John Foster Potts, Sr. (1908-1998) Papers (1885-2005, bulk 1935-1991)

 

Avery Research Center Manuscript Number 1036

 

Biographical Note:

 

John Foster Potts, Sr., African American educator and author, was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas on April 18, 1908 to Leila Snead and John Moultrie Potts.  In 1916, the family relocated to their ancestral home in East Flat Rock, North Carolina.  Potts attended Lincoln Academy, Kings Mountain, NC, and Benedict College’s high school division, Columbia, SC.  He received a college degree from Benedict in 1930.  Potts began substitute teaching, eventually becoming assistant principal at Columbia’s Booker T. Washington High School.  In 1936, he moved to Gary, Indiana to teach at Roosevelt High School.  He received his Master’s degree from Cornell University in 1937. In 1939, Potts became Principal at Waverley Elementary School in Columbia, SC.  From 1942-45, he served in the United States Naval Reserve as Chief Petty Officer, Recruiting Specialist. After an earlier marriage and divorce, he married Muriel Logan in 1943, and raised five children; Leila, John Jr., Paula, Camille, and the adopted Alma Young.  In 1945, the American Missionary Association named Potts Director of the Avery Institute, Charleston, SC, where he served until the school closed in 1954. In the same year, Potts became President of Voorhees School and Junior College, Denmark, SC.  Under his administration, Voorhees became an accredited four-year liberal arts school in 1968.  Potts retired from Voorhees two years later.  From 1970-1973, he became Executive Director and Secretary of the Triangle Association of Colleges of South Carolina and Georgia, Columbia, SC and Director of the Moton College Service Bureau, Washington, D.C. He returned to Voorhees for a year, and then from 1974 to 1985 worked as an independent educational evaluator and consultant to several historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and authored two books, The History of South Carolina State College, and A History of the Palmetto Education Association. He returned to Voorhees as President Emeritus in 1983. In his third retirement (1985-86), Potts served as Director of Church Relations at Voorhees.  Potts served as president and/or vice president for several educational organizations including the Palmetto Education Association (PEA) (1946-1950); Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (1952); and was a board member for numerous national organizations. Potts was awarded three Honorary Doctorates, Morris College, Sumter, SC (1956); Benedict College, Columbia, SC (1959); and Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, VA (1969).  He was a former Grand Basileus of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (1953).  Potts died in 1998.

 

Scope and Content:  4.5 linear ft. (1885-2005, bulk 1935-1991)

 

The papers are divided into numerous series. Biographical papers include an unpublished autobiography and material re Potts’s service as a US navy recruiter.  Family papers include Potts’s narrative history of the family, with some correspondence, clippings, ephemera and related matter. Materials re Potts’s wife Muriel’s family and their children include data on the Logan family, including notes re dismissing Dr. William Miller Logan from military service (c. 1917) for being African American; sheet music autographed by Langston Hughes and school and other papers re her teaching career, along with report cards, programs, etc. of the children; and some personal correspondence that includes thank you notes from Elizabeth Avery Waring. Potts family property papers detail ownership and use of land in East Flat Rock, NC, putting it into the US Soil Bank program and a tree conservation program. Also included is Potts’s history of early black families in East Flat Rock, and his history of The Society of Necessity,  a mutual aid society for African Americans, and The Kingdom of Happy Land, a community established by emancipated slaves from Mississippi, as well as papers re his service as a historian at the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. Charleston, SC real estate papers document Potts’s ownership and sale of two properties, one being 54 Montagu St., sold to Palmer College. Writings of Potts include speeches and articles on various educational, civil rights, religious and other topics, with many commencement speeches. Longer works include a draft of his master’s thesis  (1937) re growth of African American population in Gary, IN,  and drafts of his history of the Palmetto Education Association,  along with notes on that organization and date re the Palmetto State Teacher Association, as well. School materials document Potts’s education and teaching in secondary schools in Gary, IN, Columbia, SC and Charleston, SC. There is material, as well, re his directorship of Avery Institute, and his presidency of Voorhees School and Junior College (later Voorhees College), with some information on student unrest there (ca. 1969), employment of his wife Muriel, and loan of Edwin Augustus Harleston paintings. Other papers document his affiliation with the Triangle Association of Colleges of South Carolina and Georgia, the Moton College Service Bureau, and the Technical Assistance Consortium to Improve College Services (TACTICS), and other agencies for whom Potts consulted.  Civic and social organization papers include materials re Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, the Wolverine Social Club of Flat Rock, NC and some card clubs. Miscellaneous materials include plaques, awards, some photographs, newspapers, and printed matter.

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potts-Suggested Subject Headings

 

Avery Institute, Charleston, SC

African Americans-education (Higher)—South Carolina

African American  -- universities and colleges---South Carolina—Demark--History

African American-teachers                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

African Americans-administrators

African American – Principals

SC-Education-high schools

SC-Education-colleges

SC-Education-segregated schools

SC-Education-private schools

College administrators—South Carolina

Education—South Carolina---History

 

African Americans – Indiana – Gary

African Americans – North Carolina – Flat Rock

African Americans – Soldiers – US Navy – Recruiters

African Americans – Soldiers – discrimination – WW I

African Americans – Mutual Aid Societies -- NC

African American – Fraternal Organizations

 

American Missionary Association

Voorhees School and Junior College--Denmark, SC

Voorhees College—Denmark, SC -- History

Waverly Elementary School--Columbia, SC

Palmer College—Charleston, SC

 

Hughes, Langston 1902-1967

Palmer, Charles E. 1920-1995

Potts, John 1908-1998

Potts, Muriel Rose Logan 1920-

Sandburg, Carl 1878-1967

Waring, Elizabeth Avery 1895-1968

Harleston, Edwin Augustus, 1882 – 1931

Logan family

.

East Flat Rock, North Carolina – History

Flat Rock, North Carolina – History

The Society of Necessity--Flat Rock, NC

The Kingdom of Happy Land, Flat Rock,  NC

Palmetto Education Association—SC—history

Palmetto State Teacher Association

Technical Assistance Consortium to Improve College Services (TACTICS)

Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools

Soil bank program—United States

Triangle Association of Colleges of South Carolina and Georgia

Moton College Service Bureau

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity

 

Speeches

Land records

Thesis

 

 

 

John Foster Potts, Sr.

 

 

Avery Manuscript Number 1036

 

 

Inventory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Box #/

I

Biographical Papers

Folder#

 

 

 

1

Certified copy  (1945) of Potts's honorable discharge from US Naval Service as

1-1

 

as Chief Specialist Recruiter with clipping (1942) re Potts and other SC blacks joining

 

 the Navy

 

 

 

 

2

Bound autobiographical sketch (1990) Remembering and Reflecting: Memoirs of

1-2

 

John F. Potts, Sr.; and  photocopied vita (c. 1974)

 

 

 

 

II

Family History Papers

 

 

 

 

1

Handwritten draft (1990) by Potts, "A History of the Potts Family of Flat Rock, NC; "

1-3

 

typed draft (1990) of "The History of the Family of George and Lavinia Potts;" with

 

questionnaires completed by family members

 

 

 

 

2

Bound typescript (1990) by Potts, "A History of the George and Lavinia Potts Family

1-4

 

of Flat Rock, North Carolina," re his grandparents and their descendents

 

 

 

 

3

Memorandums, letters, questionnaires, mailing lists and handwritten notes (1979,

1-5

 

1990) re  "Back to the Roots Reunion" in East Flat Rock, NC. With  Potts's

 

handwritten remarks at reunion

 

 

 

 

4

Items re Potts's aunt, Martha R. Potts a/k/a Mattie Love, including teacher's second

1-6

 

grade certificates (1902, 1906, 1911) from Henderson County, NC; wedding

 

invitation (1912); and folding wooden fan with hand drawn designs (nd)

 

 

 

 

5

Laminated obituary (1964) of Potts's brother  Edwin Potts, [misidentified as

1-7

 

"Edward"]; photocopied newspaper clipping (2005) re Potts's uncle Fred Henderson

 

Potts

 

 

 

 

6

Summons and divorce decree (1940-42) of Potts from his first wife, Alma Forrest

1-8

 

 

 

7

Correspondence and certificate (1971) re Potts Coat of Arms with historiography;

1-9

 

and autographed Interview Magazine article (1991) featuring Potts's granddaughter

 

Sylver Logan-Sharp, singer and former member of music group Chic

 

 

 

 

III

Papers re Muriel Logan Potts's family and children

 

 

 

 

1

Photocopied Notice to Appear for Physical Examination (1917) for MLP's grand-

1-10

 

father, Dr. William Miller Logan; with later note re his dismissal from service for being

