-AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR | EDUCATOR | RESEARCHER-
VIDA L. AVERY, PHD
RESEARCH
Philanthropy in Black Higher Education: A Fateful Hour Creating the Atlanta University System would not be possible without the much-needed help from archival departments and staff. Avery conducted research at Atlanta University Center, Robert W. Woodruff Library, Spelman College, and Auburn Avenue Research Library in Atlanta, Georgia. However, the majority of the information she used was from primary sources located at the Rockefeller Archive Center, where she received a grant through their competitive grant-in-aid program making it possible for her to visit and spend time researching documents at the archive.
Rockefeller Archive Center
The Rockefeller Archive Center (RAC) in Sleepy Hollow, NY is a repository of historic documents in a wide variety of media and a research center dedicated to the study of philanthropy and the diverse domains shaped by philanthropy. It was established in 1974 to assemble, preserve, and make accessible the records of the Rockefeller family and their wide-ranging philanthropic endeavors (including the General Education Board [GEB] , John D. Rockefeller Sr. and Jr.'s papers, Rockefeller Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Rockefeller University). Source: RAC Web site
There were specific documents Avery needed to review for her research. She first reviewed the records of John D. Rockefeller, Sr., John D. Rockefeller, Jr., members of the GEB, and John Hope, as well as information from the GEB’s organizational history, minutes from meetings, and correspondence between various members. Next, she reviewed the records of and correspondence between significant GEB trustees and presidents, such as Wallace Buttrick, Wickliffe Rose, Frederick Gates, Edwin Embree, and Trevor Arnett. Last, she used personal narratives and publications written by philanthropists, such as Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
Atlanta Univerrsity Center Robert W. Woodruff Library
The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Robert W. Woodruff Library in Atlanta, GA is named in honor of the late Robert Winship Woodruff, former CEO of the Coca Cola Company and philanthropist. The library was designed to serve the instructional, informational and research needs for member institutions of the Atlanta University Center, the world's largest and oldest consortium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Supporting Research, Study, and Scholarship... Immersed within the historic Atlanta University Center is one of the richest collections of primary and secondary resources on African American and African Diaspora history and culture. The Archives Research Center house material on the three Atlanta institutions, the institutions’ presidential papers, and personal correspondence between members of philanthropic organizations. Source: AUC Woodruff Library Web site.
From RWWL, Avery drew upon information gathered from the John Hope Presidential Records. She also gathered information from the institutions' board of trustees minutes, changes the institutions underwent, fundraising activities and efforts, financial papers, and correspondences between Hope and members of the GEB.
Spelman College Archives
As a part of the Women's Research and Resource Center, the primary mission of the Spelman College Archives in Atlanta, GA, is to collect, preserve, organize and make available for research historically significant documents and other materials which reflect the College’s origins and development as well as the activities of its constituents and affiliates. Source: Spelman Archives Web site.
As the official repository of the College, the greater part of the archives consists of administrative records, departmental and program records, publications, photographs and other material relating to the history and administration of the college. Since Florence M. Read was the president of Spelman College at the time of the affiliation, Avery examined the Florence Read Presidential Papers.
Auburn Avenue Research Library
Anchoring the west end of the Sweet Auburn historic district in Atlanta, Georgia, the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History is the first public library in the Southeast to offer specialized reference and archival collections dedicated to the study and research of African American culture and history and of other peoples of African descent. Source: Auburn Avenue Research Library's Web site.
Because W. E. B. Du Bois’s prominence developed during the era of Avery's research, she gathered information from the W. E. B. Du Bois Papers that are housed at the library. The library has the complete Du Bois collection from the University of Massachusetts on microfilm.