This week, I spent my time in the Archives looking through the Amherst GALA Questionnaire. This questionnaire, put together by Will Dix ’77, served as “the basis of a gay history of Amherst College” entitled Hiding in Plain Sight: A History of Homosexuality at Amherst College. The survey answers provided a great deal of insight…Continue Reading Reflection #2
Year: 2016
Reflection #1
Over the last few weeks, we’ve begun to get our feet wet in Amherst College history. In order to do so, we read Black Men of Amherst College and Black Women of Amherst College. I found both works incredibly interesting. If anything, I was left with an appetite to learn more and even more questions…Continue Reading Reflection #1
Final Reflection
As a math major, I rarely get the chance for my personal and academic interests to collide. So this course has been a blessing to my academic and personal development and has provided plenty of perspective as my Amherst career comes to a close. I can truly leave this campus feeling that I have made…Continue Reading Final Reflection
Reflection #5
This week I really wanted to find more information about the Black Cultural Center library. I began to think about the importance of a library. At a recent BSU Meeting, we did a privilege walk and one of the statements was, “I grew up with more than 20 books in the house.” Many students stepped…Continue Reading Reflection #5
Reflection #4
This week I looked through documents in the Octagon mural with Matt. We found a ton of interesting documents about the Afro- American Society/ Black Student Union. There are also loads of documents left to sort through. I was able to find correspondence between Dean Jean Moss, The Office of the Dean of Students…Continue Reading Reflection #4
Reflection #3
This week I pulled all the bio files of those depicted on the Octagon mural. I created a document of their current employment, hometown, major at Amherst and some interesting facts about each person. Below is the information I have so far. I will continue this research in the upcoming week. I also plan to…Continue Reading Reflection #3
Reflection #2
Last week I focused on the Octagon before it became the Black Cultural Center. I was able to find tons of images of the Octagon when it was Woods Cabinet. There are images of all Edward Hitchcock’s geological findings and tons of images of the Babbott room. So this week I looked for information and…Continue Reading Reflection #2
Reflection #1
I started by looking into the Octagon before it became the Black Cultural Center. The Octagon was built in 1847-1848 and was designed by Henry A. Sykes who was an architect and contractor. Former Amherst College President Edward Hitchcock was largely responsible for the construction of the Octagon. Hitchcock describes the Octagon (Woods Cabinet): “It…Continue Reading Reflection #1
Final Research Reflection
05/12/16 Harold Haizlip, Nora Gregory, and Eugene Wilson After my research, I can confidently assert that the Dunbar-Amherst Connection sustained itself through an intergenerational cycle of motivation and matriculation in which older generations of Dunbar-Amherst men encouraged younger generations of Dunbar men to attend the College. But is the story of Dunbar and Amherst really…Continue Reading Final Research Reflection
Research Reflection #3 – Connecting with the Dunbar Legacy
04/07/16 My research of the Dunbar-Amherst connection has certainly taken me outside and beyond the Amherst College Archives recently. In March, I had the opportunity to interview one of those Dunbar Men of Amherst from the “Trio of 1959,” referenced in my previous research reflection.[1] Through email correspondence and over the phone, I interviewed Raymond…Continue Reading Research Reflection #3 – Connecting with the Dunbar Legacy