 

African American; obituary (1945) of Thomas Logan, MLP's great grandfather

 

 

 

2

Handwritten letters (1943, 45)  from Potts to wife, Muriel (1943, 45) proposing

1-11

 

marriage, planning wedding, and mentioning activities traveling throughout SC as a

 

Naval Recruiter

 

 

 

 

3

Letters and cards (1945-1975) to MLP from relatives and friends

1-12

 

 

 

4

Choral and sheet music (1921, 1930, 1943-45) used by Muriel Potts; includes

1-13

 

Hall Johnson sheet music autographed by Langston Hughes

 

 

 

 

5

Intermediate teacher's certificate (1952) for Muriel Potts in English, Public School

1-14

 

Music and Teacher Librarian, Charleston, SC; and grade reports (1951 - 52) from

 

State Agricultural & Mechanical College [SC]

 

 

 

 

6

Simonton Public School, Charleston, SC letter (1954) re MLP's daughter Leila;

1-15

 

Voorhees School and Junior College commencement invitation (1963); and letters

 

(1965- 67) written by Leila to her parents

 

 

 

 

7

Report cards (1952 - 53) for John Foster Potts, Jr. from Simonton School  and Kent

1-16

 

School, CT (1960)

 

 

 

 

8

Programs and photocopied clipping (1965) re MLP's daughter Paula's performance in

1-17

 

Virginia State College Choir, and University of SC commencement program (1975)

 

 

 

9

Report cards (1967-68) of MLP's daughter Camille from Denmark [SC] schools;

1-18

 

Demark-Olar High School commencement program (1968) and correspondence

 

(1970) re student loans

 

 

 

 

10

Black and white photographs (c.1970) of MLP;  her grandmother, Lavinia Potts

1-19

 

(c. 1900); and group photo of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority banquet (c. 1940) with

 

with MLP, Cynthia McCottry (later McCottry Smith) and Emily DeCosta

 

 

 

 

IV

Personal Correspondence

 

 

 

 

1

Handwritten letters (1945- 49, 1958) to Muriel and John Potts from relatives and

2-1

 

friends, including thank you letters (1949) from Elizabeth Avery Waring.

 

 

 

 

2

Carbons of letters (1958) from Potts to relatives; and handwritten letters (1963- 67)

2-2

 

from relatives and friends

 

 

 

 

3

Typed and handwritten letters (1970-74,1988) to the Potts from friends and relatives

2-3

 

 

 

V

East Flat Rock, North Carolina property papers

 

 

 

 

1

Handwritten agreement (1926-27) re James P.E. Love purchasing six and one quarter

2-4

 

acres from Jacob Goodwin

 

 

 

 

2

Carbons of typed letters (1954) by Potts to his brother Edwin and Aunt Martha Love

2-5

 

re obtaining lumber estimates and materials needed for renovation of property

 

 

 

3

Handwritten and carbon typed correspondence (1955) by Potts to brother Edwin,

2-6

 

uncle Fred and cousin Hortense Potts re obtaining lumber and renovation estimates;

 

aunt Martha Love re relocating from New Jersey; and negotiations with contractors 

 

re the acquisition and handling of lumber and building materials

 

 

 

 

4

Handwritten and typed carbons of correspondence and invoices (1956-57) with

2-7

 

Hendersonville County Agent and US Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation

 

Service re placing land into the Soil Bank Program and pond and dam construction on

 

property; and correspondence re landscaping and family visiting.

 

 

 

 

5

Handwritten and typed carbons of correspondence, contract and invoices (1958-59)

2-8

 

re planting pine trees and shrubbery; timber sale contract; US Department Agriculture

 

Conservation Reserve Program.

 

 

 

 

6

Typed carbons of letters (1960) from Potts re family and property; 1964 invoices.

