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William L. Odom CollectionLU.162

William L. Odom CollectionLU.162


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Greenwood Library Archives and Special Collections

Janet D. Greenwood Library
401 Redford Street
Farmville, VA 23909
Business Number: 434-395-2433
ask@longwood.libanswers.com
URL: https://libguides.longwood.edu/home/asc

Repository
Greenwood Library Archives and Special Collections
Identification
LU.162
Title
William L. Odom Collection 1967-1969
Quantity
.35 Linear Feet, 1 legal-sized half-Hollinger box
Creator
Odom, William.
Creator
Odom, Carol.
Creator
Robinson Jr., T. Burwell.
Language
English .

Administrative Information

Restrictions on Access

There are no restrictions to access or use for research purposes.

Ownership and Custodial History

This collection of materials, originally compiled by Dr. William and Carol Odom, came to the Greenwood Library Archives, via Susan Bagby, in summer 2000.

Biographical sketch

Dr. William L. Odom was born in December 1934 in Richmond, Virginia. He received his bachelor's degree from Hampden-Sydney College before getting his master's degree (1959) and Ph.D. (1961) from University of Virginia. From 1961 to 1965, Dr. Odom taught ancient Greek at Randolph-Macon College before joining the ancient languages faculty at Hampden-Sydney College. After leaving Hampden-Sydney College in 1969, Dr. Odom spent six years at Keuka College in Keuka Park, New York, serving first as vice president, then dean, and finally acting president. In 1975, he was inaugurated at the 29th president of Bethel College in Tennessee. Dr. Odom retired from that position in 1991, then served as vice president of development of Habitat for Humanity International form 1991 to 1994, and then as Salvation Army director of development from 1994 to 2000. During his time at Hampden-Sydney College, Dr. Odom and his wife, Carol, were involved in the civil rights movement in Prince Edward County. Specifically, when Hampden-Sydney College graduate, T. Burwell Robinson, Jr., was fired from his teaching position at Robert Russa Moton High School in Farmville, Virginia under questionable circumstances, Dr. Odom and others in the community rallied support for his cause. Accused of provoking unrest among his black students, Robinson's firing precipitated a second student strike at the school, including a sit-in in the school's auditorium, a march through downtown Farmville, and an occupation of the principal's office.

Scope and content

Included in this collection, which dates from 1967 to 1969, is correspondence, documents, newspaper and magazine clippings, and photographs. The vast majority of these materials relate to the firing of Robert Russa Moton High School teacher T. Burwell Robinson but also include information regarding the Odom's involvement in the Community Action Group Preschool Program and the Prince Edward School Advisory Committee.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Prince Edward County (Va.) -- History -- 1953-1961.
  • Prince Edward County (Va.) -- History -- 1962-1969.
  • Public schools -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County.
  • Robinson Jr., T. Burwell.
  • School integration -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County.
  • Segregation in Education -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County.

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Odom, Carol.
  • Odom, William.
  • Robinson Jr., T. Burwell.
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Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Prince Edward County (Va.) -- History -- 1953-1961.
  • Prince Edward County (Va.) -- History -- 1962-1969.
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Container List

Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Hampden-Sydney Tiger, editorial by T. Burwell Robinson
1967-02-10
Correspondence
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    William Odom Correspondence
    1968
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Dr. William L. Odom to Dr. Doswell
      1968-02-21
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      W. Lester Banks to Dr. William L. Odom
      1968-09-04
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      W. Lester Banks to W.T. Reveley (Dr. Odom cc'd)
      1968-09-04
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    Letters between T. Burwell Robinson and Superintendent Bryant H. Harper
    1969-04-15-1969-05-24
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    T. Burwell Robinson to Boyd Bosma, National Education Association, Coordinator for Civil Liberties
    1969-05-06
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    Carol Odom from C.G. Gordon Moss
    1969-05-19
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    William Odom Correspondence
    1969
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Rev. L. Francis Griffin to Ray A. Moore (Dr. Odom cc'd)
      1969-01-31
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      William L. Odom to Prince Edward School Advisory Committee
      1969-03-07
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Rev. L. Francis Griffin to William L. Odom
      1969-03-09
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Rev. L. Francis Griffin to William L. Odom
      1969-03-25
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      William L. Odom to School Patrons, Hampden District, Mercy Seat Church
      1969-03-27
    • Documents
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    Letters to the Editor of the Hampden-Sydney Tiger
    1969-04-231969-05-07
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    Prince Edward County School Advisory Committee, newsletter
    1968-10-12
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    Petitions to School Board
    1968
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    Response to Prince Edward County School Board, "Toward a Balanced Viewpoint" statement, undated
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    Re: Community Action Group Preschool Program, undated
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    Re: School Board and Electoral Board letter writing campaign, undated
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Newspaper and Magazine Clippings
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    Newspaper Clippings
    1968
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Article, Look Magazine, "The Lost Years… ,"
      1966-11-29
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Washington Post, POTOMAC, "Back Where They Started."
      1968-03-24
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Farmville Herald, "School Board Starts Actions on Alternate School Building Plan."
      1968-07-17
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Richmond News Leader, "NAACP Seeks to Register 100,000 Negro Voters."
      1968-09-03
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Farmville Herald, "School Patrons Select Education Advisory Group."
      1968-09-27
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Farmville Herald, "Presidential Candidates."
      1968-10-18
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    Newspaper Clippings
    1969
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Richmond Times Dispatch, "Tuition-Aid Case Heard By U.S. Court."
      1969-01-24
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Farmville Herald, "Tuition Grant Case Under Review By Three Judge Court."
      1969-01-24
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      unknown, "At Hearing – Poverty Agency Endorsed."
      1969-01-31
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      unknown, "Segregation Assailed – Mississippi Grants to Schools Barred,"
      1969-01-31
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Richmond Times Dispatch, "Darden Urges Virginia Plan for Funding Private Schools."
      1969-02-22
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      unknown, "Virginia's Public Schools."
      1969-02-26
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Farmville Herald, "Freedom and Quality."
      1969-02-28
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Farmville Herald, "Another Union Election."
      1969-03-14
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      The Afro-American, "10 Years Later – No Catching Up…"
      1969-03-22
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Richmond Times Dispatch, "Board Fires Teacher at Moton."
      1969-04-23
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      The Tiger (Hampden-Sydney), "Profs Support Robinson" and "Dr. Moss Comments."
      1969-04-25
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      The Virginian-Pilot, "Light in the Dark – Farmville's Two Colleges."
      1969-04-28
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      The Farmville Herald, "State to Name New Head."
      1969-05-02
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      The Farmville Herald, "Reply to School Board Statement."
      1969-05-14
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      The Virginian-Pilot, "Rehire Mr. Robinson – A Fresh Start in Farmville."
      1969-05-15
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      The Virginian-Pilot, "Heart - - and Horse Sense."
      1969-05-22
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Roanoke Times, "Dismissed Teach Called Scapegoat of Racial Problems in Prince Edward."
      1969-05-22
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    Farmville Herald, "States Rights Group Organize 4th District for Thurmond-Wright." (reprint)
    1998-10-07
  • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
    Newspaper Clippings, Undated
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      unknown, "The Great Society." undated
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      unknown, "Classes for 5-Year Olds – Community Action Group Seeks Preschool Program Volunteers." undated
    • Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
      Richmond Times-Dispatch, "Prince Edward Declines to Reappoint School Chief." undated
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Photographs
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.001
    Unidentified African-American school children doing Biology project
    1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x3.5"
    1967
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.002
    Unidentified African-American school children and teachers at dinner table.
    1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x3.5"
    1967
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.003
    Mrs. Graves Thompson, music teacher.
    1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x3.5"
    1967
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.004
    Unidentified African-American school child painting.
    1 Photographic Prints Color print 3.5"x3.5"
    1967
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.005
    Unidentified African-American school child painting.
    1 Photographic Prints Color print 3.5"x3.5"
    1967
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.006
    School children seated around table.
    1 Photographic Prints Color print 3.5"x3.5"
    1967
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.007
    School children seated on floor with teachers.
    1 Photographic Prints Color print 3.5"x3.5"
    1967
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.008
    Group of school children, undated
    1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 7"x5"
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.009
    Group of school children, undated
    1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 7"x5"
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.010
    Teacher and school children crouching on floor, undated
    1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 4.75"x7"
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.011
    Teachers and school children playing game, undated
    1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x7"
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.012
    Teachers and school children playing dancing, undated
    1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x7"
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.013
    School children painting, undated
    1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x7"
  • Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.014
    School children playing dress-up, undated
    1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x7"
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