A Guide to the University of Connecticut, Black Experience in the Arts Collection

Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:860235844

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Content From: Archives & Special Collections, University of Connecticut Library
Date: 2015
Topic: Musicians
African Americans
Painters
Poetry
African American poets
African American authors
Composers
Dance
Twentieth century
Sculptors
Universities and colleges
African Americans in popular culture
O'Connor, Edward
Genre: finding aids
Rights: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, CC BY-NC.
Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:860235844

Archives and Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries

Summary Information
Biographical / Historical
Scope and Contents
Administrative Information
Controlled Access Headings
Collection Inventory
Series I: Lecture Notes
Series II: Transcriptions
Series III: Reel-to-Reel Recordings
Series IV: Audio Cassette Recordings

Summary Information

Repository:: Archives and Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries
Creator:: Smith, Hale, 1925-2009
Source - dnr:: O'Connor, Edward
Title:: University of Connecticut, Black Experience in the Arts Collection
ID:: 2015.0002
Date [inclusive]:: 1970-1994
Physical Description:: 14 Linear Feet
Language of the Material:: English

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Biographical / Historical

The Black Experience in the Arts collection documents the history of a multi-decade course offered at the University of Connecticut. Debuting in the 1970 spring semester, the Black Experience in the Arts course survived into the first decade of the twenty-first century and serves as the inspiration for a current course on the Afrocentric perspective in the arts. The class, according to a 1990 syllabus, sought to examine "the points of view, problems, creative expressions and contributions of Black creators with particular reference to social context."

A unique feature of this course was that UConn undergraduates directly heard the artistic autobiographies from a variety of acclaimed and award-winning composers, musicians, vocalists, playwrights, dancers, designers, journalists, novelists, and poets. The collection consists of four series of lecture notes, transcriptions of lectures, over three hundred reel to reel audio recordings currently in the process of digitization, and another twenty-six audio cassette recordings. The records offer researchers an exciting look into a course dedicated to highlighting the contributions of black artists and the power of art as a mechanism for social change and racial expression.

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Biographical / Historical

In the late 1960s, the University of Connecticut established the Center for Black Studies. The center, which did not offer classes, encouraged various schools and departments at UConn to provide courses that reflected the black experience in their respective fields of study. The Center’s director, School of Education Professor Floyd Bass, worked with Associate Dean of Fine Arts Edward J. O’Connor to develop a course that celebrated the works of black artists. From this idea, an interdepartmental committee of Arts, Dramatic Arts, and Music faculty, designed the course and chose a unique format: instead of a single instructor, the course’s lectures would be delivered by invited guest speakers. The visiting lecturers included musicians, poets, dramatists, novelists, architects, actors, singers, and dancers. Many of whom were established names in their particular art forms and recipients of their field’s most prestigious honors. Guest lecturers were selected by Department of Music professor Dr. James Eversole, who oversaw the course during its first year, 1970. The visiting speakers received a captive audience and a $300 honorarium from the university which was initially funded by the Center for Black Studies and later the Dean’s office for the School of Fine Arts. Funding from the Center for Black Studies and School of Fine Arts were ample enough that outside foundation funding or alumni largesse was not necessary. In the fall of 1971, composer Hale Smith, who had spoken to the class during the spring 1971 semester, joined the UConn Department of Music faculty with duties that included sharing with Professor Eversole responsibility for the Black Experience in the Arts. Smith’s acclaimed career as a musician and composer proved invaluable to the course because he knew many of the guest speakers the course was hoping to bring to campus. Professor Eversole left the course in the fall of 1972 and Dean O’Connor assumed his duties. The Black Experience in the Arts was designed to be a recurring course bearing credit. It met one day a week in the J. Louis von der Mehden Recital Hall for 90 minutes, carried two credit hours, and originally graded as pass/fail. Later, students lobbied the course’s professors to change the pass/fail format and instead offer letter grades. The students believed the work they undertook studying for the course’s examinations necessitated individual grades and the University Senate approved the change from pass/fail to A-F grades. The popularity of the course grew quickly and consistently met its enrollment goal of 200 students. It attracted students from many departments, not just Fine Arts. Professor O’Connor believed the success of the course resulted from students finding the material interesting and a good way to earn arts and multi-cultural studies credits after UConn changed its general education requirements. Once credit requirements were revised and classes became 3 or 4 credit offerings, the University Senate approved two semesters of the course as meeting the general education requirement. Students were not allowed to repeat a semester for credit, they had to enroll and pass both semesters to earn the full four credit hours. When the class was being developed, the primary goal of the course was to change the attitudes of the students. The course’s instructors quickly saw the respect students expressed for the artists and their work. This growing respect developed into an awareness of the tremendous creativity demonstrated by black artists in all art forms. The class was a welcomed addition to the university’s course offering and consistent with the university goals, at the end of 1960s, to provide students with greater exposure of the racial and social dynamics found in American culture.

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Scope and Contents

Two boxes of lecture notes and transcriptions as well as over three hundred audio recordings (both reel-to-reel and cassettes) associated with a University of Connecticut School of Fine Arts course, "Black Experience in the Arts." The course's instructors included professors James Eversole, Hale Smith, Edward O'Connor, Leon Bailey, and Carlton Molette.

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Administrative Information

Publication Statement

Archives and Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries

University of Connecticut Libraries405 Babbidge Road Unit 1205Storrs, Connecticut 06269-1205archives@uconn.eduURL: http://lib.uconn.edu/libraries/asc/

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Controlled Access Headings

Musicians
Artists
African Americans
Audiotapes
Audiocassettes
Sound recordings
Painters
Sculptors
Poetry
African American poets
African American authors
Composers
Dance
Twentieth century.
Universities and colleges
African Americans in popular culture
University of Connecticut. Center for Black Studies
University of Connecticut
O'Connor, Edward