2-9

 

 

 

7

Correspondence, contract and map (1969) from Henderson County and US Dept. of

2-10

 

Agriculture Soil Conservation Service re recommendations for woodland; tree marking

 

service agreement; soil map; and request for bids re timber and pulp

 

 

 

 

8

Deed, handwritten and typed carbons of correspondence and invoices (1970 - 71)

2-11

 

with attorney and Soil Conservation Service re property, boundary change; revised

 

Soil and Water Conservation plan; timber sales; power of attorney of cousin Lavinia

 

Potts Lassiter to Potts re selling trees; record of saw timber and pulp wood

 

 

 

 

9

Handwritten and carbons of correspondence, contracts and invoices (1972- 74) to

2-12

 

cousin J. Kenneth Lassiter re timber sales; NC State Forest Service surveying and

 

site clearance; and certificate re Potts's tree farm

 

 

 

 

10

Letters and copy of blueprint (1992) from NC Department of Environment, Health and

2-13

 

and Natural Resources approving funding of Potts's forest management plan

 

 

 

 

11

Letters, contract, handwritten notes, and newspaper clipping (1993) re proposed

2-14

 

lease agreement with Sunrise Trust using Potts' Flat Rock property

 

 

 

 

12

Miscellaneous items including letter with budget (1991) from St. John in the Wilderness

2-15

 

Church; letter (1969) with excerpts from SC textile statistics; and photocopied

 

newspaper clippings (1942) re war insurance for timber

 

 

 

 

VI

Flat Rock, North Carolina historical materials

 

 

 

 

13

Drafts with final typescript (1990) by Potts of "A History of the Early Black Families

2-16

 

Flat Rock," giving history of Mud Creek Baptist Church, Society of Necessity, a 

 

Black social aid group, and The Kingdom of Happy Land, a community near the

 

NC-SC border established by emancipated slaves from Mississippi circa 1867

 

 

descendents of Flat Rock; essay by Ernest Mims re Kingdom of Happy Land; with

 

photocopied newspaper clipping re Flat Rock

 

 

 

 

14

Drafts of manuscript (c. 1975) by Potts on the Society of Necessity of Flat Rock, 

2-17

 

1885-1975; with announcement (1936) of annual Society benefit

 

 

 

 

15

By-laws and Articles of Incorporation (1981) of the Black History Research

2-18

 

Committee of Henderson County, Inc., in which Potts served as Board of Director

 

 

 

16

Letter (1971) from US Department of the Interior National Park Service re Potts' s

2-19

 

position as a Seasonal Ranger (Historian) at the Carl Sandburg Home National

 

Historic Site; photocopied transcript (1954) of television show, "See It Now,"  with

 

Edward R. Murrow interviewing Sandburg; and photocopied newspaper clippings

 

re Sandburg in Flat Rock

 

 

 

 

17

Photocopy of The Times-News re the history (1839-1976) of Hendersonville, NC

3-1

 

 

 

VII

Charleston, SC Real Estate Papers

 

 

 

 

1

Letter (1950) from The American Missionary Society re Potts acquiring Avery

3-2

 

Institute's property of 54 Montagu Street; and statements for commission checks

 

and correspondence (1955-56)  re Potts's rental of property, then selling to Palmer

 

College

 

 

 

 

2

Contract of sale and correspondence (1957) re 54 Montagu loan, mortgage, etc. 

3-3

 

 

 

3

Letters (1958-1960) from Charles E. Palmer re interest payments to Potts; and

3-4

 

renewal insurance policy

 

 

 

 

4

Original and photocopied mortgage and title documents (1985) re the sale of 1345

3-5

 

Kiki Way

 

 

 

 

5

Photocopied loan documents (1986) re Potts's refinance of Kiki Way

3-6

 

 

 

6

Original and photocopied mortgage and title documents (1987-88) re the sale of Kiki

3-7

 

Way

 

 

 

 

VIII  Writings on School and Education

Writings by John Foster Potts, Sr. re Schools and Educational issues

 

 

 

 

1

Handwritten speech (1936) re Booker T. Washington High School, Columbia, SC

3-8

 

class reunion

 

 

 

 

2

Typed abbreviated version of Potts's Cornell University Graduate School Masters

3-9

 

thesis (1937), A History of the Growth of the Negro Population of Gary, Indiana;

 

and handwritten paper (c. 1935) re progressive schools

 

 

 

 

3

Dec. 1941 issue of The Nation's Schools with Potts's essay, "Home Influence

3-10

 

on School Work;" with photocopied  The Palmetto Leader clipping  re the essay;

 

and typewritten speech (1941) re Red Cross emphasizing efforts of Richland County

 

SC Chapter and requesting participation from Black citizens

 

 

 

 

4

August 1942 issue of The School Executive with Potts's book review of

3-11

 

Color, Class and Personality re "Negro youth's personality;" includes typewritten

