African American Speakers at Bucknell

These photographs and Student Church pamphlets from February 1949 advertise the presence of a legend on campus. As the first African American to play a major league sport, Jackie Robinson’s (1919-1972) visit to Bucknell caused a splash not just in…

This flyer from March 1948 advertises the upcoming lecture by Jane E. Hunter (1882-1971), founder and director of the Phillis Wheatley Association (for black girls) in Cleveland. Ms. Hunter will come to Bucknell to lecture a class and to lead the…

This flyer advertises for the upcoming inspirational lecture by George Washington Carver (~1860s-1943), who will bring his peanut exhibit to Bucknell. It gives a brief overview of the life and accomplishments of this brilliant historical figure and…

This item is an advertisement from 1948 for Richard McKinney's Bucknell visit. As the first black President of Storer College, a historically black college founded in 1865 in West Virginia, McKinney (who served as president of the college from…

Several articles from the Bucknellian in 1965 both announce and recount civil rights leader James Farmer's speech at Bucknell. A picture of him is also included. Farmer (1920-1999) was the National Director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)…

According to this pamphlet from February 1964, the Committee on Educational Opportunity is sponsoring a series of lectures on the experience of blacks in America, led by Dr. Robert E. Martin from the historically black university founded in 1867 in…

This Bucknellian article from October 1961 announces the visit of two Freedom Riders (who spent 40 days in jail for challenging segregation norms in the south) and the Washington president of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). These three…

This 1947 article in the Bucknellian declares that Jane Edna Hunter (1882-1971), founder of the Phillis Wheatley Association for Black Girls in Cleveland, will be speaking on "Strengthening Democracy" and building better race relations.

The author of this Bucknellian article from 1947 speaks about Frank T. Simpson's (1907-1974) (the executive secretary of the Connecticut Inter-Racial Commission) visit to Bucknell. After guest lecturing in many classes and NAACP (National Association…

This Bucknellian article from February 1949 details famous athlete Jackie Robinson's (1919-1972) upcoming visit to campus where he would be speak at student chapel and attend a reception. This article also gives background on Robinson’s life and…