Guide to the Janet Shaffer papers on the Brown University-Tougaloo College Partnership, 1966, 1986-1987, 2006

(bulk 1986-1987)

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2023

Collection Overview

Title:	Janet Shaffer papers on the Brown University-Tougaloo College Partnership
Date range:	1966, 1986-1987, 2006, (1986-1987)
Creator:	Shaffer, Janet
Extent:	0.25 Linear Feet
Abstract:	Papers of Brown aluma Janet Shaffer accrued during, or reflecting upon, her time as an exchange student at Tougloo College in the Fall of 1986. Some of the material contains descriptions of racism against Black people.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number:	AMS.1ZUT.2

Scope & content

Some of the material contains descriptions of racism against Black people.

The collection contains materials collected by Janet Shaffer'88 during and around the time she was an exchange student at Tougaloo College in Mississippi in the fall 1986. The collection also includes her retrospective account of her experience. The collection contains documents, photographs, promotional materials and newsclippings.

Access Points

Subject Topics

• Brown University-Tougaloo College Partnership
• Tougaloo College
• African American college students
• African Americans -- Social Life and Customs -- 20th century
• Black people--United States--Intellectual life--20th century.
• Racism against Black people
• Student exchange programs

Geographical Names

• United States -- Race relations -- History -- 20th century

Arrangement

Arranged in one series. Arranged in chronological order.

Biographical / Historical

Janet Shaffer '88 attended Brown University from 1984-1988. She majored in psychology. She spent her fall semester at Tougaloo in 1986. During her time at Tougaloo College, Shaffer swam at the local Racquetball Club in Jackson, Mississippi, took a course on Black religion, and was crowned Miss Brown Exchange at Tougaloo's homecoming. Shaffer also befriended a Tougaloo College student named Kevin Jackson. Shaffer went on to become a licensed acupuncturist.

Tougaloo College, a historically Black college in Mississippi, and Brown University, a predominantly white institution, announced their partnership in 1964. The partnership was one of many developed nationally at that time as a result of an increased interest in Black education among progressive government leaders and educators during the civil rights and Freedom Now movements. Unlike many of the other intercollegiate relationships of that time, Brown and Tougaloo have been consistent in collaboration save for a period in the early 1970s where tensions between the mostly white community of Brown University and the mostly Black community of Tougaloo College were high. The Brown University-Tougaloo College Partnership, as it is called today, has been known by different names over time, including the Brown-Tougaloo Partnership, the Brown-Tougaloo Exchange, the Tougaloo-Brown Exchange, Brown-Tougaloo Cooperative Exchange, and Brown-Tougaloo Relationship.

Brown University's initial programs and interactions with Tougaloo were paternalistic and extractive, borne of the white-saviourism of progressives of the time. While Tougaloo was allowed to send students and faculty to Brown with the intention to improve their education, Brown University sent professors and students to teach, tutor and examine Black students. One example of this was the Brown-Tougaloo Language Project, started in 1965, which replaced Tougaloo College's English course with a program of reading, writing and diction while using the students as the test subjects for Brown professor's linguistics studies. Brown administrators also worked to control power structures at Tougaloo, including the firing of Tougaloo's president in 1965 and the process of hiring his replacement.

The programs undertaken during the partnership have varied in content over time. Most have involved the exchange of students and faculty between the two institutions, and there have also been shared events such as concerts and seminars.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access. The collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Brown University Library. Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Janet Shaffer papers on the Brown University-Tougaloo College Partnership, AMS-1ZUT-1, Brown University Library.
Contact information:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Created by Janaya Kizzie, 2023
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-09.
Descriptive rules:	Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Sponsor:	Processing funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Additional Information

Related material:

Related Materials Archival collections in the Brown University Archives Brown-Tougaloo Exchange records, 1961-1989 (OF-1ZU-2) M. Charles Bakst papers, 1927-2009 (bulk 1962-2008) (AMS-1U-B6): Brown alum '66. Tougaloo-related records 1964. Robert F. Cohen, Jr., papers, 1952-1984 (bulk 1966-1972) (AMS-1U-C8): Brown alum '68; Tougaloo exchange student 1966. Barnaby Conrad Keeney papers, 1936-1980 (OF-1C-12): Records of the twelfth president of Brown University, including records related to the early years of the partnership. Richard Ramsden papers, 1967-1984 (OF-1CA-R1): Includes records related the Brown-Tougaloo Committee 1979-1982 held by the Brown Vice President for Administration and Finance and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the University. Jessica Brooks papers on the Brown University-Tougaloo College Partnership, 1964-1994 (AMS-1ZUT-1): Includes promotional materials and photographs. Merton P. Stoltz files as provost of Brown University, 1959-1978 (OF-1CA-S2): Records of the former Provost of Brown University include records related to Brown-Tougaloo Partnership, 1963-1965. Howard Robert Swearer papers, 1973-1990 (OF-1C-15): Records of the fifteenth president of Brown University contain Tougaloo subject files, 1977-1988 Archival collections in the Tougaloo College Archives George A. Owens papers: Papers of the ninth president of Tougaloo College. Adam Daniel Beittel Papers, 1957-1989: Papers of the eighth president of Tougaloo College. Current records and projects Current reports of the Brown-Tougaloo Partnership Freedom Now!:an archival project of Tougaloo College and Brown University

Inventory

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Box [31236094312686] 1, Folder 1

"Brown at Tougaloo: Exchange Student Doesn't Find the Expected Fervor" Jackson Daily News article Location of copies: Existence and Location of Copies Photocopies of articles available in the folder. English.

1986 Dec 28

Box [31236094312686] 1, Folder 2

Eaglet (Tougaloo College Yearbook) English.

1987

Box [31236094312686] 1, Folder 3

Brown University -Tougaloo College Partnership promotional materials for students Contents Note: Includes promotional pamphlets, articles and essays from Brown University and Tougaloo College (mostly Tougaloo), as well as promotional photographs. In addition, the folder contains a copy of Tougaloo Impressions, Brown University's report on the Brown-Tougaloo Partnership, from 1966. English.

1966,1981-19871985-1986

Box [31236094312686] 1, Folder 4

Janet Shaffer essay on her Tougaloo exchange experience Contents Note: Includes descriptions of racism against Black people. English.

2006 September

Box [31236094312686] 1, Folder 5

Tougaloo Homecoming coronation photographs Contents Note: Includes two photographs and an envelope labeled with the names of the people pictured. English.

1986