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Duke's "Personality Record" in 1968 admission file
The admissions process has changed significantly in the last 100 years, but it has always been rigorous. In this 1968 file, the principal of an applicant's school would be asked to collect “personality” information on a student to be included in their application. Today, Duke's admissions application is much more standardized across peer institutions through a virtual format. -
Design for a Duchess handbook
The Social Standards Committee at the Duke Woman's College created and distributed an annual handbook with tips for incoming Duke “co-eds” (female students) from 1930 to 1972, which includes guidelines for dress and information about social events. Although social life was important to the Woman's College students, they were also known for their excellent academic performance and leadership in extracurricular activities. -
Silent vigil poster
In response to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and later in support of increased wages for striking food service and housekeeping workers, Duke students staged the Silent Vigil in April 1968. The students first peacefully occupied the house of President Douglas Knight, then moved to the main quad. The weeklong Vigil, which included speeches, singing, and periods of silence, led to an increase in the minimum wage for the largely Black dining and housekeeping staff. -
Silent Vigil Photograph
In response to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and later in support of increased wages for striking food service and housekeeping workers, Duke students staged the Silent Vigil in April 1968. The students first peacefully occupied the house of President Douglas Knight, then moved to the main quad. The weeklong Vigil, which included speeches, singing, and periods of silence, led to an increase in the minimum wage for the largely Black dining and housekeeping staff. -
Edens Special Announcement
University President A. Hollis Edens (President from 1949 to 1960) sent this letter to Duke faculty the day before he announced his resignation. Paul M. Gross, Vice President of the Division of Education, drafted a proposal to increase the scope of his own role, allowing him to promote Duke’s national standing. The secrecy of the proposal’s creation created tension between Gross and President A. Hollis Edens. As a result, Edens resigned, and Gross resigned shortly thereafter. The Gross-Edens affair resulted in administrative restructuring to ensure a clear designation of responsibilities. One result was the creation of the Office of the Provost, chief academic officer. Duke’s decision to create the position followed peers, such as Brown University, Cornell University, Johns Hopkins, MIT, and Yale University. There have been 12 provosts in Duke’s history. Duke’s current provost is Alec Gallimore, who began on July 1, 2023. -
Celestial Omnibus Coffee House Flyer, 1967
Opened in 1967 as the “Celestial Omnibus Coffee House,” this student-run bar, dining space, and musical programming body was housed in the basement of the Flowers building. Following its closure and then revival in the 1970s, the Duke Coffeehouse (as it’s named today) was tucked away in the Crowell building on East Campus, where it continues to serve late-night coffee and host concerts. It is a well-loved space by those who find themselves drawn to the relaxed environment and music by independent artists. -
Inplant Food Management
While today Duke is known for its robust dining experience, the student dining experience has varied widely over the last 100 years. East Campus previously had three eateries, including “Downunder,” housed in the basement of then all-women Gilbert-Addoms dorm. These dining areas allowed students to gather in different spaces, facilitating social connections in a way very different from dining today. -
Duke Dining "free fruit" tickets
While today Duke is known for its robust dining experience, the student dining experience has varied widely over the last 100 years. East Campus previously had three eateries, including “Downunder,” housed in the basement of then all-women Gilbert-Addoms dorm. These dining areas allowed students to gather in different spaces, facilitating social connections in a way very different from dining today. -
Three of the First Black Undergraduates
Duke’s Board of Trustees desegregated the graduate and professional schools in 1961 and undergraduate education in 1962. Pictured here from left to right are Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke (W’67), Nathaniel White, Jr. (T’67), and Mary Mitchell Harris (W’67), who were the first Black undergraduates to earn degrees from Duke. Gene Kendall and Cassandra Rush Smith matriculated with them in September 1963. -
Photo of Samuel DuBois Cook
Dr. Samuel DuBois Cook came to Duke in 1966 as the university's first Black professor, later becoming the Director of Undergraduate Studies for Political Science. Dr. Cook would serve as a Duke Trustee and later became the president of Dillard University. The Samuel DuBois Cook Center for Social Equity at Duke carries on his legacy by supporting research and education on inequality. The Samuel DuBois Cook Society honors Dr. Cook’s impact at Duke by “working toward the progress of African Americans who are part of the Duke University community.” -
Local 77 Pin, 1968
Organized labor has had a place on Duke’s campus since the late 1960s, as staff and students campaigned for improved working conditions and wages. Among the unions that represent Duke staff are the American Federation of State, Council, and Municipal Employees Local 77 in the 1960s, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 465 in the 1970s, and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1328 organized in the 1990s. Other unions have been established relatively recently, such as one for Duke University Press staff, another for non-regular rank faculty, and one for graduate students. As of August 2023, graduate students overwhelmingly voted in favor of unionization, following students and workers from Duke’s past. -
Allen Building takeover, original photographs
These are the only known photographs from inside the Allen Building on February 13, 1969. Some of the Black student protestors are depicted inside the Central Records Office. The students brought playing cards and food with them into the Allen Building, which they rechristened the “Malcolm X Liberation School.” -
“The Black Demands; as of Thursday Morning, 9am, from Allen Building.”
Written by the students inside the Allen Building, the Black Demands address the numerous issues Black students had been “negotiating with Duke administration and faculty … for 2-2 ½ years” with no meaningful results, having “exhausted the so-called ‘proper’ channels.” Notable demands that have since been met include the establishment of an African American Studies department and admissions based on high school merit. An example of a demand not yet met is increasing the percentage of Black students at Duke to match the percentage of Black citizens in Durham.
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