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Collection Inventory

Series I: Lecture Notes, 1970-1990 Scope and Contents Series I: Lecture Notes, 1970-1990 describes the information students learned and how they prepared to succeed in the course, Black Experience in the Arts. These records were generated over the two decades of the 1970s and 1980s and discussed how art forms such as sculpture, music, theatre, and poetry have been enriched by black artistry. Content covers the knowledge the course's many speakers imparted directly to students enrolled in the course. Guest lecturers included actors, architects, dancers, filmmakers, writers of poetry and novels as well as many jazz musicians and composers. The students heard how these artists first became interested in the arts, how they produced individual works or collobarted on artistic endeavors, and how the influence of race shaped their creative output. The series illustrates the diversity of artistic expression African-American artists have contributed to not just the American art scene, but the global art community. Series is composed of approximately 289 records in this series consisting of 268 lecture notes and 21 sets of review questions. All of the records are handwritten and the lecture notes were taken by one of the course's instructors, Professor Edward J. O'Connor. The notes comprise what Professor O'Connor jotted down during the lecture and what he took down later when he reviewed the audio recordings of the lectures. From these notes, O'Connor developed the exam's review questions and from there, the examinations. Series contains 9 folders and they are arranged chronologically. Folders 1 through 8 have dates listed while folder 9 contains undated lectures. The folder dates start with 1970-1972 and end with 9/5/89-4/20/90. The titles of 4 of the 9 folders also state the folders possess "Review Questions" in addition to "Lecture Notes." These review questions were also handwritten documents with between 15 and 30 questions about weeks worth of lectures to prepare students for the course's examinations. Series lacks notes from every lecture during the period. Plus there are notes for several presentations by the same lecturer, but no notes for a speaker who spoke once. Some handwritten notes are easier to read than others. If needing clarification, the context of the notes is clearer when also engaging Series II, the transcriptions of lectures.
Title/Description	Instances
Lecture Notes, 1970-1972 Scope and Contents Following individuals lectured during this time period: Budd Johnson 9/12/1972 and Eileen Southern 9/26/1972 There are no lecture notes for 1970 or 1971. Notes for only two 1972 lectures provided and no review questions in this file either. Controlled Access Headings: Notes O'Connor, Edward Southern, Eileen
	box 1	folder 1
Lecture Notes, 1973-1975 Scope and Contents Following individuals lectured during this time period: Florence Robinson 2/20/1973, Ahmad Jamal 3/19/1974, Arthur Cunningham fall 1974, Patti Bown 10/1/1974, Sanford Allen 10/29/1974, Lenzy Wallace 3/18/1975, Leonrad Goines 3/25/1975, Orde Coombs 9/23/1975, and Harold Ousley 10/28/1975
	box 1	folder 2
Lecture Notes, 1976-1978 Scope and Contents Following individuals lectured during this time period: Eddie Moore 9/7/1976, Roland Prince 9/14/1976, Chief Bey 1/25/1977, Calvin Hernton 3/29/1977, Addison Reed 4/5/1977, Bill Cole 11/15/1977, Mary Lindsay 2/14/1978, Rosa Guy 2/21/1978, Hale Smith 9/5/1978, Raoul Abdul 9/12/1978, Sylvester Kiner (Sonny Red) 9/19/1978 Louise Meriwether 9/26/1978, and Melvin Edwards 10/24/1978 Review questions about the lectures of Ted Joans, Melvin Edwards, Regina Perry, and Louise Meriwether.
	box 1	folder 3
Lecture Notes, 1978-1981 Scope and Contents Following individuals lectured during this time period: Conrad Johnson 10/31/1978, Betsey Dickerson 11/7/1978, Alvin Smith 11/14/1978, Pat Taylor 11/21/1978, Talib Rasul Hakim 11/28/1978, Major Holley 1/23/1979, Quincy Troupe 1/30/1979, Hale Smith 2/6/1979, Raoul Abdul 2/13/1979, Charles Davis 2/20/1979, Addison Reed 3/20/1979, Valerie Capers 3/27/1979, Mary Lindsay 4/3/1979, Jayne Cortez 4/10/1979, Pearl Williams-Jones 4/17/1979, Hale Smith 9/4/1979, Ted Joans 9/11/1979, Melvin Edwards 9/25/1979, Hale Smith 9/18/1979, Raoul Abdul 10/2/1979, Don Miller 10/30/1979, Louise Meriwether 11/6/1979, Talib Rasul Hakim 11/13/1979, Charles McLean 11/20/1979, Mary Lindsay 11/27/1979, Major Holley 1/22/1980, Andrew Frierson 1/29/1980, Quincy Troupe 2/5/1980, Raoul Abdul 2/12/1980, Jayne Cortez 2/19/1980, Conrad Johnson 3/18/1980, Dorothy Rudd Moore 3/25/1980, Addison Reed 4/1/1980, Pearl Williams-Jones 4/8/1980, Chinweizu Ibekwe 4/15/1980, Hale Smith 9/2/1980, Talib Rasul Hakim 9/9/1980, Raoul Abdul 9/16/1980, Brother Blue 9/23/1980, Ted Joans 9/30/1980, Paule Marshall 10/21/1980, Chinweizu Ibekwe 10/28/1980, Benny Bailey 11/4/1980, Louise Meriwether 11/11/1980, Melvin Edwards 11/18/1980, Loften Mitchell 1/27/1981, Major Holley 2/3/1981, Conrad Johnson 2/10/1981, Raoul Abdul 2/17/1981, Mary Lindsay 2/24/1981, Eugene Redmond 2/24/1981, Quincy Troupe 3/24/1981, Edythe Jason 3/31/1981, Jayne Cortez 4/7/1981, and Rawn Spearman and Carlesta Henderson 4/14/1981
	box 1	folder 4
Lecture Notes and Review Questions, 1982-1984 Scope and Contents Following individuals lectured during this time period: Patti Bown 1/26/1982, Major Holley 2/2/1982, Raoul Abdul 2/9/1982, Ted Joans 2/16/1982, Hale Smith 2/23/1982, Edythe Jason 3/23/1982, Jayne Cortez 3/30/1982, Conrad Johnson 4/12/1982, Howard Roberts 4/12/1982, Pearl Williams-Jones 4/20/1982, Frederick King 4/27/1982, Hale Smith 9/7/1982, Jalalu Nelson 9/14/1982, William Hutson 9/21/1982, Ed Bland 9/28/1982, Louise Meriwether 10/5/1982, Souleymane Keita 10/19/1982, Melvin Edwards 11/2/1982, Melba Liston 11/9/1982, Talib Rasul Hakim 11/16/1982, Montego Joe 11/23/1982, Howard Roberts 1/25/1983, Quincy Troupe 2/1/1983, Raoul Abdul 2/8/1983, Debra Muirhead 2/15/1983, Billy Mitchell 2/22/1983, Jayne Cortez 3/22/1983, Edythe Jason 3/29/1983, Muhal Richard Abrams 4/5/1983, Frederick King 4/19/1983, William Demby, 4/26/1983, James Newton 9/13/1983, Major Holley 9/20/1983, Eugene Redmond 9/27/1983, DuRell Echols 10/4/1983, Eddie Preston 10/18/1983, Melvin Edwards 10/11/1983, Talib Rasul Hakim 11/8/1983, Hale Smith 11/15/1983, Andrew Lyght 11/29/1983, Louise Meriwether 12/6/1983, Vincent Smith 1/24/1984, Quincy Troupe 1/31/1984, Jayne Cortez 2/2/1984, Edythe Jason 2/14/1984, Raoul Abdul 2/21/1984, Andrew Freirson 3/20/1984, Hale Smith 3/27/1984, Howard Roberts 4/3/1984, Pearl Williams-Jones 4/10/1984, and Don Miller 4/17/1984 Review questions about the lectures of Frederick King, James Newton, Major Holley, Eugene Redmond, DuRell Echols, Melvin Edwards, and Eddie Preston.
	box 1	folder 5
Lecture Notes and Review Questions, 1984-1987 Scope and Contents Following individuals lectured during this time period: Dorothy and Kermit Moore 4/24/1984, William Hutson 9/11/1984, Oscar Walters 9/18/1984, Eugene Redmond 10/2/1984, Abraham Adzenyah 10/9/1984, Montego Joe 10/23/1984, Souleymane Keita 11/6/1984, Talib Rasul Hakim 11/13/1984, Rosa Guy 11/27/1984, Raymond Patterson 12/4/1984, Joseph Skerrett 9/10/1985, Oscar Walters 9/24/1985, Montego Joe 10/1/1985, Marilyn Nelson Waniek 10/8/1985, Frederick Tillis 10/15/1985, Melvin Edwards 10/29/1985, Samuel Allen 11/5/1985, Bhekokwakhe Langa 11/12/1985, Michael Coblyn 11/19/1985, Hale Smith 12/3/1985, Patti Bown 1/21/1986, Julius Williams 1/28/1986, Jayne Cortez 2/4/1986, James Spruill 2/18/1986, Quincy Troupe 2/25/1986, Vincent Smith 3/18/1986, Frederick King 3/25/1986, Raoul Abdul 4/1/1986, Crystal Johns and Emerson Coleman 4/8/1986, Bill Cole 4/15/1986, Leon Bailey 4/22/1986, Sahib Shihab 9/9/1986, Raymond Patterson 9/16/1986, Melvin Edwards 9/23/1986, Hale Smith 9/30/1986, Frederick Tillis 10/7/1986, Barkley Hendricks 11/4/1986, Louise Meriwether 11/11/1986, Debra Muirhead 11/18/1986, Quincy Troupe 1/27/1987, Leon Bailey 2/3/1987, Linda Patton, James Spruill, and Georgette Leslie 2/10/1987, Bea Winde 2/17/1987, Jayne Cortez 2/24/1987, Julius Williams 3/3/1987, Vincent Smith 3/24/1987, and Bill Cole 3/31/1987 Review questions about the lectures of Talib Rasul Hakim, Souleymane Keita, Joseph Skerrett, Abraham Adzenyah, Oscar Walters, Montego Joe, Marilyn Nelson Waniek, Frederick Tillis, Melvin Edwards, Samuel Allen, Bhekokwakhe Langa, Michael Coblyn, Patti Bown, Julius Williams, Jayne Cortez, James Spruill, Quincy Troupe, Vincent Smith, Frederick King, Raoul Abdul, Crystal Johns and Emerson Coleman, Bill Cole, Leon Bailey, Sahib Shihab, Raymond Patterson, Melvin Edwards, Hale Smith, Frederick Tillis, Barkley Hendricks, Louise Meriwether, Debra Muirhead, and Julius Williams Review of the text, Shadow and Act by Ralph Ellison
	box 1	folder 6
Lecture Notes and Review Questions , 1987-1988 Scope and Contents Following individuals lectured during this time period: Patti Bown 4/7/1987, Crystal Johns 4/14/1987, Raoul Abdul 4/21/1987, Frederick King 4/28/1987, Sahib Shihab 9/1/1987, Hale Smith 9/8/1987, Raymond Patterson 9/15/1987, Melvin Edwards 9/22/1987, Leslie Lee 9/29/1987, Frederick Tillis 10/6/1987, Eugene Redmond 10/13/1987, Wesley Brown 10/27/1987, Charles Hamm 11/3/1987, Barkley Hendricks 11/17/1987, Mildred McNeil 12/1/1987, Patti Bown 1/26/1988, Juan Sanchez 2/9/1988, Vincent Smith 2/16/1988, Louise Meriwether 2/23/1988, Jayne Cortez 3/1/1988, Quincy Troupe 3/22/1988, Bill Cole 3/29/1988, Raoul Abdul 4/5/1988, Lisa and Danny Calvo 4/12/1988, and Jack Whitten 4/26/1988 Review questions about the lectures of Vincent Smith, Bill Cole, Patti Bown, Crystal Johns, Raoul Abdul, Frederick King, Sahib Shihab, Hale Smith, Raymond Patterson, Melvin Edwards, Leslie Lee, Frederick Tillis, Eugene Redmond, Wesley Brown, Charles Hamm, Barkley Hendricks, Mildred McNeil, Edward O'Connor, Juan Sanchez, Louise Meriwether, Jayne Cortez, Quincy Troupe, and Jack Whitten
	box 1	folder 7
Lecture Notes and Review Questions , 1989-1990 Scope and Contents Following individuals lectured during this time period: Hale Smith 9/5/1989, Frederick Tillis 9/12/1989, Mildred McNeil 9/19/1989, Raymond Patterson 9/26/1989, Najee 10/3/1989, Leon Bailey 10/10/1989, Robert Freeman 10/31/1989, Ray Rickman 10/31/1989, Patti Bown 11/7/1989, Melba Moore 11/14/1989, Montego Joe 11/28/1989, Lindsay Patterson 12/5/1989, Salvator Scalora 1/23/1990, Vincent Smith 1/30/1990, Major Holley 2/6/1990, Ardelle Striker 2/13/1990, Raoul Abdul 2/20/1990, Leon Bailey 2/27/1990, Linda Patton 3/20/1990, Donald Spivey 3/27/1990, Melvin Edwards 4/10/1990, David Blight 4/17/1990, and Byron Stripling 4/24/1990 Review questions about the lectures of Hale Smith, Frederick Tillis, Mildred McNeil, Raymond Patterson, Najee, Leon Bailey, Robert Freeman, Ray Rickman, Patti Bown, Melba Moore, Montego Joe, Lindsay Patterson, Salvator Scalora, Vincent Smith, Major Holley, Ardelle Striker, Raoul Abdul, Linda Patton, Donald Spivey, Melvin Edwards, David Blight, and Byron Stripling
	box 1	folder 8
Lecture Notes and Review Questions Undated Scope and Contents Following individuals lectured during this time period, but there are no dates provided about when they spoke: Howard Roberts, Regina Perry, Alvin Smith, Carmen Moore, Leon Thompson, Ken McIntyre, Jackie McLean, Charles Hobson, Dorothy Rudd Moore, Hale Smith, Talib Rasul Hakim, Montego Joe, Lindsay Patterson, Louise Meriwether, Don Miller, Jayne Cortez, Oakley Holmes, Loften Mitchell, Quincy Troupe, Oscar Walters, Eugene Redmond, Stanley Crouch, Pearl Williams-Jones, Frederick King, Raoul Abdul, Melvin Edwards, Ted Joans, Melvin Edwards, and Edythe Jason Review questions of lectures by Raoul Abdul, Ted Joans, Edythe Jason, and Jayne Cortez
