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Race and Higher Education at the University of Illinois, 1945 to 1955
Dublin Core
Title
Race and Higher Education at the University of Illinois, 1945 to 1955
Subject
On-campus, Racism
Description
The vast majority of literature on the history of education for African Americans
focuses on the role of racism as the principle factor shaping their educational experiences.
To understand what African American students experienced during the 1945-1955 era
(end of World War II to Brown decision), it is necessary to investigate and interpret the
traditions, rules and practices developed during the four and one-half decades leading up
to 1945. Fusing written sources with oral histories enhances a document by providing a
compete account of an historical event or encounter, thus enabling the development of a
conceptual framework for the history of African American students at the University of
Illinois, between the years of 1945-1955. This dissertation examines the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, centering on the special conditions confronting African
American students. Furthermore it seeks to show how racism was a principle factor in
shaping the educational experiences of Americans of African ancestry.
African American students that attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign (UIUC, U of I, Illinois and University), from the early years of its founding
had to bear much of the burden their ancestors had endured. They were allowed to attend
the University, however enrollment was on a limited basis, and they were not accepted as
full and equal participants. The experiences of African American students at UIUC from
1945 to 1955 (end of World War II to Brown decision), though unique in their own
terms, were nonetheless part of a history of overt and institutionalized discrimination
dating back to the founding of the University. In order to fully appreciate and understand
the experiences of 1945-1955 it is critical to comprehend the traditions and customs of
coping with racism and alienation that were established in the preceding decades. This
information is vital to the establishment of a conceptual framework for the history of
African American students, at the University of Illinois, between the years of 1945-1955.
focuses on the role of racism as the principle factor shaping their educational experiences.
To understand what African American students experienced during the 1945-1955 era
(end of World War II to Brown decision), it is necessary to investigate and interpret the
traditions, rules and practices developed during the four and one-half decades leading up
to 1945. Fusing written sources with oral histories enhances a document by providing a
compete account of an historical event or encounter, thus enabling the development of a
conceptual framework for the history of African American students at the University of
Illinois, between the years of 1945-1955. This dissertation examines the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, centering on the special conditions confronting African
American students. Furthermore it seeks to show how racism was a principle factor in
shaping the educational experiences of Americans of African ancestry.
African American students that attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign (UIUC, U of I, Illinois and University), from the early years of its founding
had to bear much of the burden their ancestors had endured. They were allowed to attend
the University, however enrollment was on a limited basis, and they were not accepted as
full and equal participants. The experiences of African American students at UIUC from
1945 to 1955 (end of World War II to Brown decision), though unique in their own
terms, were nonetheless part of a history of overt and institutionalized discrimination
dating back to the founding of the University. In order to fully appreciate and understand
the experiences of 1945-1955 it is critical to comprehend the traditions and customs of
coping with racism and alienation that were established in the preceding decades. This
information is vital to the establishment of a conceptual framework for the history of
African American students, at the University of Illinois, between the years of 1945-1955.
Creator
Deirdre Lynn Cobb
Publisher
unpublished doctoral dissertation, Education
Date
1998
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Citation
Deirdre Lynn Cobb, "Race and Higher Education at the University of Illinois, 1945 to 1955," in eBlack Champaign-Urbana, Item #300, https://eblackcu.net/portal/items/show/300 (accessed January 15, 2025).
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