A Collection in
Special Collections and Archives
Collection Number 1976-16
Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State
University
Special Collections and Archives Johnston Memorial Library P.O. Box 9406 Virginia State University Petersburg, Virginia 23806 USA Phone: (804) 524-5582 Fax: (804) 524-6959 Email: refdesk@vsu.edu URL: https://library.vsu.edu/
Funding:
Funded in part by a grant from the National
Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by:
Lucious Edwards, Jr.
Repository
Special Collections and Archives, Johnston
Memorial Library, Virginia State University
Collection number
1920-1966
Title
Robert Printiss Daniel
1920-1966
Physical Characteristics
5,000
items
Creator
Robert Printiss
Daniel
Language
English
Abstract
Personal and business
correspondence of the fifth President of Virginia State
University. Robert P. Daniel was one of the movers in
establishing what is now Norfolk State University. He was also
very involved in efforts to integrate the institutions of
higher learning in Virginia. Acc.#1976-16
Additional information about Robert P. Daniels may be
found in the Virginia State University Archives.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Robert Prentiss Daniel Papers, Accession # 1976-16,
Special Collections and University Archives, Johnston
Memorial Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg,
VA.
Robert P. Daniel was elected to become the fifth president
of Virginia State University(then Virginia State College)in
December of 1949. He assumed his duties in February of 1950.
Mr. Daniel however was not a stranger to Virginia State,
having been born on the campus in 1902. This strange twist of
fate makes Robert P. Daniel the only President of a
state-supported institution who was born on the campus, which
he would later serve as chief administrator.
The historical background, which explains, this unusual
occurrence lay in the origins of the Daniel Family. The roots
of this family began in Louisa County Virginia, with Lucy
Langston, Robert Daniel's great great grandmother, who was
described as being of African and Virginia Indian origins.
Lucy langston lived as the only wife of Ralph Quarles, a
white farmer and landholder in Louisa County. Although this
was not a legal union(black-white marriages had been outlawed
in Virginia in 1692), the two lived as man and wife for more
than thirty years.
From this union came four children: Maria (Daniel's great
grandmother), Gideon, Charles and John Mercer Langston (who
become the first president of Virginia State in 1886-1887.
Ralph Quarles had given his common law wife her freedom
earlier and all four of these children were born free between
the years of 1800-1829.
Maria Langston married early and her proud father gave her
a section of his farm as a wedding gift and also from her
father she recieved as her personal property her husband
Joseph Powell, who was a slave belonging to Ralph Quarles.
Maria Langston like other free blacks, (men and women) around
the state of Virginia were forced to hold their husbands and
or wives as their personal property in order to keep the
family unit together.
From this union came Robert Daniel's grandmother Lucinda,
who like her mother also married a slave and was forced to
hold him as her enslaved property. Charles Daniel, father of
Robert Daniel was born in 1845 in Louisa and until around 1870
lived with his father and learned his trade in shoemaking.
In 1871 he entered the Richmond Institute graduating from
the Normal Department in 1877 and its Academic Department in
1878. He studied law for one year at Howard University and
then accepted a teaching position in Danville, Virginia.
In 1888 he was invited to become the Secretary of Virginia
Normal and Collegiate Institute. It was here in the old
Virginia hall that Robert Daniel and all but one of the eight
Daniel children were born.
Robert P. Daniel graduated from Virginia Union University
in 1924. Later, he obtained his MA and his doctorate at
Teachers College. He also completed a post doctoral study in
Bible at the Union Theological Seminary in New York during the
summers of 1943 and 1946.
Robert Daniel began his career in higher education at
Virginia Union University in Richmond as an instructor in
mathematics in 1924. Concurrently, Dr. Daniel supervised the
establishment of the Norfolk division of Virginia Union
University which later became the Norfork division of Virginia
State College. He was named president of Shaw University in
1936 until 1950.
Dr. Daniel was elected president of Virginia State College
by the State Board of Education on December 15th 1949
following the death of Luther H. Foster.
Dr. Daniel was an active member of several state and
national professional organizations.
The Daniel Papers document primarly his becoming the
President of Shaw University in 1936 and Virginia State
University in 1950. There is also correspondence concerning
his activities with a national radio program "Wings over
Jordan" and with Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.In the daniel
papers are also some very interesting newsletters printed by
the "Political Action Committee" of the Petersburg Improvement
Association. These newsletters address the attempts to
desegrate public facilities in Petersburg.
Series I. Correspondences 1926-1960 Some personal and
business correspondence of Robert P. Daniel. Most of the
correspondences has to do with Mr. Daniel's leaving Shaw
University to become the fifth President of Virginia State
College in 1949-1950. sub-series A. Personal Correspondence.
sub-series B. Buisness Correspondence
Series II. Organizations and Affiliations Sub-series A.
Alpha Phi Alpha Sub-Series B. Virginia Union Alumni
Association Sub-Series C. Class (1924)Reunions
Series III. Literary Speeches, Sermons and radio addresses
made by Robert P. Daniel from 1936-1966. speeches are arranged
by subject and location. Writings State Teachers Report.
sub-series A. speeches. sub- series B. Sermons. sub-series C.
writings.
Series IV. Photographs. Sub-series A. Personal Sub-series
B. The International advisory Board on Liberia Sub-series C.
The Alpha Phi Apha Fraternity
Series V. Printed. Sub-Series A. Programs and Flyers with
Meetings Attended by Robert Daniel. Sub-Series B. Awards and
Certificates Presented by Robert Daniel over a period of years
documenting his involvement in a number of organizations.