	box 1	folder 9
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Series II: Transcriptions, 1971-1988 Scope and Contents Series II: Transcriptions, 1971-1988 represents an effort to elucidate the ideas expressed in the Black Experience in the Arts course. This series builds on Series I's handwritten notes and arranges the information provided by the classes' guest speakers into a more accessible structure. These records were generated over the two decades of the 1970s and 1980s and discuss the backgrounds, training, and projects produced by a variety of black artists. Like its predecessor, this series' content explores the direct knowledge the courses' guest lecturers conveyed to students of the Black Experience in the Arts. All of the lectures found here have been transcribed, but are not word-for-word translations. Some transcriptions, for speakers who visited repeatedly, resemble compilations of a lecturer's multiple presentations. Series is composed of approximately 42 typed transcriptions found in 6 folders. The 1st folder holds transcriptions of 5 lectures which served as a prospectus for a proposed book project about the class. One of the courses' instructors, Professor Edward J.P. O'Connor, selected a quintet of speakers and transcribed their lectures. The five lecturers O'Connor selected - musician Pearl Williams-Jones, sculptor Melvin Edwards, dramatist Leslie Lee, poet Raymond Patterson, and violinist Sandford Allen - are each between twenty and thirty pages long. Professor O'Connor chose these particular presentations because he felt the speakers made the strongest points and their message was in line with the purpose of the course. The next 5 folders found in this series contain between 4 and 10 lecture transcriptions. They are not part of a specific collection and there is no particular order in how the transcriptions appear in these five folders. A lecture transcription totals between 15 and 30 pages and sometimes include the instructor's introduction of the speaker as well as questions posed by the students and the lecturers' responses. Like the lecture notes, the transcripts reveal that a speaker's talk discussed biographical information, an overview of their career, a focus on specific artistic endeavors, or ideas about how race influenced their art. A small number of transcriptions feature handwritten commentary by Professor O'Connor. Some sentences are crossed out in pencil or there is a comment about a particular edit or note about moving a section of text to another part of the transcription. Series lacks transcriptions from every lecture during the period, there are multiple transcriptions for certain speakers while none for many, and again, the production of these transcriptions is less a word-for-word account of their classroom presentation.
Title/Description	Instances
Book Prospectus, 1974-1987 Scope and Contents The book prospectus, edited by former course instructor and Associate Dean of the School of Fine Arts Edward J. P. O'Connor, comprises folder 1 of Series II. The folder contains the transcriptions of five speakers' lectures: Pearl Williams-Jones 4/10/1984 (musician and professor of music), Melvin Edwards, compilation of lectures ranging from 1971-1985 (sculptor), Leslie Lee 9/29/1987 (playwright), Raymond Patterson 9/15/1987 (poet), and Sanford Allen 10/29/1974 (violinist) The book prospectus was ultimately not pursued beyond the transcription stage. According to Professor O'Connor, after he transcribed several of the lectures, "I found that most, having been given extemporaneously, required considerable editing since people don't always speak the way they would write, changing subjects in the middle of the sentence, for example." O'Connor also revealed that not all of the lecturers were willing to participate in the editing process or offer feedback about their lecture.
	box 2	folder 1
Transcriptions, 1972-1987 Scope and Contents Folder title also states, "First Edit." Meaning of words is unclear as there are no other explicitly stated second or third edits of transcriptions. Also none of the 7 transcriptions have been marked up by the editor. Folder 2 possesses the transcriptions of the following speakers' lectures: Sanford Allen 10/29/1974 (violinist) Andrew Frierson 1/29/80 (singer) Sylvester Kiner 9/19/1978 (saxophonist) Howard Roberts 4/4/72, 4/12/82, 1/25/1983, 4/3/1984 (performer, conductor, composer) Leon Thompson 4/1/1975 and 3/28/1978 (conductor) Julius Williams 1/28/1986 and 3/3/1987 (conductor and composer) Pearl Williams-Jones 4/10/84 (musician and professor of music)
	box 2	folder 2
Transcriptions, 1971-1988 Scope and Contents Transcriptions of 30 lectures by 21 speakers are found within Series II's folders 3 through 6: Stanley Crouch 9/25/1984 (critic) Halim El-Dabh 5/12/1971 (composer and ethnomusicologist) Matiwane Manana 10/5/1971 (musician) Billy Mitchell Fall 1971, no specific date provided (saxophonist) Melvin Edwards 8 lectures ranging from 1971-1985 (sculptor) Leslie Lee 9/29/1987 (playwright) Raymond Patterson 9/15/1987 (poet) James Spruill 2/18/1986 (actor and professor of theatre) Carman Moore no specific date provided (composer and critic) Kermit Moore and Dorothy Rudd Moore 4/24/1984 (composers) Howard Roberts 4 lectures ranging from 1972-1984 (composer) Pearl Williams-Jones 4/10/1984 (musician and professor of music) Raoul Abdul 4/5/1988 (musician and critic) Bill Cole 3/29/1988 (composer and ethnomusicologist) Sahib Shihab 9/1/1987 (saxophonist) Hale Smith 9/8/1987 (composer) Sanford Allen 10/29/1974 (violinist) Patti Bown 1/21/1986 and 1/26/1988 (composer and pianist) Lisa and Daniel Calvo 4/12/1988 (harpist and flautist)
	box 2	folder 3-6
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Series III: Reel-to-Reel Recordings, 1970-1988 Scope and Contents The majority of the Black Experience in the Arts collection consists of reel-to-reel audio tape recordings of classroom lectures. Series III Audio Recordings, 1970-1988 contains approximately 326 reel to reel audio tapes. 137 guest speakers were recorded and in several instances, there are multiple presentations by these visiting lecturers. The lectures were recorded by the University of Connecticut's audio-visual center and a copy of the tapes was sent to the university's Homer Babbidge Library as a study aid so students could review them in preparation for exams. The tapes run the length of the 90 minute course. On occasion, a second tape was required to capture the speaker's entire presentation. Besides speaking, it was not uncommon, especially for visiting musicians, to perform. The course met in a rectial hall with a piano so it was possible for artists to play a well known composition or debut a new work. Lastly, the recordings captured the words of poets and playwrights when they performed readings of their work. Despite the large number of recordings, audio tapes do not exist for every speaker who visited the class. Some presenters delivered formal lectures, while others spoke in a more extemporaneous fashion. Also, some tapes have unequal audio levels meaning recordings are audible at a standard volume setting, but at other times, the volume must be turned all the way up to hear the speaker clearly. Conditions Governing Access: Use of reel to reel audio recordings requires the production of listening copies. Some audio recordings have been transcribed or digitized.
Title/Description	Instances
Abraham Adzenyah, 1984-1985 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Musician Abraham Adzenyah, a well-known drummer, delivered lectures on 10/9/1984 (2015-0002/RR98) and 9/17/1985 (2015-0002/RR99).
	reel 2015-0002/RR98
	reel 2015-0002/RR99
Addison Reed, 1977-1980 Physical Description: 3 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Musician Addison Reed delivered 2 lectures that can be found on 3 reel to reel tapes. Lecture 1 occurred on 4/5/1977 (2015-0002/RR258 copy 1) (2015-0002/RR259 copy 2) and the 2nd happened on 4/1/1980 (2015-0002/RR260).
	reel 2015-0002/RR258
	reel 2015-0002/RR259
	reel 2015-0002/RR260
Ahmad Jamal and Eugene Redmond, 1974 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Composer Ahmad Jamal and poet Eugene Redmond delivered a lecture on 3/19/1974 (2015-0002/RR187).
	reel 2015-0002/RR187
Al Fann, 1974 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Actor Al Fann delivered a lecture on 1/22/1974 (2015-0002/RR158 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR159 reel 2).
	reel 2015-0002/RR158
	reel 2015-0002/RR159
Alvin Smith, 1978 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Artist Alvin Smith delivered a lecture on 11/14/1978 (2015-0002/RR268).
	reel 2015-0002/RR268
Andrew Frierson, 1980-1984 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Opera singer Andrew Frierson delivered 2 lectures. The 1st occurring 1/29/1980 (2015-0002/RR160) and the 2nd happening 3/20/1984 (2015-0002/RR161).
	reel 2015-0002/RR160
	reel 2015-0002/RR161
Andrew Lyght, 1983 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Painter and sculptor Andrew Lyght delivered his single lecture on 11/29/1983 (2015-0002/RR220).
	reel 2015-0002/RR220
Arthur Cunningham, 1974 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Composer Arthur Cunningham delivered a lecture in the fall of 1974 (2015-0002/RR131). Unfortunately there is no exact date given to Cunningham's lecture.
	reel 2015-0002/RR131
Babatunde "Mike" Olatunji, 1970 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Master drummer and percussionist Babatunde "Mike" Olatunji delivered his sole course lecture on 3/12/1970 (2015-0002/RR15). Olatunji emigrated to the United States from his native Nigeria in 1950. His lecture is 2 hours long and with the exception of 20 minutes, the vast majority of Olatunji's presentation was him performing music. He played drums and a flute and even sang on some numbers. Olatunji's lecture highlighted how elements of African culture (especially music and language) can be found around the world in places such as Brazil, the Caribbean, and Central America. Compared to other recordings, the sound quality of this recording is strong throughout.
	reel 2015-0002/RR15
Barkley Hendricks, 1986-1987 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Painter Barkley Hendricks delivered 2 lectures to the Black Experience in the Arts course. The first occurring on 11/4/1986 (2015-0002/RR38) and the 2nd happening on 11/17/1987 (2015-0002/RR39) Controlled Access Headings: Sound recordings African Americans Storrs (inhabited place) African Americans in popular culture Artists Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 University of Connecticut
	reel 2015-0002/RR38
	reel 2015-0002/RR39
Barry Gaither, 1971 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Museum curator Barry Gaither lectured on 11/2/1971 (2015-0002/RR162).
	reel 2015-0002/RR162
Bea Winde, 1987 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Actress Bea Winde lectured on 2/17/1987 (2015-0002/RR300).
	reel 2015-0002/RR300
Betsey Dickerson, 1978 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Dancer Betsey Dickerson lectured on 11/7/1978 (2015-0002/RR139).
	reel 2015-0002/RR139
Bhekokwakhe Langa, 1985 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Writer and literature professor Bhekokwakhe Langa lectured on 11/12/1985 (2015-0002/RR213).
