This document summarizes key events in black history at Brown University from 1877 to 2014, including: - The graduation of Inman Page and George Washington Milford Brown in 1877 as the first two black students to graduate from Brown. - Milestones for black faculty, staff, and administrators such as J. Saunders Redding becoming the first black person appointed to the Brown faculty in 1949. - The founding of black student groups such as the Organization of United African Peoples in 1972 and the establishment of the Africana Studies department in 1969. - Student protests in 1968 and 1975 that increased black student enrollment and maintained university commitments to black students and faculty. - Ruth J. Simmons becoming the first black president of an

1. Black History Timeline at Brown University
1877
Inman Page (1853-1935) and George Washington Milford Brown are the first two
black students to graduate from Brown.
1891
John Wesley Gilbert ‟88 is the first African American to receive a graduate
degree from Brown. He later taught at Paine Institute.
1905
Ethel Robinson becomes the first black woman graduate of Brown University.
She goes on to teach English at Howard University and then becomes cofounder of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
1921
Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity chartered.
1926 Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority chartered at Brown. AKA was founded nationally by
Brown‟s first
black woman graduate - Ethel Robinson‟05.
1932
Samuel M. Nabrit is the first black person to receive a Ph.D. from Brown
1947
Omega Psi Phi fraternity chartered.
1949
J. Saunders Redding‟28, M.A. ‟32 becomes the first black person appointed to
the Brown faculty. In the first semester of 1949-50 as a visiting professor at
Brown, his course on the Negro in American literature was the first such course
given in a Northern college.
1955
The Brown chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People (NAACP) is founded.
1967
Samuel Nabritt, Ph.D. ‟32 named first black trustee on the Brown Corporation
The Afro-American Society is founded.
1968
Majority of black students at Brown (38 students) publicly Walk Out of the
University to the Congdon Street Baptist Churchto demand a host of changes to
Brown policy regarding the admission of minority students and their support
within the Brown community. Results included a 300% increase in black student
enrollment, Rites and Reason Theatre and the Transitional Summer Program
(TSP) - later modified and renamed the Third World Transition Program(TWTP).
1969
Submitted by Harold Bailey Jr. ’70
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2. Black History Timeline at Brown University
J. Saunders Redding ‟28, M.A. ‟32, named the Brown Corporation‟s first black
Fellow (1969-81).
Afro-American Studies program introduced at Brown. Professor Charles Nichols
becomes its first Chair and conducts its first class.
William Brown Ph.D. ‟69 becomes the first black Associate Dean of Student
Affairs.
Geoffrey Black becomes the first Black chaplain and serves as house parent for
TSP
1970
Rites and Reason Theatre is founded. The first director is George Houston Bass
(1938-1990), who is also the executor of Langston Hughes‟ estate.
1972
The Afro-American Society is renamed the Organization of United African
Peoples (OUAP).
1973
Thomas Brown ‟50 becomes first black trustee elected by alumni
1974
Bernard Bruce becomes the graduate school‟s first black dean.
Delta Sigma Theta sorority chartered
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority reestablished
1975
On Thursday, April 24, 1975, a Third World Coalition led by black students
occupied University Hall to stop planned University retrenchment from its
commitments made following the 1968 Walkout of black students. The
occupation lasted 38 and a half hours, while picket lines in two circles, one of
black students and one of white supporters, marched around University Hall,
improvising dance steps and clapping to the accompaniment of conga drums and
tambourines. The net result was that the University agreed to maintain its
commitments made in 1968.
Walter Massey, Professor of Physics, becomes the first black Dean of the
College
Darwyn Parker‟75 becomes the first black woman Sc.B graduate in Engineering.
1976
Calvin Hicks (former Admission Officier) becomes the first Black director of the
Third World Center /Asst. dean of the college
Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity reestablished.
Submitted by Harold Bailey Jr. ’70
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3. Black History Timeline at Brown University
1978
Perry Ashley namedAssociateDean of the College.
1979
John Robinson‟67 named first black Dean of Students
1980
Launch of the Brown Alumni Association Third World Alumni Activities
Committee by Harold Bailey‟70 (Chair), Bernicestine Bailey‟68, Ken McDaniel‟69
and Anderson Kurtz‟68
1981
Augustus White ‟57 becomes the second black fellow on the Brown Corporation
Chair of TWAAC becomes an ex-officio position on the Corporation Committee
on Minority Affairs
1982
Launch of Third World Network field organization as part of theThird World
Alumni Activities Committee. Eventually Chapters were established in 8
metropolitan areas.
Phi Beta Sigma fraternity chartered.
1983
Cheryl Brissett-Chapman‟71named first black woman trustee on the Brown
Corporation
Launch of the Investment in Diversity Fund (first University-wide fund in the Ivy
League focused on Financial Aid for minority students) by Augustus White and
Harold Bailey, Jr.
Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity chartered
1984
Javette P. Laremont‟80 is named National Chair of BAA‟s TW Alumni Activities
Committee
At the first BAA Alumni Recognition Ceremony
o Augustus A. White III awarded the first William Rogers Award
o Bernicestine McLeod Bailey‟68& Harold Bailey, Jr.‟70 awarded first Alumni
Service Awards
1985
Black students lead Absence Demonstration culminating in takeover of the John
Carter Brown Library over issues of respect regarding the presence of AfricanAmerican and other third world cultures at Brown (especially curriculum and
Submitted by Harold Bailey Jr. ’70
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4. Black History Timeline at Brown University
faculty). Result was the agreement to establish aVisiting Committee on Minority
Life and Education at Brown University chaired by Augustus White III „57 and
have its recommendations be voted upon by the Corporation.
1986
Visiting Committee on Minority Life and Education at Brown UniversityChaired by
Augustus A. White III ‟57 convened.
Work completed and report with recommendations issued (“The American
University and the Pluralist Ideal)
Walter Massey becomes the third black fellow on the Brown Corporation
1987All key recommendations of the Visiting Committee report approved by the
Corporation for
implementation.
1988
John Robinson ‟67 named first black Dean of Student Life
Levi Adams named Assistant Provost responsible for implementation of the
recommendations
of the Visiting Committee report and accountable to the President and
Corporation
Professor Michael Harper named first Poet Laureate of Rhode Island.
1989
Leland McGee‟77 is named National Chair of BAA‟s Third World Alumni
Activities Committee
1991
Teri Williams Cohee‟79 is named National Chair of BAA‟s Third World Alumni
Activities Committee
Sigma Gamma Rho sorority chartered
1992
Launched “Black Experience at Brown” at which annually 200+ of the highest
caliber black high
school seniors were invited and transported to Brown for a weekend of
exposure to the
Brown Community including the President, faculty and curriculum.
1993
Karen Mclaurin‟74 becomes the first black female to direct the Third World
Center/Asst. Dean
of the College
1994
Submitted by Harold Bailey Jr. ’70
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5. Black History Timeline at Brown University
Debra Lee ‟76 becomes first black woman trustee elected by alumni
1998
Steve Jordan ‟82becomes the fourth black fellow on the Brown Corporation
Under sponsorship of Prof. Elmo Terry Morgan, Russell Malbrough and Artis
Arnold complete independent Study project on Black Alumni organizations within
the Ivy League.
2000
Black Alumni Strategic Planning Conference convened in Newport, RI. to gain
consensus on next direction for a black alumni organization within the BAA in
light of our history, the BAA Minority Alumni Council and new inputs such as the
work of Russell Malbrough and Artis Arnold. Agreement reached to form alumni
council named after Inman Page – one of the first two black graduates of Brown.
Professor Elmo Terry Morgan convenes taskforce to develop initial goals,
objectives, processes and structure of the Inman Page Black Alumni Council.
2001
Ruth J. Simmonsis inaugurated as 18th President of Brown University and first
black president of an Ivy League institution.
Afro-American Studies Program becomes a department and is renamed Africana
Studies.
Javette P. Laremont‟80 becomes first black President of the Brown Alumni
Association
Inman Page Black Alumni Council is officially launched with Mark W. Griffith as
its first President
2004
Dorsey James '83 becomes second President of theInman Page Black Alumni
Council
2006
Preston Tisdale‟73 becomes third President of theInman Page Black Alumni
Council
2007
Spencer Crew‟71 becomes the second black President of the Brown Alumni
Association
University agrees to launch the Alumni of Color Initiative (AOCI) - a strategic,
University-wide development initiative focused on the members and interests of
the Alumni of Color community. The agreement represents over 10 years of work
by Bernicestine M. Bailey‟68 and Harold Bailey‟70.
Members of Inman Page, BULAC and A4 are formally surveyed to determine
specific elements which will be included in the AOCI for each community.
2008
Submitted by Harold Bailey Jr. ’70
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6. Black History Timeline at Brown University
Richard Gray '85becomes fourth President of theInman Page Black Alumni
Council
The Alumni of Color Initiative is launched with staff support including an Assistant
Director of Development and becomes the first Alumni of Color focused initiative
to be fully included and supported as part of a university-wide development
campaign (Boldly Brown).
Robin Lenhardt‟89 named first black woman fellow on the Brown Corporation
Professor Michael Harper awarded the Frost Medal for Lifetime Achievement
from the Poetry Society of America.
2010
Rosetta Hillary‟73becomes fifth President of theInman Page Black Alumni
Council
2011
IPC exceeds $250,000 fund-raising target for its first AOCI Endowed Scholarship
and welcomes the first IPC Endowed Scholar in September, 2011.
2012
IPC exceeds the $100,000 fund-raising target for AOCI‟s Ruth J. Simmons
Endowed Fund for Africana Studies.
Karen McLaurin-Chesson '74becomes sixth President of theInman Page Black
Alumni Council
2013
IPC exceeds its record Brown Annual Fund participation target by 20% and
welcomes its first BAF IPC Scholar in September, 2013. The scholarship was
also enabled by 4 IPC Brown Fund challengers (Roosevelt Robinson‟78, Lynette
Allison Carr‟79, Westley Thompson‟76, and Derrick Medina‟88)
2014
Tiffani Scott‟98 will become the seventh President of the Inman Page Black
Alumni Council
Submitted by Harold Bailey Jr. ’70
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