have joint-appointments attend their respective departmental meetings and serve on committees. The Department chairman was elected to Faculty Council in the Spring term of 1976 and has served on Council subcommittees. She is also a member of the DuBois Institute Board of Directors. There are presently no activities within the Department that isolate it from other departments. In general the Harvard community has failed to respond to the Department's efforts to join in. During the Fall term, for example, the Department sponsored a series of six lectures on the Afro-American folk arts, and desire the extensive advertisement (including announcements in the campus newspapers and personal invitations), only four faculty members from other departments attended any of the lectures.
Copies of the Departmental newsletter, Nimba, are sent to every department as well as other academic and administrative units on campus. Only one or two chairmen have even acknowledged receiving the newsletter.
At present, all overtures with regard to association and interchange between the Department and other departments are emanating from the Department. It is important that other departments and programs' (p. 6)."
Southern, Eileen
January 6, 1977
Report
Text
Eileen Southern Personal Archive. HUM 253, Box 3, Folder 27. Harvard University Archives.