 

draft of review and letters (1941) from America School Publishing re Potts's article

 

"Consumer Cooperation in the Elementary School"

 

 

 

 

5

Potts's commencement speeches (1963) to Emmett Scott School, Rock Hill, SC;

3-12

 

Barber-Scotia College, Concord, NC (1972); along with Christian theme speeches

 

(c. 1970s) given at SC schools such as Mary McLeod Bethune, Foster's Grove

 

(Spartanburg), Benjamin F. Mays School, Florence Chapel High School (Duncan)

 

and Lincoln High School (McClellanville)

 

 

 

 

6

General education speeches (1956-1967) including topics of Supreme Court's Brown

3-13

 

v. Board of Education decision; student revolt, ethnic polarization, the Black Power

 

movement, lowering of moral standards and additional teacher responsibilities

 

 

 

7

Carbons of civil rights themed speeches (1964-69), with topics including SC Council

3-14

 

on Human Relations; and President Johnson's Great Society

 

 

 

 

8

Typed religious speeches (c.1965-1975) with handwritten notes on the New

3-15

 

Testament and the freedom of religion

 

 

 

 

9

Handwritten notes (c. 1977) with chapter outline and contacts for Potts's book, The

3-16

 

History of South Carolina State College

 

 

 

 

10

Typed and photocopied constitution (c 1928) of Palmetto State Teachers Association

3-17

 

(PEA); and conference programs (1948-49)

 

 

 

 

11

Photocopy of 1948 "PEA Education News;" featuring Potts as President, (p. 14)

3-18

 

[Original oversize is located in Plat Drawer # 4]

 

 

 

 

12

Handwritten draft of Potts's A History of the Palmetto Education Association,

3-19

 

scattered and in chapter order

 

 

 

 

13

Miscellaneous notes for Palmetto Education Association book

4-1

 

 

 

14

Original and photocopied typewritten manuscripts for PEA book from Chapters I-VIII

4-2

 

 

 

15

Original and carbons of correspondence (1975-76) obtaining information for book;

4-3

 

black and white photograph (c.1978) of Potts holding PEA book

 

 

 

 

IX

Misc. materials re Potts's education and teaching career

 

 

 

 

1

Letters and transcripts (1934-1940) from Cornell University, NY re Potts time as a

4-4

 

graduate student; and letter (1941) from Harvard Graduate School

 

 

 

 

2

Teacher's contract and salary schedule (1937-38) for Potts's position as a Social

4-5

 

Science teacher at Roosevelt High School, Gary, IN; with other Gary documents

 

 

 

3

Original and photocopied documents (1939-1941) re Waverley Elementary School,

4-6

 

Columbia, SC.  Includes Potts' contract (1939) as principal; black and white photo

 

(nd) school paper The Magnet (1941); and photocopied clippings (1939-1942)

 

re Potts' speeches to Columbia's African American community organizations, and

 

essay published in The Nation's Schools 

 

 

 

 

4

Bound (1939) Allen University Bulletin (Columbia, SC) featuring Potts as Director

4-7

 

of Training; speech (c. 1953) by Rev. John Alvin Bacoats,  President, Benedict

 

College with references to Potts, an alumnus of Benedict

 

 

 

 

5

Certificates and contract (1946-1952) re Potts's certification as social studies

4-8

 

teacher in Columbia, SC and principal in Charleston County School District #20

 

 

 

6

Letters (1949) from J. Strom Thurmond, Governor, re Charleston SC House of

4-9

 

Representative Lionel K. Legge's endorsement of Potts for the Presidency of

 

the State A. & M. College, Orangeburg; and Legge's letter to Potts; letter (1952)

 

forwarded to Potts requesting funding for Memphis Cotton Maker's parade

 

 

 

 

7

Outline (1956) of Potts acceptance speech's for honorary doctorate, Pedagogy,

4-10

 

Morris College, Sumter, SC; similar honorary degree (1959) from Benedict College;

 

essay (c.1950s) by the Benedict President; program and speech with photocopied

 

clippings (1969) re Potts's Doctor of Humane Letters, honorary degree from Virginia

 

Theological Seminary, Alexandria

 

 

 

 

X

Affiliations: Schools: Avery Institute

 

 

 

 

1

Carbon and photocopied letters (1946-47, 1954) from Potts to editors of Charleston

4-11

 

newspapers re Avery programs and events

 

