The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories

University of North Florida oral history project

Repository: University of North Florida. Thomas G. Carpenter Library

Collection Description (CRHP): Eddie Collins was one of the few early black faculty members that is included in this collection of interviews. He discusses his perspective on blacks coming out of the 60s era, his experiences at North Carolina A&T State University and Clark University in Atlanta before coming to Jacksonville.

Collection Description (Extant): When the University of North Florida opened its doors in October, 1972, it brought together a remarkable group of professors, administrators and staff, along with both young and older undergraduate and graduate students. Now thirty-five years later, more than 50,000 UNF alumni live and work in Jacksonville and the First Coast region. Town and gown have built close ties beneficial to the entire area.

Meanwhile most of the early faculty and administrators have retired or are retiring. To capture their recollections and reflections, three years ago President John Delaney and a faculty committee authorized an oral history project to culminate in a web page, publication and vivid story about 'Creating a University'.

This history describes the trials and tribulations of a young underfunded institution. More importantly it offers insights into how UNF developed from an upper level commuter institution to a four-year, residential center. It expanded from three to five colleges in the process providing students and faculty with opportunities to study all over the world. This new institution brought faculty from outstanding universities across the U.S., and again the world, to challenge students, mostly from the First Coast, to learn about the arts, sciences, humanities, business, education, health care and engineering. In the process UNF has built close ties serving the greater Jacksonville communities.

This beginning in 'Creating a University' portends well for the growth and development that will only enhance the institution and Florida's First Coast in the years to come.

Collection URL: http://www.unf.edu/unfinfo/unf_history/index.html

Digital Status: Partial

Language: English

Interviewees: Eddie Collins

Rights (CRHP): Contact the repository which holds the collection for information on rights

Subjects:

African American college students
African American college teachers
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
University of North Florida

Genres:

Interviews
Sound recordings
Transcripts