Title: Kent State University Black United Students records

Author: Finding aid prepared by Amanda Faehnel, February 2020

Revisions: February 2021 Revised by Amanda Faehnel; Updated April 2024

Descriptive Rules: DACS 2nd Edition

Origination: Kent State University. Black United Students

Inclusive Dates: 1968-2022

Extent: 3 cubic feet (6 boxes = 3 half size record storage boxes, 2 oversized document boxes, 1 flat oversized textile box and 1 oversized folder)

Physical Location: 10th floor; 11th floor map case

Language of Materials: English

Abstract: This collection contains materials of Kent State University's student organization, Black United Students. It consists of organizational records, subject files, publications, and artifacts. 

History of Black United Students: Since its founding in 1968, Black United Students has been a consistently active student organization of Kent State University. The mission of Black United Students (BUS) is “to serve and unify all Black students at Kent State University by addressing their needs.” From its inception, members of the organization have advocated for the equality of Kent State students of color including addressing fair facilities, budget allotments, student enrollment, faculty representation, academic programming, departmental organization, and social justice concerns, among many other issues in its decades-long history. 

Scope and Content: The Kent State University Black United Students records spans the years 1968 to present day. It is divided into series and consists of brochures and fliers, correspondence, news clippings, subject files, Black United Students publications, and artifacts. Official BUS publications have taken on different names throughout the organization's history, beginning with Black Watch in 1969, followed by The Spectrum, with the current publication, Uhuru, in production since 1989. Please note that no print issues of Uhuru were published in 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Arrangement: The Kent State University Black United Students records are divided into series as follows. Materials within each series are organized in chronological order.

• Series 1: Organizational Records
• Series 2: Subject Files
• Series 3: Publications
• Series 4: Artifacts

Preferred Citation: Kent State University Black United Students records. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.

Related Materials: For further information, access the Lafayette Tolliver papers and photographs collection and Involvement/2 years later: a report on programming in the area of black student concerns at Kent State University, 1968-1970 compiled by Milton E. Wilson, Jr. for the Kent State University Human Relations Center. For investigative police files on Black United Students, see the Kent State University Police records, part of the May 4 Collection. Additional information on Black United Students can be found within the May 4 Collection through the May 4 Collection Subject Index. For assistance in locating photographs of Black United Students people and events, please contact Special Collections & Archives.

Acquisition Information: Materials in this collection have been acquired from multiple entities over time. 

Alternate Form Available: A portion of this collection has been digitized and is available online. The inventory below includes links to the digital content.

Accruals: Materials are added to the collection on a regular basis.

Series 1: Organizational Records

Box 1
Folder-- Contents

1. Brochures and Fliers, 1969
2. Brochures and Fliers, 1970
3. Brochures and Fliers, 1971
4. Brochures and Fliers, 1972
5. Brochures and Fliers, 1975
6. Brochures and Fliers, 1977
7. Brochures and Fliers, 1978
8. Brochures and Fliers, 1979
9. Brochures and Fliers, 1986
10. Brochures and Fliers, 1992
11. Brochures and Fliers, 1994
12. Brochures and Fliers, 1996
13. Brochures and Fliers, 1997
14. Brochures and Fliers, 1998
15. Brochures and Fliers, 2017
16. Correspondence, 1972-1999
17. Newspaper clippings, 1991-2020
18. Posters: BUS, 2003; undated
    Physical Location: These items are oversized and are stored in the map case.
19. Publication: "BUS: The Foundation Years, 1968-1970" by Jason Eugene Shelton, 1997
20. Report: Institutional Planning Report, 1973
21. Student organization web site pages, 2005
    Scope and Content: Printouts of BUS histories from non-current web pages

Series 2: Subject Files

1. Subject File: Robert Pitts support and sit-in, May 1968
2. Subject File: Hubert Humphrey walkout, May 1968
3. Subject File: Oakland Police recruitment boycott, November 1968
4. Subject File: Enrollment, faculty, and center requests, April 1970
5. Subject File: Statement to Commission on Campus Disorders, July 1970
6. Subject File: Budget and allocation requests, November 1970
7. Subject File: BUS member arrests, demands, and Laos invasion protest, January-February, 1971
8. Subject File: Black History Month, 1971-2022
9. Subject File: Renaissance Pageant and Ball, 1971-2019
   Scope and Content: Includes color photographic slides from 1986 event.
10. Subject File: Allocation demands, May 1977
11. Subject File: Moratorium on Black Greek-lettered organizations, March 1993
12. Subject File: Khalid Muhammad visit, February 1994
13. Subject File: Reallocation of Oscar Ritchie Hall requests, April 1994
14. Subject File: Underground Bar settlement and hip-hop music, March 1996
15. Subject File: Black Thursday demands and library sit-in, April 1996
    Scope and Content: Includes one DVD film recording of meeting and sit-in
16. Subject File: Support for University of Missouri, November 2015
17. Subject File: May 4, Aramark, student wages, and safety demands and demonstration, February 2020
18. Subject File: Black Lives Matter rallies and campus racial injustice discussions, June-July, 2020
19. Subject File: Kent State campus rock and racist messages, September 2020
20. Subject File: President and Vice-President Lists, 2021
    Scope and Content: Includes a list of BUS presidents and vice presidents, 1968-2018, compiled by Kofi Khemet. This list is supplemented by an annotated version that includes where photographs of these leaders can be found within Special Collections & Archives records
21. Subject File: Obituaries of BUS Alumni, 1995; 2022
    Scope and Content: At this time, this file includes the obituaries, memorial programs, and/or clippings about Nathaniel Madison and Robert Pickett. Additions will be made as obituaries are located or received.