 

 

 

2

Carbon and photocopied letters, proposals and financial reports (1946-47) from Potts

4-12

 

and Reginald C. Barrett, Chairman of Avery's Administrative Council re maintenance

 

fund and proposals to the Charleston County Delegation

 

 

 

 

3

Proposals (1945-47) by Potts re Avery's educational philosophy and plans; proposal

4-13

 

for junior college, professional improvement bulletins, student council and training

 

school

 

 

 

 

4

Letter and memoranda (1945-1949) from American Missionary Association official

4-14

 

Ruth Morton re Potts's future employment at Avery; and Fred Brownlee's memo

 

re principal's house on Montagu Street. 

 

 

 

 

5

Handwritten and typewritten rosters (1878-1946) of Avery students, administrators

4-15

 

alumni, and mailing lists; program card (1954) of appreciation service for Potts on

 

his departure from Avery

 

 

 

 

6

Miscellaneous Avery school papers including Potts's copy of a poem by John

4-16

 

Greenleaf Whittier, and autographed booklet (1950) Freedom's Rock, by Fred

 

Brownlee re his work with the American Missionary Association

 

 

 

 

XI

Affiliations: Schools: Voorhees School and Junior College and Voorhees

 

College

 

 

 

 

1

Financial audit report (1954) re Voorhees School and Junior College; and Potts's

5-1

 

reports (1967-1970, 1985) to Voorhees Board of Trustees re status of the college

 

and strategic planning

 

 

 

 

2

Typed speeches to South Carolina Area Trade School (SCAT), program and speech

5-2

 

(1962) given at 1962 Honors' Day ceremony; speech re SCAT's 15th anniversary;

 

commencement speech (c. 1968)

 

 

 

 

3

Transcript (c.1968-69) of meeting with Voorhees officials, in Potts's absence, re

5-3

 

student grievances; trustee minutes (1969) re student unrest

 

 

 

 

4

Drafts of speeches (1962-1984) by Potts given to Voorhees with topics including

5-4

 

programs to raise student academic levels; Voorhees' transition from a junior college;

 

administration role in facilitating change; 1969 address to campus unrest; along with

 

general commencement speeches

 

 

 

 

5

Clippings re Potts's appointments (1954, 56); Voorhees accreditation and expansion

5-5

 

 (1968) and Leonard Dawson presidency (c.1985)

 

 

 

 

6

Muriel and John Potts's contracts (1970-71) for faculty employment

5-6

 

 

 

7

Materials (1973,  1986) re dedication of Elizabeth Evelyn Wright and John Foster

5-7

 

Potts Sr. College Library; with tribute to Potts

 

 

 

 

8

Legal papers (1971) re loan of Edwin A. Harleston paintings to Voorhees

5-8

 

 

 

9

Letters and program (1955, 1969-1970) from Voorhees staff and students to Potts

5-9

 

urging him to take a leave of absence, instead of retiring; documents re pension plan

 

 

 

10

Programs and invitations (1956-1970, 1986) re Voorhees events.  Includes

5-10

 

autographed program (1956) from Carmen Jones highlight by Muriel Rahn. Also

 

includes football homecoming program (1963); President Leonard Dawson

 

 

inauguration program (1987); speech by Potts

 

 

 

 

11

Black and white photographs, mostly identified, from disassembled scrapbook

5-11

 

(1954-1970) presented to Potts by Voorhees Pre-Alumni Council as a tribute

 

 

 

12

Photocopied photographs from above scrapbook

5-12

 

 

 

13

Typescripts, cards, telegram and programs in tribute to Potts tribute from scrapbook 

5-13

 

 

 

14

Letters (1992) from Leonard Dawson re fundraising and alumni fund report; with 

5-14

 

miscellaneous mailing lists

 

 

 

 

XII

Affiliations Triangle Association of Colleges of SC and Georgia, Inc. (TAC)

 

 

 

1

Letters (1970) inquiring about college consortiums; TAC promotional brochure.