	reel 2015-0002/RR213
Bill Cole, 1977-1988 Physical Description: 3 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Composer and musician Bill Cole delivered 3 lectures over an 11 year period. The 1st occurred on 11/15/1977 (2015-0002/RR120), the 2nd on 3/31/1987 (2015-0002/RR121), and the 3rd on 3/29/1988 (2015-0002/RR122).
	reel 2015-0002/RR120
	reel 2015-0002/RR121
	reel 2015-0002/RR122
Bill Hutson, 1971-1984 Physical Description: 5 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Painter Bill Hutson delivered 4 lectures that can be accessed on 5 reels. 1st lecture was 10/31/1972 (2015-0002/RR35), the 2nd on 9/21/1982 (2015-0002/RR36), the 3rd on 9/11/1984 (2015-0002/RR37), the 4th on 3/3/1971 (2015-0002/RR320), and the 5th on 9/11/1984 (2015-0002/RR323). It is unknown whether the 9/11/1984 recording required two reels or if 1 tape is a duplicate. Controlled Access Headings: Sound recordings Authors African Americans Storrs (inhabited place) African Americans in popular culture Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 University of Connecticut
	reel 2015-0002/RR35 - RR37
	reel 2015-0002/RR320
	reel 2015-0002/RR323
Billie Lynn Daniels, 1984 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Composer and opera singer Billie Lynn Daniels lectured on 10/30/1984 (2015-0002/RR136 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR137 reel 2).
	reel 2015-0002/RR136
	reel 2015-0002/RR137
Billy Omabegho, 1970-1973 Physical Description: 3 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Sculptor and art professor Billy Omabegho spoke to the Black Experience in the Arts course 3 times. In his 1971 lecture, the Nigerian-born Omabegho spoke about ancient African art, some work dating back to 60,000-30,000 BCE. He also had a slide show featuring examples of African masks, dances, paintings, and clothing. It is clear he wanted students to see that black individuals have been creating art since the earliest moments of humankind and that black artistic expression takes many shapes. Omabegho delivered lectures on 3/12/1970 (2015-0002/RR16), 10/19/1971 (2015-0002/RR17), and 10/30/1973 (2015-0002/RR44).
	reel 2015-0002/RR16
	reel 2015-0002/RR17
	reel 2015-0002/RR44
Brother Blue, 1980 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Master storyteller Brother Blue (Hugh Morgan Hill) delivered his sole lecture on 9/23/1980 (2015-0002/RR2). Blue told students about how he began his writing career and originally was a playwright. His success as a storyteller allowed him to travel to England, France, and Switzerland to speak and tell stories. When he completed his PhD at Harvard, his dissertation project involved going into jails and asking prisoners to talk and tell stories. This endeavor led him to see the importance of storytelling and made him want to continue working with prisoners and teach writing and storytelling in jails. Some of his stories involved sounds and music like the use of his harmonica. Final note, the volume on this tape is uneven especially at the beginning of the recording.
	reel 2015-0002/RR2
Budd Johnson, 1972 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Writer, arranger, and saxophonist Budd Johnson spoke to the Black Experience in the Arts course only one time on 9/12/1972 (2015-0002/RR10 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR11 reel 2). From his lecture, Johnson spoke about learning the piano at age 8 and later convinced his mother to buy him a saxophone. As a child, Johnson performed in musical groups such as the Blue Moon Chasers. Johnson's participation in the Chasers was just the beginning of his journeymen career as a touring musician. Johnson would go on to join the ensembles of Jesse Stone, George E. Lee, and Louis Armstrong. Johnson was often a member of Earl Kenneth "Fatha" Hines' band and was part of the jazz ambassador tour of 1966 that toured Russia and Ukraine. Johnson expressed to students the wonder and excitement felt when he and the band spent 4 nights playing in Kiev at a packed 10,000 seat arena full of screaming fans.
	reel 2015-0002/RR10
	reel 2015-0002/RR11
Butch Lewis, 1970 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Filmmaker Butch Lewis delivered a lecture on 10/19/1970 (2015-0002/RR215).
	reel 2015-0002/RR215
Calvin Hernton, 1977 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Poet and sociologist Calvin Hernton lectured on 3/29/1977 (2015-0002/RR177 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR178 reel 2).
	reel 2015-0002/RR177
	reel 2015-0002/RR178
Charles Briggs, 1973 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Actor Charles Briggs lectured on 2/6/1973 (2015-0002/RR111).
	reel 2015-0002/RR111
Charles Hamm, 1987 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Composer and musicologist Charles Hamm lectured on 11/3/1987 (2015-0002/RR175).
	reel 2015-0002/RR175
Charles Hobson Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Filmmaker Charles Hobson, founder and artistic head of Vanguard Documentaries, delivered a lecture to the Black Experience in the Arts course (2015-0002/RR179 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR180 reel 2). Unfortunately, no date provided to indicate when Hobson spoke.
	reel 2015-0002/RR179
	reel 2015-0002/RR180
Charley Blackwell, 1973 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Actor and producer Charley Blackwell lectured on 11/13/1973 (2015-0002/RR104).
	reel 2015-0002/RR104
Chief Bey, 1977 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Musician (percussionist) and acclaimed folklorist Chief Bey lectured on 1/25/1977 (2015-0002/RR103).
	reel 2015-0002/RR103
Conrad Buckner, 1974-1976 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Master tap dancer Conrad "Litle Buck" Buckner spoke to the Black Experience in the Arts course twice. The 1st time was 9/24/1974 (2015-0002/RR1) and the 2nd was 2/3/1976 (2015-0002/RR113). In his 1974 lecture, Buckner performed several dance routines and told students about growing up in Kansas City, Missouri and how his father, a singer, taught him to tap dance at age 5. As a child, he performed alongside many future famous entertainers such as Jane Wyman, Patricia Wymore, Joan Crawford, and Marlon Brando. Even a young man he comprehended how he was the only black performer on stage or in a program. His lecture spent more time talking about his childhood then his dancing career but he closed his lecture by discussing how he was the 1st American tap dancer to dance behind the Iron Curtin as part of a 1959 US-Soviet cultural exchance. He felt pride in being able to introduce Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren to the Moscow people. Final note, the volume falls very low at about 10:40, almost cannot hear Buckner, sound slightly improves after 11:11 but does not fully return until 14:20.
	reel 2015-0002/RR1
	reel 2015-0002/RR113
Conrad Johnson, 1978-1983 Physical Description: 4 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Architect Conrad Johnson delivered 4 lectures to the Black Experience in the Arts course, ranging from the years 1978 to 1983. In his 1983 lecture, Johnson described what it was like to be a working architect in New York City. He helped found Ifill, Johnson, and Hanchard architectural design firm. One reason the firm was established was Johnson related how hard it can be for black architect to find a permanent position. Johnson's presentations showed slides of buildings he and his firm designed. He explained the types of academic departments, programs, and internships that exist to prepare students for a career as an architect. Johnson also told students about the type of regulations and roadblocks architects typically encounter in their work. Besides talking about his career, Johnson spoke on more personal terms about his childhood growing up in central Harlem and his sincere belief that his designs could improve the lives of the people of the surrounding communities. He specifically discussed how his firm was responsible for the then-new Harlem location of the New York State building at 125th St and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. He asserted that its beauty, and that it was designed by a local resident, had offered a sense of pride in the surrounding area. He closed his presentation with a hands-on project where he had students break into smaller groups and design a 20 acre residential area that could contain up to 200 homes. He then had students explain how they developed their particular design and why. The tape sounds like the students were engaged and excited about their designs. Johnson's lectures were held on 4/12/1983 (2015-0002/RR9), 2/10/1981 (2015-0002/RR53), 3/18/1980 (2015-0002/RR54), and 10/31/1978 (2015-0002/RR55). Controlled Access Headings: Sound recordings African Americans Storrs (inhabited place) Architecture Artists Arts Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 University of Connecticut
	reel 2015-0002/RR9
	reel 2015-0002/RR53
	reel 2015-0002/RR54
	reel 2015-0002/RR55
Crystal Johns, 1987 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Television producer Crystal Johns lectured on 4/14/1987 (2015-0002/RR203).
	reel 2015-0002/RR203
Crystal Johns and Emerson Coleman, 1986 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Television producers Crystal Johns and Emerson Coleman lectured on 4/8/1986 (2015-0002/RR204).
	reel 2015-0002/RR204
Dana Chandler, 1970 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Painter Dana Chandler delivered his sole lecture on 10/26/1970 (2015-0002/RR41). Controlled Access Headings: Sound recordings African Americans Storrs (inhabited place) African Americans in popular culture Artists Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 University of Connecticut
	reel 2015-0002/RR41
Deborah Muirhead, 1983-1986 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Painter and professor of art Deborah Muirhead lectured on 2 occasions. Professor Muirhead taught at the University of Connecticut in the School of Fine Arts. Her second lecture, in 1986, was a survey of African-American art over three centuries as well as her own work. She presented a slideshow that showed basket making, paintings, and sculpture created by African-American artists. Muirhead, like Oakley Holmes, used her lecture to cite the success of individual black artists such as painters Joshua Johnston, Robert Duncanson, and Edward Bannister. She also heralded the work of Harlem Renaissance era artists like Aaron Douglas and Augusta Savage as well as sculptors Richmond Barthe, Elizabeth Catlett, and Richard Hunt. Lastly, she also informed students about black visual artists, novelists, poets, and discussed artists like Romare Bearden who wanted his work to document black life. On a technical note, there are several audio problems throughout the recording. From 04:37 to 06:20 there is no noise. 20 minutes into the recording, the sound struggled again and was hard to hear. There are additional audio problems between 35:00 and 40:00 and the problem stays consistent for over 20 minutes. Muirhead's presentations were held on 11/18/1986 (2015-0002/RR13) and 2/15/1983 (2015-0002/RR21).
	reel 2015-0002/RR13
	reel 2015-0002/RR21