Series 3: Publications

Box 2
Folder-- Contents

1. The Black Watch, May 23, 1969
2. Black Watch, November 25, 1969
3. Black Watch, December 10, 1969
   Physical Description: Photocopy
4. Black Watch, March 30, 1970
5. Black Watch, February 8, 1971
   Physical Description: Photocopy
6. Black Watch, November 1971
7. Black Watch, December 1971
8. Black Watch, January 1972
9. Black Watch, February 1972
10. Black Watch, March 1972
11. Black Watch, April 1972
12. Black Watch, May 1972
13. Black Watch, May 1972 
    Scope and Content: Special issue
14. Black Watch, June 1972
15. Black Watch, February 1973
16. Black Watch, November 24, 1973
17. Black Watch, November 1975
    Scope and Content: Volume 2, Number 2
18. Black Watch, November 1975
    Scope and Content: Volume 2, Number 3
19. Black Watch, November 5, 1976
20. Black Watch, August 4, 1977
21. Black Watch, April 10, 1978
22. Black Watch, October 13, 1978

Series 3: Publications (continued)

Box 3
Folder-- Contents

1. The Spectrum, September 17, 1979
2. The Spectrum, October 22, 1979
3. The Spectrum, November 19, 1979
4. The Spectrum, December 18, 1979
5. The Spectrum, February 25, 1980
6. The Spectrum, March 18, 1980
7. The Spectrum, April 21, 1980
8. The Spectrum, September 22, 1980
9. The Spectrum, December 18, 1980
10. The Spectrum, February 23, 1981
11. The Spectrum, March 30, 1981
12. The Spectrum, April 1985
13. The Spectrum, September/October 1985
14. The Spectrum, January/February 1986
15. The Spectrum, March/April 1986
16. The Spectrum, Fall 1986
17. The Spectrum, Spring 1987
18. The Spectrum, Fall 1987
19. The Spectrum, Spring 1988
20. The Spectrum, Fall 1988
21. The Spectrum, Spring 1989

Series 3: Publications (continued)

Box 4
Folder-- Contents

1. Uhuru, Fall 1989
2. Uhuru, Spring 1990
3. Uhuru, Spring 1991
4. Uhuru, 1991-1992 (ie., Fall 1991)
5. Uhuru, Spring 1992
6. Uhuru, Fall 1992
7. Uhuru, Spring 1993
8. Uhuru, Fall 1993
9. Uhuru, Spring 1994
10. Uhuru, Fall 1994
11. Uhuru, Spring 1995
12. Uhuru Na Mazungumzo, Spring 1995
    Scope and Content: Special edition
13. Uhuru, Fall 1995
14. Uhuru, Spring 1996
15. Uhuru, Fall 1996
16. Uhuru, Spring 1998
17. Uhuru, Spring 1999
18. Uhuru, Fall 1999
19. Uhuru, Fall 2000
20. Uhuru, Spring 2001
21. Uhuru, Fall 2001
22. Uhuru, Spring 2002

Series 3: Publications (continued)

Box 5
Folder-- Contents

1. Uhuru, Spring 2003
2. Uhuru, Fall 2003
3. Uhuru, Spring 2004
4. Uhuru, Fall 2004
5. Uhuru, Spring 2005
6. Uhuru, Fall 2005
7. Uhuru, Spring 2006
8. Uhuru, Spring 2007
9. Uhuru, Fall 2008
10. Uhuru, Spring 2012
11. Uhuru, 2014
12. Uhuru, Spring/Summer 2015
13. Uhuru, Spring 2016
    Scope and Content: Cover design #1
14. Uhuru, Spring 2016 
    Scope and Content: Cover design #2
15. Uhuru, Spring 2017
16. Uhuru, Spring 2018
17. Uhuru, Spring 2019
18. Uhuru, Spring 2020
19. Uhuru, Spring 2022

Series 4: Artifacts

Box 6
Folder-- Contents

1. BUS Soul Patrol jacket, undated
2. BUS T-shirt, undated