6-1

 

 

 

2

Scattered photocopied reports including program status (1970) by Potts as Executive

6-2

 

Director, re TAC's progress supporting Allen University, Benedict, Claflin, Morris,

 

Paine and Voorhees Colleges; with various other TAC reports (1971-72) on varied

 

topics

 

 

 

 

3

Letter (1971) re Potts's resignation; with later reports (1972- 73) re his visits to the

6-3

 

TAC office, with daughter Paula as acting director

 

 

 

 

4

Reports (1970-72) by Potts to The Ford Foundation re progress on grant funding; and

6-4

 

proposals requesting continued financial support for a central office (1971-72)

 

 

 

5

Correspondence (1973) of Paula Potts and agencies re grant projects and funding

6-5

 

 

 

XIII

Affiliations: Moton College Service Bureau and Technical Assistance

 

Consortium to Improve College Services (TACTICS)

 

 

 

 

1

Correspondence and memorandums (1973-74, 1978) re evaluation proposals; with

6-6

 

clipping (1973) re Potts stance on the lack of funding for HBUs

 

 

 

 

2

Published annual reports (1971-1973) of Morton College Service and TACTICS

6-7

 

 

 

3

Published reports (1971-72) by Moton College Service Bureau re Survey of Federal

6-8

 

Support for HBUs and Support Service Handbook edited by Potts; TACTICS

 

 

handbook (1976) re workshops for weekend college and computer assisted instruction

 

 

 

 

4

Reports, minutes and directories (1971-73, 78, 1992) re long term planning, grant

6-9

 

proposals guides and classification of HBUs

 

 

 

 

XIV

Affiliations: Miscellaneous Educational Programs and Services

 

 

 

 

1

Photocopies (1982) re Potts's consultant service with the Institutional Research Branch

6-10

 

 

 

2

Contracts and evaluation report (1983-88) from Potts's Title III consulting service

6-11

 

with Grambling State University, LA

 

 

 

 

3

Program and clippings (1952) re the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools

6-12

 

annual convention, in which Potts was President

 

 

 

 

4

Report, minutes and newsletter (1968, 1972) from South Carolina Commission on

6-13

 

Higher Education

 

 

 

 

5

Miscellaneous writings and papers re Normal Institute for Colored Teachers (1885);

7-1

 

and Bennett College (1969); and card (c. 1930s) "Oath of Afro-American Youth"

 

 

 

 

XV

Affiliations: Civic and Social Organizations

 

 

 

 

1

Certificates, programs, sheet music ,etc. (1938-1965) re Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

7-2

 

Includes journal (1941) The Oracle with Potts's essay "Negro Builders of American

 

Democracy"

 

 

 

 

2

Drafts of speeches (1954, 1959, 1965, ca. 1968) given to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity

7-3

 

 

 

3

Typescripts and Constitution and By-Laws booklets (1961-1970) re the Sigma Pi Phi

7-4

 

Fraternity Grand Boule

 

 

 

 

4

Black and white photographs (c. 1970s) mostly unidentified from a Sigma Pi Phi

7-5

 

Fraternity Grand Boule event

 

 

 

 

5

Letter (1965) from SC Governor Robert E. McNair re Potts's involvement with

7-6

 

Advisory Group on Mental Health Planning; and miscellaneous certificates (1941)

 

 

 

6

Drafts of By-laws and minutes (1988) of the Entre Nous Club, Flat Rock, NC, chaired

7-7

 

by Potts; and American Bridge Association handbook

 

 

 

 

7

Constitution and By-Laws and minutes (1977-1983) of Wolverine Social Club,

7-8

 

Ashville/Flat Rock, NC

 

 

 

 

8

Correspondence and certificate (1985) re Potts and NC Governor James G. Martin

7-9

 

re Potts's service at Vagabond School of Drama and Vagabond-Flat Rock Playhouse

 

(1993)

 

 

 

 

XVI

Awards

 

 

 

 

1

Copy of Proclamation by Governor Richard W. Riley re Dr. John Foster Potts week

7-10

 

in South Carolina, May 12-19, 1986

 

 

 

 

2

Achievement Award (1960) from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

7-11

 

 

 

3

Awards (1980) from Benedict College, Class of 1930 reunion; appreciation award

7-12

 

from Avery Institute's Class of 1932; and SC Black Hall of Fame 1992 Honoree

 

 

 

4

Elizabeth Evelyn Wright Centennial: Living Legacy Award from Voorhees (1997)

7-13

 

 

 

 

Oversize Materials

Plat

 

 

Drawer #

1

Original newspapers Palmetto State Teacher's Education News (1948)

4

 

and "Voorhees College Takes Another Giant Step Upward"  page one from The

 

State/The Columbia Record (1968)