Sub-Series C. Virginia Union University Printed Items
generated by Virginia Union University which includes
programs, bullitens, and a short history of Virginia Union
University. D. Shaw Printed Items such as Bulletins, and other
programs E. The Sphinx F. . Degrees and Appointments. Earned
degrees for Robert Daniel and members of the Daniel and Taylor
Families. Included are appointments for Robert Daniel for
several commissions G. Newspapers. Several issues of Black
owned newspapers, which were published in North Carolina,
Virginia, Massachusetts, and New York. H. Newsclippings.
Newsclippings from a number of Newspaper mostly from Virginia
I.Civil Rights in Petersburg. Newsletters and Flyers
concerning some of the civil rights issues in Petersburg
during the 1960's
Series VI. Scrapbooks. Two Scrapbooks, The United States
Army Infantry Center and A testimonial in words and music.
Series VII. Artifacts Three Dimensional Items Awarded to or
collected by Robert Prentiss Daniel
sub-series B: The International
Advisory Board on Liberia
Box-folder
8:1
Photo-Liberia
Box-folder
8:2
Photo-Liberia
Box-folder
8:3
Three Million Dollar Hydro-Electric
Plant (3000 Kilowatt)
Box-folder
8:4
Cocoa Pods on Young Cocoa
Trees.
Box-folder
8:5
Fish Ponds help solveproblem caused by
lack of sufficient mineral and protiens in
liberian diet
Box-folder
8:6
Team stands before home of Dr. George
W. Harley, Famed Metodist Missionary.
Box-folder
8:7
World Health Organization Center at
Spain carries out malaria and yaws control
projects.
Box-folder
8:8
Highest grade iron ore in world is
mined at Bomi Hills by Subsidiary of Republic
Steel.
Box-folder
8:9
The evaluation team, with the American
Ambassador, confers with President
Truman.
Box-folder
8:10
New School building at Salala is
typical of several viewed by team throughtout
Liberia.
Box-folder
8:11
Where roads ended, the bush trials
began.
Box-folder
8:12
After-work class in grade schol
subjects is voluntary project of U.S. Technicians
at Suakoko
Box-folder
8:13
Bulldozer prepares way for new road
through rubber plantation
Box-folder
8:14
Liberian machine stop teacher instructs
student while team watches.
Box-folder
8:15
Transportation of all kinds was used by
team to cover distant points throughout
Liberia.
Box-folder
8:16
Team leaves research building
constructed by Liberian Government at Central
Experiment Station.
Box-folder
8:17
Photo-Liberia
Box-folder
8:18
Photo-Liberia
Box-folder
8:19
The F.O.A. Evaluation team to
Liberia
Box-folder
8:20
Team observes processing of rubbing at
main firestone factory.
Box-folder
9:1
Planes are still Novelties in places
visited by evaluation team.
Box-folder
9:2
Iron ore at Monrovia Port is loaded for
export to U.S.A. and World Markets.
Box-folder
9:3
Country boy frightens away rice birds
from new rice fields.
Box-folder
9:4
Tribal markings are still seen today in
Liberian Hinterlands.
Box-folder
9:5
President Wilson V.S. Truman of
Liberia
Box-folder
9:6
Women in western probince dance a
special ceremonial dance to the chief.
Box-folder
9:7
Team visits a small village town to see
effects of U.S. Technical Aid.
Box-folder
10:1
Commissioners and Chief were met by
team in the central province.
Box-folder
10:2
Gbedin Swamp rice project is inspected
by the team after 200-mile motor trip.
Box-folder
10:3
U.S. Ambassador locker and Dr. Daniel
Chat with President Truman of Liberia.
Box-folder
10:4
F.O.A. Agriculturist introduces his
technical aides to team during visit to Blamata
Sub-Station
Box-folder
10:5
Agriculture member of team checks rice
at new mill (F.A.O.) near Suakoko.
Box-folder
10:6
U.S. trained Liberian Chemist displays
high yielding tomatoes collected during recent
F.A.O. leader grant tour of Central and South
American Countries.
Box-folder
10:7
Team inspects Boneke Sub-Station near
Nyaake in Eastern Liberia.
Box-folder
10:8
Dr. Daniel, Chief of Evaluation Team,
Speaks to Maryland County Agriculture
Council.
Box-folder
10:9
Surprise 25th anniversary message from
Mrs. Daniel is heard at embassy
breakfast.
Box-folder
10:10
Maintenance depot in Maryland County
will service road building equipment.
Box-folder
10:11
New road building equipment purchased
with export bank loan will soon push new road
plans.
Box-folder
10:12
Dr. daniel introduces team to the joint
commission for economic development.
Box-folder
10:13
Team listens to educational advisor
tell of education projects.
Box-folder
10:14
Rice freshly cut from swamp
fields
Box-folder
10:15
Dr. Daniel talks with town chiefs about
Agricultural and Health Projects in
area.
Sub-Series C: Alpha Phi Alpha
Photographs
Box-folder
10:16
19th Annual Convention Richmond, Va
Dec 27-31 1926
O.S.
Box-folder
10:17
Convention in Atlanta, Ga O.S.
December 31, 1929
O.S.
Box-folder
10:18
Convention in New Orleans
December 26,
1929
Box-folder
10:19
General Convention Tulsa, Oklahoma
1947
O.S.
35th Annual Convention
Box-folder
10:19
60th Anniversary Convention Saint
Louis, Missouri O.S.