Don Miller, 1974-1984 Physical Description: 6 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Painter and illustrator Don Miller lectured 5 times. The presentations can be found on 6 reels. 1st lecture was 11/5/1974 (2015-0002/RR59), the 2nd was 4/12/1977 (2015-0002/RR60), 3rd time was 4/4/1978 (2015-0002/RR61), 4th time was 10/30/1979 (2015-0002/RR62), and the 5th lecture was 4/17/1984 (2015-0002/RR63 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR318 reel 2). It is unknown whether the 2 4/17/1984 lectures required 2 reels or if one of the recordings is a duplicate. Controlled Access Headings: Sound recordings African Americans Storrs (inhabited place) African Americans in popular culture Artists Arts Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 University of Connecticut
	reel 2015-0002/RR59 - RR60
	reel 2015-0002/RR61 - RR63
	reel 2015-0002/RR318
Dorothy and Kermit Moore, 1984 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Married composers Dorothy and Kermit Moore lectured on 4/24/1984 (2015-0002/RR233).
	reel 2015-0002/RR233
Dorothy Rudd Moore, 1975-1980 Physical Description: 4 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Composer Dorothy Rudd Moore delivered 3 lectures that can be found on 4 reel to reel tapes. She spoke on 11/11/1975 (2015-0002/RR229 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR230 reel 2), 3/21/1978 (2015-0002/RR231), and 3/25/1980 (2015-0002/RR232).
	reel 2015-0002/RR229 - RR230
	reel 2015-0002/RR231 - RR232
DuRell Echols, 1983 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Dictation musical coach DuRell Echols lectured on 10/4/1983 (2015-0002/RR140).
	reel 2015-0002/RR140
Ed Bland, 1982 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Composer and musical director Ed Bland lectured on 9/28/1982 (2015-0002/RR105).
	reel 2015-0002/RR105
Ed Clark, 1971 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Painter Ed Clark lectured on 3/10/1971 (2015-0002/RR119).
	reel 2015-0002/RR119
Eddie Moore, 1976 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Musician Eddie Moore lectured on 9/7/1976 (2015-0002/RR234).
	reel 2015-0002/RR234
Edward O' Connor, 1986-1988 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Professor Edward O'Connor delivered 2 lectures. 1st was 12/2/1986 (2015-0002/RR238) and the 2nd was 2/2/1988 (2015-0002/RR239). O'Connor was a professor and Associate Dean of the University of Connecticut's School of Fine Arts
	reel 2015-0002/RR238
	reel 2015-0002/RR239
Edythe Jason, 1978-1984 Physical Description: 5 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Actress Edythe Jason delivered 5 lectures. She spoke on 4/18/1978 (2015-0002/RR188), 3/31/1981 (2015-0002/RR189), 3/23/1982 (2015-0002/RR190), 3/29/1983 (2015-0002/RR191), and 2/14/1984 (2015-0002/RR192).
	reel 2015-0002/RR188 - RR190
	reel 2015-0002/RR191 - RR192
Eileen Southern, 1972 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Writer and musicologist Eileen Southern lectured on 9/26/1972 (2015-0002/RR272).
	reel 2015-0002/RR272
Ensemble, Osborne Minimum Security Correctional Facility , 1970-1971 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents The Black Experience in the Arts featured 2 performances by an ensemble from Osborne Minimum Security Correctional Facility. A recording of the 1971 visit revealed a melange of music, monologues, one-act scenes, and spoken word performanes. None of the speakers are identified individually but several of the performers spoke before their performance and described prison as a place for questioning and a confrontation with oneself's. The theaterical performances include discussions of prison life and racial and social problems that plague American society. While most of the one-act scenes are dramas, there are a few lighter performances which generated significant laughter from the students. On a technical note, there is a noticable hum that can be heard throughout the recording. The ensemble visited 12/7/1971 (2015-0002/RR7) and 11/16/1970 (2015-0002/RR251).
	reel 2015-0002/RR7
	reel 2015-0002/RR251
Ethridge Knight, 1970 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Poems from Prison author and Guggenheim Fellowship recipient Ethridge Knight lectured on 11/9/1970 (2015-0002/RR212).
	reel 2015-0002/RR212
Eugene Redmond, 1977-1987 Physical Description: 4 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Poet and English professor Eugene Redmond delivered 4 lectures. He spoke on 10/25/1977 (2015-0002/RR253), 9/27/1983 (2015-0002/RR254), 10/2/1984 (2015-0002/RR255), and 10/13/1987 (2015-0002/RR256).
	reel 2015-0002/RR253 - RR256
Eugene Redmond and Mary Lindsay, 1981 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Poet Eugene Redmond and singer Mary Lindsay both spoke to the Black Experience in the Arts course on 2/24/1981 (2015-0002/RR257).
	reel 2015-0002/RR257
Evelyn Mitchell, 1973 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Artist Evelyn Mitchell spoke on 2/27/1973 (2015-0002/RR223).
	reel 2015-0002/RR223
Florence Robinson, 1973 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Pianist and professor of music Florence Robinson lectured on 2/20/1973 (2015-0002/RR262).
	reel 2015-0002/RR262
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Frederick King, 1982-1987 Physical Description: 4 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Musician Frederick King delivered 4 lectures. He spoke on 4/27/1982 (2015-0002/RR208), 4/19/1983 (2015-0002/RR209), 3/25/1986 (2015-0002/RR210) and 4/28/1987 (2015-0002/RR211).
	reel 2015-0002/RR208 - RR210
	reel 2015-0002/RR211
Frederick Tillis, 1985-1987 Physical Description: 3 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Composer, saxophonist, and poet Frederick Tillis delivered 3 lectures. He spoke on 10/15/1985 (2015-0002/RR278), 10/7/1986 (2015-0002/RR279), and 10/6/1987 (2015-0002/RR280).
	reel 2015-0002/RR278 - RR280
Gideon Alorwoyie, 1986 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Dancer, choreographer, and professor of music Gideon Alorwoyie spoke on 10/28/1986 (2015-0002/RR100).
	reel 2015-0002/RR100
H. Scott, 1970 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Actor H. Scott lectured on 3/9/1970 (2015-0002/RR264). Unfortunately, no lecture note, transcription, or recording cover provides Mr. Scott's first name.
	reel 2015-0002/RR264
Hale Smith, 1972-1987 Physical Description: 16 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents 16 Hale Smith lectures can be found in the Black Experience in the Arts reel-to-reel collection. Smith was also the course's longtime co-instructor and responsible for selecting the class' many guest speakers since he knew many of the artists. In his 1972 lecture, Smith spoke to students about black composers. Smith, who at the time was one of the few black composers whose work was performed by the New York Philharmonic, educated students about African-American composers such as William Grant Still, Howard Swanson,and Ulysses Kay. Smith admitted he struggled with what constitutes black music because its such a fluid art form. He had reached the conclusion that jazz music, because of its proximity to blues, has a clear connection to black identity and cultural heritage. But Smith found less of a racial connection to composition and classical music. He closed his presentation with a performance of blues composition. Smith spoke on 10/3/1972 (2015-0002/RR14), 10/9/1973 (2015-0002/RR45), the fall of 1974 with no exact date provided (2015-0002/RR46), 1/28/1975 (2015-0002/RR47), 10/7/1975 (2015-0002/RR322), 1/31/1978 (2015-0002/RR48), 9/5/1978 (2015-0002/RR49), 9/4/1979 (2015-0002/RR50), 9/18/1979 (2015-0002/RR51), 9/2/1980 (2015-0002/RR52), 2/23/1982 (2015-0002/RR68), 9/7/1982 (2015-0002/RR69), 11/15/1983 (2015-0002/RR70), 3/27/1984 (2015-0002/RR71), 9/30/1986 (2015-0002/RR72), and lastly 9/8/1987 (2015-0002/RR73). Controlled Access Headings: Sound recordings African Americans Storrs (inhabited place) African Americans in popular culture Composers Musicians Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 University of Connecticut
	reel 2015-0002/RR14
	reel 2015-0002/RR45 - RR52
	reel 2015-0002/RR68 - RR73
	reel 2015-0002/RR322
Harold Ousley, 1975 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Saxophonist and flautist Harold Ousely lectured on 10/28/1975 (2015-0002/RR240).
	reel 2015-0002/RR240
Hilda Harris, 1974 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Opera singer Hilda Harris spoke on 12/3/1974 (2015-0002/RR176).
	reel 2015-0002/RR176
Howard Roberts, 1983-1984 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Guitarist Howard Roberts delivered 2 lectures. He spoke on 1/25/1983 (2015-0002/RR261) and 4/3/1984 (2015-0002/RR321).
	reel 2015-0002/RR261
	reel 2015-0002/RR321
Ibekwe Chinweizu, 1980 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Poet and journalist Ibekwe Chinweizu delivered 2 lectures in 1980. He spoke on 4/15/1980 (2015-0002/RR117) and again on 10/28/1980 (2015-0002/RR118).
	reel 2015-0002/RR117 - RR118
Inez Cavanaugh, 1972 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Jazz and pop singer Inez Cavanaugh lectured on 11/14/1972 (2015-0002/RR116).
	reel 2015-0002/RR116
Jack Whitten, 1971-1988 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Painter Jack Whitten delivered 2 lectures. He spoke on 3/17/1971 (2015-0002/RR295) and 4/26/1988 (2015-0002/RR296).
	reel 2015-0002/RR295 - RR296
Jackie McLean, 1974-1977 Physical Description: 3 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Composer and saxophonist Jackie McLean delivered 2 lectures that can be found on 3 reels. He spoke 1st on 2/12/1974 (2015-0002/RR5 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR6 reel 2) and again on 11/8/1977 (2015-0002/RR56). In McLean's 1974 lecture, he discussed his research of African-American music. He confided that growing up all he learned about black people was from "Tarzan" movies and even after he started teaching music at the University of Hartford, he was amazed how often people told him jazz was not serious music. This repeated dismissal of a musical form dear to him lead to him looking at the ways black men affected classical music. McLean brought along with him trumpeter and arranger William Skinner to play music while he presented a slide show to students detailing African art and African musical performances. He urged students to learn more about Blind Tom Wiggins and Scott Joplin and claimed that courses like the Black Experience in the Arts are a great way for students to learn about the contributions of black artists. He closed his lecture with recommendations of the books, "Music of Black Americans" by Eileen Southern (who also lectured to the class) and John A. Roger's "World's Great Men of Color."
	reel 2015-0002/RR5 - RR6
	reel 2015-0002/RR56
Jalalu Nelson, 1982 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Composer and trumpeter Jalalu Nelson lectured on 9/14/1982 (2015-0002/RR236).
	reel 2015-0002/RR236
James Newton, 1983 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Composer, conductor, and flautist James Newton lectured on 9/13/1983 (2015-0002/RR237).
	reel 2015-0002/RR237
James Spruill, 1986 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Actor, director, and theatre professor James Spruill spoke to Black Experience in the Arts students on 2/18/1986 (2015-0002/RR274).
	reel 2015-0002/RR274
