Partnering for 40 years: African American Studies & Alden Library

Forty years ago, in 1969, the library had just moved from Chubb Hall and we were settling into our new space, the Vernon R. Alden Library. Such a big to-do: moving books across campus, setting up shelves, finding a new home. Staff members who worked then recall a great amount of empty space¬--wouldn’t we like to see that now! Thompson Little was Director of the Libraries, with Vernon Alden and then Claude Sowle serving as President of Ohio University.

President Alden presided over the campus during a time of increasing tension between students and the administration. Betty Hollow reported in her address last spring that there had been demonstrations by students on campus, with a push to establish a Black Studies program, and so the department of African American Studies began. A great deal of unrest was happening across the nation as well – Martin Luther King assassinated the year before, only a few years after visiting our campus! Richard Nixon had just been elected 37th President of the United States, and we had walked on the moon for the first time.

1969: a time of change for the nation, the University and for the Libraries. We will be focusing on those changes this fall with our Culture Showcase series, partnering with the Department of African American Studies as they highlight their 40th anniversary was well. There are several guest speakers scheduled, a research competition, and a rich bibliography of suggested readings for those interested in learning more about African American studies here at Ohio University.