William H. Exum (1942-1986) Papers

The William H. Exum Papers fill three and one-half boxes and are arranged in five subseries: biographical material, education files, correspondence, teaching files and publications files. Materials span the years 1964-1985.

The small amount of biographical materials consist mostly of curriculum vitae, prepared by Exum at Northwestern University. Further biographical material on Exum appears in a booklet titled “NIA Afro-American Studies Newsletter,” September 1974, No. 2 page 12.

The education materials are from Exum's years as a graduate student at New York University. They consist of some course readings, notes (a few handwritten) and exams, 1964-1967 and some lengthier course papers submitted during the years 1964-1966. A photocopy of his Ph.D. dissertation “Black Student Movements in White Colleges and Universities” February, 1974 is also part of this material.

The correspondence relates primarily to Exum's professional career, especially his teaching, writing and speaking engagements. A few letters from former students and correspondence with department heads dealing with the conditions of his employment are also included. The correspondence is arranged in chronological order, 1970-1985. A copy of an alphabetical list of correspondents, 1970-1985, is included.

The teaching files consist of class materials (bibliographies, syllabi, reading lists, and exams) from Sarah Lawrence College, Williams College, and Northwestern University, 1969-1985. Tenure related materials are filed here. Among these materials is a photocopy of testimony by William Exum to the House Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education, House of Representatives, United States Congress in support of H.R. 14365 and S. 3319 “The School Integration Innovation Act of 1976,” August, 1976 (Box 2 Folder 17).

The publication files are comprised of copies of printed articles and copies of manuscripts. These are arranged in chronological order by date or approximate date of publication with the title noted on the individual folders. A list of publications is included in Exum's vitae.