B-CU Archives: Collections

Mary McLeod Bethune, civil rights activist and educator, is the founder of what is now known as Bethune-Cookman University. These materials contain her personal papers and correspondence as well and documents and correspondence from involvement with the National Council of Negro Women, several federal agencies on which she served as well as other organizations. Materials include correspondence, photographs, news clippings, and printed material.

James A. Colston served as president of Bethune-Cookman College from 1942 – 1946. Under Colston’s leadership, Bethune-Cookman College was transformed from a two year un-accredited institution to a four year accredited liberal arts college. His success at Bethune-Cookman College led Dr. Colston to become president of Georgia State College in Georgia, Knoxville College in Tennessee and Bronx Community College of New York. He was the first black person to be appointed president of a New York City College unit.

Cleo Sury Higgins is a former Bethune-Cookman University faculty member who served in various academic positions over a period of forty years and three presidential administrations. She is also responsible for bringing Greek life to the University campus when she founded the Iota Beta Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated in 1948. She was later elected as Grand Basileus of the National Organization in 1962.

Horace Clarence Boyer, a native of Winter Park, Florida and foremost scholar in African American gospel music, received his Bachelor’s degree in Music from Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida and furthered his study of music by earning M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester (New York). Materials include correspondence, photographs, news clippings, printed and audio visual materials.

The Attica Prison Riot took place at the Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, New York on September 13, 1971. The Attica Prison Riot Collection is comprised of original copies of the court case led by attorney William J. Cunningham and Lynda Tolliver Jones against New York State.

The BCU Oral History Collection represents the work of hundreds of BCU students and interviewees. Since 2001, students in the College of Liberal Arts courses, specifically Oral History and African American History, have continuously studied the vision and impact of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune as well as the rich history of Bethune Cookman University and blacks in Florida. The voices and stories in the BCU Oral History Collection document some of the vision, impact, and history of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Students in African American History classes created portfolios of interviews with elders. Students in Oral History classes interviewed BCU individuals with long relationships with the school - many who knew Mrs. Bethune personally. Local veterans as part of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project contributed personal stories from WWII, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War and the War on Terror. You can access their homepage at https://www.cookman.edu/history/

This collection contains magazines and journals that are in the BCU Archives. The collection is mainly comprised of Black periodicals.

This collection contains publications that share and illustrate the history of Bethune-Cookman University. This includes yearbooks, graduations programs and more.

Collection contains minutes and information related to the activities of the Board of Trustees at Bethune-Cookman University.