Jayne Cortez, 1972-1987 Physical Description: 12 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Poet, activist, and spoken word performer Jayne Cortez delivered a dozen lectures, spanning the years 1972 to 1987. Cortez was a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship winner and the spouse of sculptor, Melvin Edwards, also a frequent lecturer to the course. In her 1972 lecture, Cortez read over half dozen selections from her 1971 book "Festivals and Funerals." Poems included "Initation," "Lonely Woman," "Watching a Parade in Harlem," and "Screams." She dedicated her poem "I Am the Worker" to "all my sisters in the garment industry." Her piece, "Dinah's Back in Town" (written for the late blues singer Dinah Washington) generated a lively response from the student audience because of the poem's language and content. She concluded her lecture with a reading of her poem, "Solo." As for her 1984 lecture, Cortez read from her 1982 publication "Firespitter." She told students about growing up in Los Angeles, originally wanting to be an actress and director, and traveling throughout Europe and Africa to perform at poetry festivals. Her presentation ended with a musicial performance that featured the accompaniment of drummer Abraham Adzenyah who also spoke to the Black Experience in the Arts course. Cortez spoke on 5/12/1972 (2015-0002/RR20), 11/28/1972 (2015-0002/RR74), 12/4/1973 (2015-0002/RR75), 2/18/1975 (2015-0002/RR76), 4/11/1978 (2015-0002/RR77), 2/19/1980 (2015-0002/RR78), 4/7/1981 (2015-0002/RR79), 3/30/1982 (2015-0002/RR80), 3/22/1983 (2015-0002/RR81), 2/7/1984 (2015-0002/RR19), 2/4/1986 (2015-0002/RR82), 2/24/1987 (2015-0002/RR83).
	reel 2015-0002/RR19 - RR20
	reel 2015-0002/RR74 - RR83
Jimmy Heath, 1976 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Composer and saxophonist Jimmy Heath lectured on 11/2/1976 (2015-0002/RR18). Heath (nicknamed "Little Bird" in honor Charlie Parker) came from a musical family. His brothers included drummer Albert Heath and bassist Percy Heath. His family was known for inviting visiting musicians into their home for dinner and lodging, this allowed Heath to meet many of his musicial idols growing up. Heath's father bought him a saxophone when he was 14 and learned the instrument after 6 months. At the time of his 1976 lecture, he had composed over 60 compositions and described himself as a "musician's musician" because he was more interested in writing and performing rather than fame or fortune. Heath, unlike other lecturers, warned students about the isolating and alienating nature traveling musicians encounter as well as the dangers of drug use among entertainers. Heath only spoke for about 15 minutes and left plenty of time for student questions. He appeared to relish having students pose questions to him.
	reel 2015-0002/RR18
Joan Sandler, 1981 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Actress and arts administrator Joan Sandler lectured on 11/10/1981 (2015-0002/RR263).
	reel 2015-0002/RR263
John Chandler, 1971-1975 Physical Description: 3 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Artist John Chandler delivered 3 lectures. He spoke on 4/21/1971 (2015-0002/RR42), 1/29/1974 (2015-0002/RR43), and 4/8/1975 (2015-0002/RR40). Controlled Access Headings: Sound recordings African Americans Storrs (inhabited place) African Americans in popular culture Artists Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 University of Connecticut
	reel 2015-0002/RR40
	reel 2015-0002/RR42 - RR43
Joseph Skerrett, 1985 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents English professor Joseph Skerrett spoke once on 9/10/1985 (2015-0002/RR312).
	reel 2015-0002/RR312
Julius Williams, 1986-1987 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Composer and conductor Julius Williams delivered lectures on 1/28/1986 (2015-0002/RR297) and 3/3/1987 (2015-0002/RR298).
	reel 2015-0002/RR297 - RR298
Kefa Sempang and Leonard Goines, 1975 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Writer Kefa Sempang and pianist Leonard Goines lectured together on 3/25/1975 (2015-0002/RR265).
	reel 2015-0002/RR265
Keorapetse Kgositsile, 1971 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Writer and performance artist Keorapetse Kgositsile delivered a lecture on 11/16/1971 (2015-0002/RR206).
	reel 2015-0002/RR206
Kermit Moore, 1974 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Composer, conductor, and cellist Kermit Moore lectured on 3/12/1974 (2015-0002/RR235). Moore also was married to composer and music educator, Dorothy Rudd Moore.
	reel 2015-0002/RR235
Lennex Raephael, 1971 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Poet, playwright, and journalist Lennex Raephael lectured on 11/30/1971 (2015-0002/RR252).
	reel 2015-0002/RR252
Lenzy Wallace, 1975 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Musician and conductor Lenzy Wallace lectured on 3/18/1975 (2015-0002/RR291).
	reel 2015-0002/RR291
Leon Bailey, 1986-1987 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Dramatist and University of Connecticut School of Fine Arts professor Leon Bailey delivered 2 lectures. Bailey spoke on 4/22/1986 (2015-0002/RR101) and 2/3/1987 (2015-0002/RR102). From 1986 to 1988, Bailey was a co-instructor for the Black Experience in the Arts course.
	reel 2015-0002/RR101 - RR102
Leon Damas, 1972 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Poet Leon Damas delivered a lecture on 4/11/1972 (2015-0002/RR135).
	reel 2015-0002/RR135
Leon Thompson, 1975-1978 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Conductor Leon Thompson delivered 2 lectures. He spoke on 4/1/1975 (2015-0002/RR276) and 3/28/1978 (2015-0002/RR277).
	reel 2015-0002/RR276 - RR277
Leslie Lee, 1987 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Playwright Leslie Lee delivered a lecture on 9/29/1987 (2015-0002/RR214). Lee's acclaimed works appeared on stage, television, and film. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his 1975 play "The First Breeze of Summer."
	reel 2015-0002/RR214
Linda Patton, 1987 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Poet and playwright Linda Patton lectured on 2/10/1987 (2015-0002/RR247).
	reel 2015-0002/RR247
Lindsay Patterson, 1973-1977 Physical Description: 3 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Poet and playwright Lindsay Patterson delivered 2 lectures that can be found on 3 reels. Patterson spoke on 10/2/1973 (2015-0002/RR241) and 4/19/1977 (2015-0002/RR242 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR243 reel 2).
	reel 2015-0002/RR241
	reel 2015-0002/RR242 - RR243	reel r. 2
Lisa and Danny Calvo, 1988 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Lisa and Danny Calvo, respectively a harpist and flautist, lectured together on 4/12/1988 (2015-0002/RR114).
	reel 2015-0002/RR114
Loften Mitchell, 1970-1981 Physical Description: 5 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Playwright and theater professor Loften Mitchell delivered 5 lectures over 11 years. Mitchell spoke on 2/2/1970 (2015-0002/RR224), 10/17/1972 (2015-0002/RR225), 10/8/1974 (2015-0002/RR226), 9/28/1976 (2015-0002/RR227) and lastly on 1/27/1981 (2015-0002/RR228). Mitchell received a Tony Award nomination, in 1976, for his book to the musical "Bubbling Brown Sugar."
	reel 2015-0002/RR224 - RR228
Louise Meriwether, 1971-1988 Physical Description: 13 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Novelist and essayist Louise Meriwether delivered 13 lectures to the Black Experience in the Arts course, ranging from 1971 to 1988. The theme of Meriwether's 1972 lecture was the black writer from slavery to black nationalism. She discussed the lives and careers of writers such as Phillis Wheatly, Frances Harper, and George Moses Horton who became the 1st slave to openly protest his condition in print. She also highlighted David Walker's 1829 indictment against slavery and William Wells Brown, the United States' 1st black novelist. After explaining the black writer in the 19th century, Meriwether discussed the leading black artists during the Harlem Renaissance, figures such as W.E.B. DuBois, James Weldon Johnson, Alain Locke, and Langston Hughes who Meriwether described as someone who explained and illuminated black conditions in the United States, not with pleas or complaints, but statements and demands. The last third of her lecture brought the discussion up to the 1970s with her assertion that a new crop of black poets were creating a new language and aesthetic. Meriwether also discussed the emergence of black theater which she believed emphasized art for the people' sake, not simply for art's sake. The volume of the tape could be better, to hear Meriwether clearly the volume must be turned all the way up. Meriwether spoke on 3/14/1972 (2015-0002/RR12), 12/12/1972 (2015-0002/RR22), 11/19/1974 (2015-0002/RR23), 9/26/1978 (2015-0002/RR25), 11/6/1979 (2015-0002/RR26), 11/11/1980 (2015-0002/RR27), 10/20/1981 (2015-0002/RR28), 10/5/1982 (2015-0002/RR29), 12/6/1983 (2015-0002/RR30), 11/11/1986 (2015-0002/RR31), 2/23/1988 (2015-0002/RR32), 5/5/1971 (2015-0002/RR314), and 2/5/1974 (2015-0002/RR326). Controlled Access Headings: Sound recordings Authors African Americans Storrs (inhabited place) African Americans in popular culture Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 University of Connecticut
	reel 2015-0002/RR12
	reel 2015-0002/RR22 - RR23
	reel 2015-0002/RR25 - RR32
	reel 2015-0002/RR314
	reel 2015-0002/RR326
Major Holley, 1980-1983 Physical Description: 4 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Upright bassist Major Holley delivered 4 lectures. He spoke to the course on 1/22/1980 (2015-0002/RR181), 2/3/1981 (2015-0002/RR182), 2/2/1982 (2015-0002/RR183), and 9/20/1983 (2015-0002/RR184).
	reel 2015-0002/RR181 - RR184
Marilyn Nelson Waniek, 1985 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Poet and children's book author Marilyn Nelson Waniek (now Marilyn Nelson) lectured on 10/8/1985 (2015-0002/RR292). Nelson also served as an English professor at the University of Connecticut.
	reel 2015-0002/RR292
Mark Crawford, 1972 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Journalist Mark Crawford delivered a lecture that can be found on 2 reels. Crawford spoke on 12/5/1972 (2015-0002/RR126 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR127 reel 2)
	reel 2015-0002/RR126 - RR127
Mary Lindsay, 1978-1979 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Singer Mary Lindsay delivered 2 lectures. She spoke 1st on 2/14/1978 (2015-0002/RR216) and again on 11/27/1979 (2015-0002/RR217).
	reel 2015-0002/RR216 - RR217
Melba Liston, 1973-1982 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Composer and jazz trombonist Melba Liston delivered 2 lectures. Liston spoke 1st on 9/25/1973 (2015-0002/RR218) and again on 11/9/1982 2015-0002/RR219). Liston is often credited with being the 1st woman trombonist to play in big bands during the 1940s and 1960s.
	reel 2015-0002/RR218 - RR219
Melvin Edwards, 1971-1987 Physical Description: 19 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Sculptor Melvin Edwards delivered an incredible 19 lectures to students of the Black Experience in the Arts course. Edwards' lectures range from 1971 to 1987, covering much of the class' existence. Working mostly with metal, his work has been highligted in over a dozen solo shows and 40 group exhibitions. His most famous work are a collection of metal objects entitled "Lynch Fragments." Over 200 pieces, such as locks, nails, and chains, exist in the collection which symbolize the violence experienced by African-Americans. Edwards also was married to poet Jayne Cortez, herself a frequent lecturer to the Black Experience in the Arts course. Edwards spoke on 10/24/1978 (2015-0002/RR3), 10/26/1971 (2015-0002/RR141), 11/9/1971 (2015-0002/RR142 reel 1), (2015-0002/RR143 reel 2), 2/29/1972 (2015-0002/RR144), 11/28/1972 (2015-0002/RR145), 10/23/1973 (2015-0002/RR146), 9/30/1975 (2015-0002/RR147), 11/16/1976 (2015-0002/RR148), 9/20/1977 (2015-0002/RR149 reel 1), (2015-0002/RR150 reel 2), 9/25/1979 (2015-0002/RR151), 11/18/1980 (2015-0002/RR152), 11/24/1981 (2015-0002/RR153), 11/2/1982 (2015-0002/RR154), 10/11/1983 (2015-0002/RR155), 10/29/1985 (2015-0002/RR156), 9/23/1986 (2015-0002/RR157), and 9/22/1987 (2015-0002/RR316).
