Summary
Abstract
Carol Merrill-Bright is an alumna of the Pennsylvania State University. She was a member of the historically Black Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and she graduated with a degree in English in 1970. Merrill-Bright's collection of materials brings together her own work for social justice and the work of other Black students on campus.
Dates
- Creation: 1967-1970
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet : This collection is housed in a half-sized Hollinger legal document box.
Background
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of six folders of materials created and collected by Carol Merrill-Bright during her time as a student at the Pennsylvania State University. The materials covers not only Merrill-Bright's own efforts to protest injustice in her classes (particularly in English Literature), but also document the efforts of the Black Student Union (formerly the Frederick E. Douglass Association) and major civil rights events on campus. In particular, the collection brings together clips from the Daily Collegian, newsletters from the Black Student Union, and Merrill-Bright's personal writings, and highlights the activities, thoughts, and actions of Black students during the late-1960's, which were (and are) underrepresented in the collections at Penn State.
Physical Location
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Penn State University Libraries catalog via the link above. Archival collections may be housed in offsite storage. For materials stored offsite, please allow 2-3 business days for retrieval.
Custodial History
Carol Merrill-Bright donated these materials to the Eberly Family Special Collections Library on 2021 March 22, due to the work of Maia Hill on the Black Alumni oral history collection. Maia Hill interviewed Mrs. Merrill-Bright and worked with her and special collections curators to facilitate the donation of these materials.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Carol Merrill-Bright donated this collection to the Eberly Family Special Collections library on 2021 March 22.
Appraisal
This is an important addition that enhances our understanding of Black student experiences at Penn State. Our collections are especially lack in student history from the civil right movement, and this collection helps fill that silence.
Processing Information
This collection was minimally processed at the point of accession by Gideon Goodrich in order to make it accessible alongside the Black Alumni oral history collection. All materials were kept in their original order as sent to us by Carol Merrill-Bright and are described using her notes and inventory.
Subjects
- Civil Rights Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- College students, Black Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Names
Subject
- Frederick E. Douglass Association (Pennsylvania State University) (Organization)
- Black Student Union (Pennsylvania State University) (Organization)
Using These Materials
Repository Details
Part of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library Repository
104 Paterno Library
Penn State University
University Park 16802 USA
(814) 865-1793
spcollections@psu.edu
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Photocopies of original materials may be made available for research purposes at the discretion of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. Photocopies or reproductions of original materials may be subject to fees as outlined by the Pennsylvania State University Libraries reproduction policies.
Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Patrons seeking advice on the availability of unpublished materials for publication should consult relevant copyright law and laws of libel.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Carol Merrill-Bright papers, 10057, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.
- Title
- Guide to the Carol Merrill-Bright papers
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Compiled by Maia Hill and Gideon Goodrich
- Date
- 2021 April 20
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin