LU_162William L. Odom CollectionLU.162Greenwood Library Archives and Special Collections

Janet D. Greenwood Library401 Redford StreetFarmville, VA 23909Business Number: 434-395-2433ask@longwood.libanswers.comURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-07 13:50:12 -0400.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard Greenwood Library Archives and Special Collections William L. Odom Collection Odom, William. Odom, Carol. Robinson Jr., T. Burwell. LU.162 .35 Linear Feet 1 legal-sized half-Hollinger box 1967-1969 English . 01 of 01 15 Restrictions on Access

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

 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.

 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.

 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.

 Public schools -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County. School integration -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County. Segregation in Education -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County. Prince Edward County (Va.) -- History -- 1953-1961. Prince Edward County (Va.) -- History -- 1962-1969. Robinson Jr., T. Burwell. Hampden-Sydney Tiger, editorial by T. Burwell Robinson1967-02-1001 of 01CorrespondenceWilliam Odom Correspondence196801 of 01Dr. William L. Odom to Dr. Doswell1968-02-2101 of 01W. Lester Banks to Dr. William L. Odom1968-09-0401 of 01W. Lester Banks to W.T. Reveley (Dr. Odom cc'd)1968-09-0401 of 01Letters between T. Burwell Robinson and Superintendent Bryant H. Harper1969-04-15-1969-05-2401 of 01T. Burwell Robinson to Boyd Bosma, National Education Association, Coordinator for Civil Liberties1969-05-0601 of 01Carol Odom from C.G. Gordon Moss1969-05-1901 of 01William Odom Correspondence196901 of 01Rev. L. Francis Griffin to Ray A. Moore (Dr. Odom cc'd)1969-01-3101 of 01William L. Odom to Prince Edward School Advisory Committee1969-03-0701 of 01Rev. L. Francis Griffin to William L. Odom1969-03-0901 of 01Rev. L. Francis Griffin to William L. Odom1969-03-2501 of 01William L. Odom to School Patrons, Hampden District, Mercy Seat Church1969-03-2701 of 01DocumentsLetters to the Editor of the Hampden-Sydney Tiger1969-04-231969-05-0701 of 01Prince Edward County School Advisory Committee, newsletter1968-10-1201 of 01Petitions to School Board196801 of 01Response to Prince Edward County School Board, "Toward a Balanced Viewpoint" statement, undated01 of 01Re: Community Action Group Preschool Program, undated01 of 01Re: School Board and Electoral Board letter writing campaign, undated01 of 01Newspaper and Magazine ClippingsNewspaper Clippings196801 of 01Article, Look Magazine, "The Lost Years… ,"1966-11-2901 of 01Washington Post, POTOMAC, "Back Where They Started."1968-03-2401 of 01Farmville Herald, "School Board Starts Actions on Alternate School Building Plan."1968-07-1701 of 01Richmond News Leader, "NAACP Seeks to Register 100,000 Negro Voters."1968-09-0301 of 01Farmville Herald, "School Patrons Select Education Advisory Group."1968-09-2701 of 01Farmville Herald, "Presidential Candidates."1968-10-1801 of 01Newspaper Clippings196901 of 01Richmond Times Dispatch, "Tuition-Aid Case Heard By U.S. Court."1969-01-2401 of 01Farmville Herald, "Tuition Grant Case Under Review By Three Judge Court."1969-01-2401 of 01unknown, "At Hearing – Poverty Agency Endorsed."1969-01-3101 of 01unknown, "Segregation Assailed – Mississippi Grants to Schools Barred,"1969-01-3101 of 01Richmond Times Dispatch, "Darden Urges Virginia Plan for Funding Private Schools."1969-02-2201 of 01unknown, "Virginia's Public Schools."1969-02-2601 of 01Farmville Herald, "Freedom and Quality."1969-02-2801 of 01Farmville Herald, "Another Union Election."1969-03-1401 of 01The Afro-American, "10 Years Later – No Catching Up…"1969-03-2201 of 01Richmond Times Dispatch, "Board Fires Teacher at Moton."1969-04-2301 of 01The Tiger (Hampden-Sydney), "Profs Support Robinson" and "Dr. Moss Comments."1969-04-2501 of 01The Virginian-Pilot, "Light in the Dark – Farmville's Two Colleges."1969-04-2801 of 01The Farmville Herald, "State to Name New Head."1969-05-0201 of 01The Farmville Herald, "Reply to School Board Statement."1969-05-1401 of 01The Virginian-Pilot, "Rehire Mr. Robinson – A Fresh Start in Farmville."1969-05-1501 of 01The Virginian-Pilot, "Heart - - and Horse Sense."1969-05-2201 of 01Roanoke Times, "Dismissed Teach Called Scapegoat of Racial Problems in Prince Edward."1969-05-2201 of 01Farmville Herald, "States Rights Group Organize 4th District for Thurmond-Wright." (reprint)1998-10-0701 of 01Newspaper Clippings, Undated01 of 01unknown, "The Great Society." undated01 of 01unknown, "Classes for 5-Year Olds – Community Action Group Seeks Preschool Program Volunteers." undated01 of 01Richmond Times-Dispatch, "Prince Edward Declines to Reappoint School Chief." undated01 of 01PhotographsUnidentified African-American school children doing Biology projectLU-162.0011 Photographic PrintsBlack and White print5"x3.5"196715Unidentified African-American school children and teachers at dinner table.LU-162.0021 Photographic PrintsBlack and White print5"x3.5"196715Mrs. Graves Thompson, music teacher.LU-162.0031 Photographic PrintsBlack and White print5"x3.5"196715Unidentified African-American school child painting.LU-162.0041 Photographic PrintsColor print3.5"x3.5"196715Unidentified African-American school child painting.LU-162.0051 Photographic PrintsColor print3.5"x3.5"196715School children seated around table.LU-162.0061 Photographic PrintsColor print3.5"x3.5"196715School children seated on floor with teachers.LU-162.0071 Photographic PrintsColor print3.5"x3.5"196715Group of school children, undatedLU-162.0081 Photographic PrintsBlack and White print7"x5"15Group of school children, undatedLU-162.0091 Photographic PrintsBlack and White print7"x5"15Teacher and school children crouching on floor, undatedLU-162.0101 Photographic PrintsBlack and White print4.75"x7"15Teachers and school children playing game, undatedLU-162.0111 Photographic PrintsBlack and White print5"x7"15Teachers and school children playing dancing, undatedLU-162.0121 Photographic PrintsBlack and White print5"x7"15School children painting, undatedLU-162.0131 Photographic PrintsBlack and White print5"x7"15School children playing dress-up, undatedLU-162.0141 Photographic PrintsBlack and White print5"x7"15