	reel 2015-0002/RR3
	reel 2015-0002/RR141 - RR150
	reel 2015-0002/RR151 - RR157
	reel 2015-0002/RR316
Mildred McNeil, 1987 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Television news and public affairs official Mildred McNeil lectured on 12/1/1987 (2015-0002/RR222).
	reel 2015-0002/RR222
Montego Joe, 1975-1985 Physical Description: 4 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Jamaican-style percussionist and drummer Montego Joe (birth name Roger Sanders) delivered 4 lectures. He spoke on 11/23/1982 (2015-0002/RR200, 10/23/1984 (2015-0002/RR201), 10/1/1985 (2015-0002/RR202), and 2/4/1975 (2015-0002/RR324).
	reel 2015-0002/RR200 - RR202
	reel 2015-0002/RR324
Muhal Richard Abrams , 1983 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Composer Muhal Richard Abrams lectured on 4/5/1983 (2015-0002/RR97).
	reel 2015-0002/RR97
Norris Turney, 1973 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Saxophonist and flautist Norris Turney lectured on 9/11/1973 (2015-0002/RR290).
	reel 2015-0002/RR290
Oakley Holmes, 1974-1977 Physical Description: 3 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Painter, sculptor, and art historian Oakley Holmes delivered 2 lectures that can be found on 3 reels (1 is a copy). In his 1977 lecture, Holmes stressed that African-American art is not based on 1 style or mode of thought; it is as varied as the many personalities that produce such works. He emphasized that white artists or artists of other colors also encounter great difficulties, but black artists have always found themselves at greater disadvantages. Holmes informed students about black painters such as Robert Duncanson, John James Audubon, Edward Bannister, and Henry O. Tanner. He discussed black sculptors like Edmonia Lewis and Charles Alston whose bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the 1st image of an African-American displayed at the White House. His 90 minute lecture addressed the difficulty black artists have in gaining art teaching positions and getting their work into prestige galleries. He asked students whether they saw ancient Egyptian art as ancient African art and advocated that textbooks and art history lectures need to recognize the importance of black artists in world art history. Holmes lamented how for too long students must go out of their way to find sources that highlight the influences of black artists. He closed his presentation with a slide show displaying the works of many different black artists. Holmes spoke on 2/15/1977 (2015-0002/RR4) and on 3/26/1974 (2015-0002/RR185 copy 1) (2015-0002/RR186 copy 2)
	reel 2015-0002/RR4
	reel 2015-0002/RR185 - 186	reel c.2
Orde Coombs, 1975-1977 Physical Description: 3 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Writer and editor Orde Coombs delivered 2 lectures that can be found on 3 reels. Coombs spoke on 9/23/1975 (2015-0002/RR123) and again on 3/22/1977 (2015-0002/RR124 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR125 reel 2). In the 1970s, Coombs also hosted a radio program entitled, "Black Conversations."
	reel 2015-0002/RR123
	reel 2015-0002/RR124 - RR125	reel r.2
Oscar Walters, 1977-1985 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Art professor Oscar Walters delivered lectures on 11/1/1977 (2015-0002/RR293) and 9/24/1985 (2015-0002/RR294).
	reel 2015-0002/RR293 - RR294
Oscar Walters, Jayne Cortez, and Melvin Edwards, 1970 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents A 4/2/1970 lecture featured 3 artists: Oscar Walters, Jayne Cortez, and Melvin Edwards (2015-0002/RR315).
	reel 2015-0002/RR315
Pat Taylor, 1978 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Dancer Pat Taylor lectured on 11/21/1978 (2015-0002/RR275).
	reel 2015-0002/RR275
Patricia Curtis, 1971-1972 Physical Description: 3 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Actress Patricia Curtis delivered 2 lectures that can be found on 3 reels. Curtis spoke on 5/10/1971 (2015-0002/RR132) and again on 2/15/1972 (2015-0002/RR133 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR134 reel 2).
	reel 2015-0002/RR132
	reel 2015-0002/RR133 - RR134	reel reel 2
Patti Bown, 1974-1988 Physical Description: 5 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Composer, singer, and pianist Patti Bown delivered 5 lectures. The dates she spoke were 10/1/1974 (2015-0002/RR106), 1/26/1982 (2015-0002/RR107), 1/21/1986 (2015-0002/RR108), 4/7/1987 (2015-0002/RR109), and 1/26/1988 (2015-0002/RR110).
	reel 2015-0002/RR106 - RR110
Paule Marshall, 1980 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Novelist Paule Marshall lectured on 10/21/1980 (2015-0002/RR221). Marshall received a Guggenheim Fellowship and is MacArthur Fellow.
	reel 2015-0002/RR221
Pearl Williams-Jones, 1970-1984 Physical Description: 10 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Singer, pianist, and professor of music Pearl Williams-Jones delivered 10 lectures over 14 years. Professor Williams-Jones was considered a leading authority on African-American gospel music. She spoke to the Black Experience in the Arts course on 10/12/1970 (2015-0002/RR301) 9/28/1971 (2015-0002/RR302), 4/26/1977 (2015-0002/RR303 reel 1), (2015-0002/RR304 reel 2), 4/25/1978 (2015-0002/RR305), 4/8/1980 (2015-0002/RR306), 4/21/1981 (2015-0002/RR307) 4/20/1982 (2015-0002/RR308), 4/10/1984 (2015-0002/RR309 copy 1), and (2015-0002/RR310 copy 2).
	reel 2015-0002/RR301 - RR310
Quincy Troupe, 1971-1988 Physical Description: 10 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Poet and journalist Quincy Troupe delivered 10 lectures over a 17 year period. Troupe has lectured at several universities and his 1990 study of Miles Davis, "Miles: The Autobiography," received a National Book Award. Troupe spoke on 11/18/1975 (2015-0002/RR281), 1/24/1978 (2015-0002/RR282), 2/5/1980 (2015-0002/RR283), 3/24/1981 (2015-0002/RR284) 2/1/1983 (2015-0002/RR285), 1/31/1984 (2015-0002/RR286), 2/25/1986 (2015-0002/RR287), 1/27/1987 (2015-0002/RR288), 3/22/1988 (2015-0002/RR289), and 4/12/1971 (2015-0002/RR313)
	reel 2015-0002/RR281 - RR289
	reel 2015-0002/RR313
Raoul Abdul, 1973-1988 Physical Description: 17 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Classical singer and author Raoul Abdul delivered 17 lectures, covering the years 1973 to 1988. Abdul was close friends with Langston Hughes and from 1961 to Hughes' death in 1967, served as his literary assistant. In a 1975 lecture, Abdul informed students about how he began his writing career. He started as an obitury writer for the black newspaper "Cleveland Call and Post" and later wrote music reviews and articles for the "New York Age" (another black newspaper). In 1970, he edited (with folklorist Alan Lomax) an anthology entitled, "3000 Years of Black Poetry." Abdul's 90 minute lecture introduced students to the 1st classical composer of African ancestry Chevalier de Saint-Georges, violin virtuoso George Bridgetower, and black singers such as Roland Hayes and Paul Robeson. He concluded by discussing the black performers who succeeded in integrating New York's Metropolitan Opera like Marian Anderson, Mattiwilda Dobbs, George Shirley, and Robert McFerrin Sr. Abdul spoke on 9/16/1975 (2015-0002/RR8), 2/13/1979 (2015-0002/RR57), 9/12/1978 (2015-0002/RR58), 4/5/1988 (2015-0002/RR67), 11/9/1976 (2015-0002/RR84), 9/6/1977 (2015-0002/RR85), 9/18/1973 (2015-0002/RR86), 2/11/1975 (2015-0002/RR87), 10/2/1979 (2015-0002/RR88), 2/12/1980 (2015-0002/RR89), 9/16/1980 (2015-0002/RR90), 2/17/1981 (2015-0002/RR91), 11/3/1981 (2015-0002/RR92), 2/9/1982 (2015-0002/RR93), 2/8/1983 (2015-0002/RR94), 2/21/1984 (2015-0002/RR95), 4/21/1987 (2015-0002/RR96). Controlled Access Headings: Sound recordings Authors African Americans Storrs (inhabited place) African Americans in popular culture African American poets Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 University of Connecticut
	reel 2015-0002/RR8
	reel 2015-0002/RR57 - RR58
	reel 2015-0002/RR67
	reel 2015-0002/RR84 - RR96
Rawn Spearman and Carlesta Henderson, 1981 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Singer Rawn Spearman and musician Carlesta Henderson spoke on 4/14/1981 (2015-0002/RR273).
	reel 2015-0002/RR273
Raymond Patterson, 1983-1987 Physical Description: 3 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Poet and English professor Raymond Patterson delivered 3 lectures. His work appeared in numerous publications and poetry anthologies. He spoke to the course on 11/1/1983 (2015-0002/RR244), 9/16/1986 (2015-0002/RR245), and 9/15/1987 2015-0002/RR246).
	reel 2015-0002/RR244 - RR246
Regina Perry, 1970-1977 Physical Description: 3 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Art historian Regina Perry spoke on 10/4/1977 (2015-0002/RR24), 11/30/1970 (2015-0002/RR248), and 9/27/1977 (2015-0002/RR249). Perry taught one of the 1st African-American Art history courses at a traditionally white institution (Virginia Commonwealth Institution).
	reel 2015-0002/RR24
	reel 2015-0002/RR248 - RR249
Richard Mayhew, 1970-1972 Physical Description: 4 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Landscape painter Richard Mayhew delivered 3 lectures that can be found on 4 reels. Mayhew spoke on 5/6/1970 (2015-0002/RR64), 5/9/1972 (2015-0002/RR65 reel 1), (2015-0002/RR66 reel 2), and lastly on 2/24/1971 2015-0002/RR317). Mayhew was a member of Spiral, a black painters group that formed in 1960s New York City. Controlled Access Headings: Sound recordings African Americans Storrs (inhabited place) African Americans in popular culture Artists Arts Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 University of Connecticut
	reel 2015-0002/RR64 - RR66
	reel 2015-0002/RR317
Roland Prince, 1976 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Guitarist Roland Prince lectured on 9/14/1976 (2015-0002/RR250).
	reel 2015-0002/RR250
Rosa Guy, 1978-1984 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Writer Rosa Guy spoke on 2/21/1978 (2015-0002/RR163) and 11/27/1984 (2015-0002/RR164). Guy, in 1950, co-founded the Harlem Writers Guild which strives to help African-American writers have their work published.
	reel 2015-0002/RR163 - RR164
Sahib Shihab, 1986-1987 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Jazz saxophonist and flautist Sahib Shihab (birth name Edmund Gregory) delivered 2 lectures. He spoke on 9/9/1986 (2015-0002/RR266) and 9/1/1987 (2015-0002/RR267). He changed his name after converting to Islam in the late 1940s. His concern with American racial politics led him to relocate to Europe. Shihab settled and found work in Copenhagen, Denmark.
	reel 2015-0002/RR266 - RR267
Souleymane Keita, 1982-1984 Physical Description: 2 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Painter Souleymane Keita lectured on 10/19/1982 (2015-0002/RR33) and again on 11/6/1984 (2015-0002/RR34). Controlled Access Headings: Sound recordings Authors African Americans Storrs (inhabited place) African Americans in popular culture Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 Smith, Hale, 1925-2009 University of Connecticut
	reel 2015-0002/RR33 - RR34
Stanley Crouch, 1978-1984 Physical Description: 4 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Writer Stanley Crouch's work has taken many different forms: novels, poetry, biographies, and syndicated columns. He is a MacArthur Fellow and served as the senior consultant to Ken Burns' 2001 documentary, "Jazz." Crouch spoke on 2/28/1978 (2015-0002/RR128), 10/27/1981 (2015-0002/RR129), and 9/25/1984 (2015-0002/RR130) (2015-0002/RR311) It is unknown whether the 9/25/1984 lecture required 2 reels or if one tape is a duplicate.
	reel 2015-0002/RR128 - RR130
	reel 2015-0002/RR311
Sylvester Kiner, 1978 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Saxophonist Sylvester Kiner (also known as Sonny Red) spoke to the Black Experience in the Arts course on 9/19/1978 (2015-0002/RR207).
	reel 2015-0002/RR207
Talib Rasul Hakim, 1974-1984 Physical Description: 10 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Composer Talib Rasul Hakim (birth name Stephen Alexander Chambers) delivreed 10 lectures, ranging from 1974 t0 1984. He spoke on 4/9/1974 (2015-0002/RR165), 11/4/1975 (2015-0002/RR166), 9/21/1976 (2015-0002/RR167), 11/29/1977 (2015-0002/RR168), 11/28/1978 (2015-0002/RR169), 11/13/1979 (2015-0002/RR170), 9/9/1980 (2015-0002/RR171), 11/16/1982 (2015-0002/RR172), 11/8/1983 (2015-0002/RR173), and lastly on 11/13/1984 (2015-0002/RR174). Hakim taught music at numerous colleges and also worked as a television and music producer. He changed his name after converting to Sufism in the early 1970s.
	reel 2015-0002/RR165 - RR174
Ted Joans, 1971-1982 Physical Description: 7 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Jazz poet, painter, and trumpeter Ted Joans delivered 7 lectures, ranging from the years 1971 to 1982. He spoke on 10/12/1971 (2015-0002/RR193), 9/13/1977 (2015-0002/RR194), 10/3/1978 (2015-0002/RR195), 9/11/1979 (2015-0002/RR196, 9/30/1980 (2015-0002/RR197), 2/16/1982 (2015-0002/RR198), and 9/19/1975 (2015-0002/RR325).
	reel 2015-0002/RR193 - RR198
	reel 2015-0002/RR325
Ted Joans and Frederick King, 1976 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Ted Joans and Frederick King lectured together on 10/26/1976 (2015-0002/RR199).
	reel 2015-0002/RR199
Valerie Capers, 1973 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Composer and pianist Valerie Capers lectured on 1/30/1973 (2015-0002/RR115).
	reel 2015-0002/RR115
Vincent Smith, 1984-1988 Physical Description: 4 Reels Magnetic tape audio recordings Scope and Contents Painter Vincent Smith delivered 4 lectures. Smith spoke on 1/24/1984 (2015-0002/RR269), 3/18/1986 (2015-0002/RR270), 3/24/1987 (2015-0002/RR271), and 2/16/1988 (2015-0002/RR319). Smith's work appeared in over 25 solo shows and 30 group exhibitions. His style was described as a bridge between Cubist and Abstract Expressionism.
	reel 2015-0002/RR269 - RR270
	reel 2015-0002/RR271
	reel 2015-0002/RR319
Walter Jones, 1972 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Actor and playwright Walter Jones lectured on 2/8/1972 (2015-0002/RR205).
	reel 2015-0002/RR205
Wesley Brown, 1987 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Novelist and playwright Wesley Brown lectured on 10/27/1987 (2015-0002/RR112).
	reel 2015-0002/RR112
William Demby, 1983 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Novelist and literature professor William Demby lectured on 4/26/1983 (2015-0002/RR138).
	reel 2015-0002/RR138
William Williams, 1970 Physical Description: 1 Reels Magnetic tape audio recording Scope and Contents Painter and art professor William Williams delivered a lecture on 11/2/1970 (2015-0002/RR299).
	reel 2015-0002/RR299
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Series IV: Audio Cassette Recordings, 1986-1990 Scope and Contents Series IV: Audio Cassette Recordings, 1986-1990 provides an additional audio resource to researchers interested in the Black Experience in the Arts collection. This series consists of twenty-six audio cassettes featuring the lectures of twenty-five different speakers. Only University of Connecticut Professor of Dramatic Arts Leon Bailey has more than a single lecture in this series. With the exception of three cassettes that do not bare dates, the remaining twenty-three tapes were recorded between 1986 and 1990. The cassettes, similar to the reel-to-reel recordings, feature an array of writers, musicians, composers, and other talented artists speaking directly to UConn undergraduates about the impact made by black performers. The series lacks tapes from every presentation during the period. Only 1 tape exists for 1986 and none for 1987 through the 1989 spring semester. It is unknown why the course instructors switched from reel-to-reel tapes to audio cassettes. Reel-to-reel recording of lectures was used until 1988 and it is unclear whether the introduction of audio cassettes was meant to replace the long-standing practice of using reel-to-reel tapes to record lectures.
Title/Description	Instances
Raoul Abdul, 1990 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Singer and author Raoul Abdul lectured on 2/20/1990 (2015-0002/AC1).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC1
Leon Bailey, 1989-1990 Physical Description: 2 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recordings Scope and Contents University of Connecticut Professor of Dramatic Arts Leon Bailey delivered 2 lectures. He spoke on 2/27/1990 (2015-0002/AC2) and 10/10/1989 (2015-0002/AC3). He is the only speaker in this series to have more than 1 lecture captured on audio cassette.
	cassette 2015-0002/AC2 - 3
David Blight, 1990 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Historian of African-American cultural and intellectual history David Blight lectured on 4/17/1990 (2015-0002/AC4).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC4
Patti Bown, 1989 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Composer, singer, and pianist Patti Bown lectured on 11/7/1989 (2015-0002/AC5).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC5
Ed Bullins Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Playwright Ed Bullins spoke to the Black Experience in the Arts course (2015-0002/AC6). Unfortunately no date is attached to his lecture so it unknown when he spoke to students. Bullins' work earned him New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards as well as Obie Awards (for off-Broadway productions). He also served as Minister of Culture for the Black Panthers.
	cassette 2015-0002/AC6
Melvin Edwards, 1990 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Sculptor Melvin Edwards lectured on 4/10/1990 (2015-0002/AC7).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC7
Robert Freeman, 1989 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Painter Robert Freeman lectured on 10/31/1989 (2015-0002/AC8).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC8
Major Holley, 1990 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Upright bassist Major Holley lectured on 2/6/1990 (2015-0002/AC9).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC9
Montego Joe, 1989 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Jamaican-style percussionist and drummer Montego Joe (birth name Roger Sanders) lectured on 11/28/1989 (2015-0002/AC10).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC10
Mildred McNeil, 1989 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Television news and public affairs offical Mildred McNeil lectured on 9/19/1989 (2015-0002/AC11).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC11
Melba Moore, 1989 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Singer and actress Melba Moore lectured on 11/14/1989 (2015-0002/AC12). Moore won a Tony Award in 1970 for her performance in "Purlie" and has received multiple Grammy Award nominations.
	cassette 2015-0002/AC12
Najee, 1989 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Saxophonist and flautist Najee lectured on 10/3/1989 (2015-0002/AC13).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC13
Lindsay Patterson, 1989 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Scope and Contents Poet and playwright Lindsay Patterson lectured on 12/5/1989 (2015-0002/AC14).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC14
Raymond Patterson, 1989 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Poet and English professor Raymond Patterson lectured on 9/26/1989 (2015-0002/AC15).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC15
Linda Patton, 1990 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Poet and playwright Linda Patton lectured on 3/20/1990 (2015-0002/AC16).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC16
Juan Sanchez Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Artist and art professor Juan Sanchez lectured (2015-0002/AC17), but unfortunately no date was attached to his presentation. It is unknown when he spoke to students. Sanchez's work included paintings and photography and has been displayed in a number of prominent institutions.
	cassette 2015-0002/AC17
Sal Scalora, 1990 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Art museum curator Sal Scalora lectured on 1/23/1990 (2015-0002/AC18). Scalora would later serve as the director of the University of Connecticut's William Benton Museum of Art.
	cassette 2015-0002/AC18
Vincent Smith, 1990 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Painter Vincent Smith lectured on 1/30/1990 (2015-0002/AC19).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC19
Donald Spivey, 1990 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Historian Donald Spivey lectured on 3/27/1990 (2015-0002/AC20).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC20
James Spruell, 1986 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Actor, director, and theater professor James Spruell lectured on 2/18/1986 (2015-0002/AC21).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC21
Ardelle Striker, 1990 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Theater professor Ardelle Striker lectured on 2/13/1990 (2015-0002/AC22).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC22
Byron Stripling, 1990 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Trumpeter Byron Stripling lectured on 4/24/1990 (2015-0002/AC23).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC23
Frederick Tillis, 1989 Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Saxophonist, composer, and poet Frederick Tillis lectured on 9/12/1989 (2015-0002/AC24).
	cassette 2015-0002/AC24
Quincy Troupe Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Poet, journalist, and biographer Quincy Troupe lectured (2015-0002/AC25), but unfortunately there is no date attached to his presentation. In this instance, it is unknown when he spoke to students.
	cassette 2015-0002/AC25
Pearl Williams-Jones Physical Description: 1 Cassettes Audio cassette tape recording Scope and Contents Singer and music professor Pearl Williams-Jones lectured (2015-0002/AC26), but unfortunately there is no date attached to her presentation. It is unknown when she spoke to students.
	cassette 2015-0002/AC26
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University of Connecticut

A Guide to the University of Connecticut, Black Experience in the Arts Collection

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Black Experience in the Arts Collection (UConn)

An Inventory

Summary Information

Biographical / Historical

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Collection Inventory

Series I: Lecture Notes, 1970-1990

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Series II: Transcriptions, 1971-1988

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Series III: Reel-to-Reel Recordings, 1970-1988

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Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents

Florence Robinson, 1973