Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
President Levi Watkins, Sr. Collection |
Collection |
President Levi Watkins Collection |
Catalog Number |
1981.001 |
Object Name |
Papers, Personal |
Level of description |
Fonds/Coll |
Scope & Content |
President Levi Watkins, Sr. Collection, 1962-1981 13 cubic boxes, 20 1/2 boxes, 10 1/4 boxes, 7 small flat boxes, 1 medium box, 1 folder sleeve, 4 irregular boxes; 36 cubic feet Dr. Levi Watkins, Sr., 1911-1994 This collection consists of a description of Levi Watkins as the sixth president of Alabama State University. Papers in the collection cover the campus, state, national, and international subjects that impacted the administration of the university. Levi Watkins Collection includes original speeches and the working papers, drafts and gallery proofs from the publications of Watkins' two books, "Fighting Hard" and Alabama State University, The First One Hundred and Fourteen Years". Levi Watkins, Sr. was born in Montgomery, Trigg County, Kentucky the first of seven children to Adam and Sallie Watkins on January 15, 1911. He received a high school diploma in 1929 from Burt High School in Clarksville, Tennessee. Watkins earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Tennessee A&I State University in 1933. He was awarded the Master of Arts degree from Northwestern University in 1940. Both Arkansas Baptist College and Daniel Payne College conferred honorary doctorate degrees (L.L.D.) on Levi Watkins in 1956 and 1975 respectively. Watkins began his professional career after graduating in 1933 from Tennessee A&I State University. He served a fifteen year stint as a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent in the public schools of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Kansas. From 1940 to 1948, Levi Watkins served as principals of Douglass Junior High in Parsons, Kansas. He became president at the founding of S. A. Owen Junior College, now LeMoyne-Owen College, and served as that school's president for six years, from 1952 until 1959. Watkins first came to Alabama State University as a visiting instructor, then he became an administrative assistant to the president. Watkins then moved on to become business manager at Alabama State. On 1 October 1962 Levi Watkins became the sixth president of Alabama State University, a position he held for nineteen years, until 1981. Dr. Watkins navigated the school through several milestones. He oversaw accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1966, reaffirmation in 1970, and again in 1980. Watkins organized the school into four major administrative units: academic affairs, student affairs, business affairs, and development and public relations. Watkins desegregated the faculty and organized a Faculty Council, later known as the Faculty Senate. Alabama State made the transition from a college to a University in 1969, and Watkins reorganized the school into three colleges: Arts and Sciences; Business and Economics; and Education. President Watkins successfully spearheaded efforts to pass state legislation creating a Board of Trustees in 1976. He organized the Alabama State University Development Fund and the Alabama State University Foundation. Enrollment during President Watkins tenure increased from 1,660 to 4,066. Watkins oversaw the erection of several new facilities and the renovation of some existing buildings. The academic facilities included, Edward G. McGehee Hall, Harper Council Trenholm Hall, Zelia Stephens Early Childhood Center, and Tullibody Music Hall. New student service facilities included, William Henry Benson Hall, Bessie Benson Hall, University Center, and South Hall. New faculty service facilities included, Cynthia Drake Alexander Apartments and the University House. Other notable projects included the creation of the Academic Mall and the H. Councill Trenholm Alumni Memorial as well as the development of the Charles Wendell Pecke Tennis Courts. Levi Watkins was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, was a 33rd degree Mason, and a member of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. Levi Watkins also worshiped at Beulah and Dexter Avenue Baptist Churches. Watkins served on the following boards: The Children's Center of Montgomery, Alabama; Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Alabama; Inner City YMCA; The Salvation Army of Montgomery; Central Alabama March of Dimes; Metropolitan Montgomery Urban League; and the Crime Prevention Board. Watkins was also Vice-President of Highland Village Apartments and a founding member of the Alabama Coalition on Black Post-Secondary Education. The list of professional affiliations include, Chairman of the Alabama Education Study Commission's Committee on Coordination of Higher Education from which the Alabama Commission on Higher Education was developed. He served as Chairman for the Council of University Presidents, under the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Watkins served as Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Alabama Center for Higher Education, Task Force on involvement of historically black colleges in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and a member of the Committee on Cultural Affairs for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. He also served on the Board of Trustee for Selma University and worked as secretary of the Board of Trustees for Alabama State University. |
Search Terms |
Watkins, Levi ASU Presidents Education, Higher Universities and colleges Administration College presidents |
People |
Watkins, Levi |
Child Records |
Box 06 - Faculty Handbooks Box 03 - Correspondences, Reports, Various Resumes, etc Box 28 - Plaques & Proclamations Box 01 - Plaques Box 02 - Correspondences, Meeting Minutes, Newspaper Clippings, etc Box 04 - Friends of the Library Box 05 - Friends of the Library Box 07 - Staff Handbook Box 08 - Tenure & Promotion Applicants, D'Linell Finley vs. Alabama State University, Meetings Miniutes, Written Speeches, etc Box 09 - Alabama Dept of Education Materials, Decennium Celebration, Newspaper Clipping (ACAA), etc Box 10 - University Seal John Hall Box 11 - Rough Draft of Book:"Alabama State University: The First One Hundred Fourteen Years: 1867-1981", Illustrations of Buildings of ASU, Correspondences, History of ASU & ASU Presidents with Accomplishments Box 12 - 1st Final Rough Draft of Book:"Alabama State University: The First One Hundred Fourteen Years: 1867-1981" Box 13 - Rough Draft of Book:"Alabama State University: The First One Hundred Fourteen Years: 1867-1981" Box 14 - Undated Speeches Box 15 - Speeches from Dr. Levi Watkins: 1953-1990 Box 16 - Final Draft of Original Title Book:"Inside Straight (later changed to "Fighting Hard") Box 17 - Final Rough Draft of Book "Alabama State University: The First One-Hundred and Fourteen Years: 1867-1981" Box 18 - Rough Draft to Book "Inside Straight" Box 19 - Faculty Senate Minutes: 1978-1980, 1983-1985 Box 20 - Minutes of Board of Trustees, Minutes & Resolution, Teaching of Humanities, Faculty Salaries, Letter VI Transmittal, House Bill 203 Box 21 - Faculty Senate Minutes: 1986-1988 Box 22 - Working Papers: "How It Was, My Life & Work At" Box 23 - Speeches from Dr. Levi Watkins: 1966-1983 Box 24 - Finished Final Copy of Book "Alabama State University: The First One Hundred & Fifteen Years: 1866-1981" by Levi Watkins Box 25 - Working Papers: 1922-1959 Box 26 - Working Papers: 1960-1986 Box 27 - Institute for Training Librarians Box 29 - Addresses, Biographical Sketches, Lawsuit, Newspaper Clippings, Reports, Retirement Banquet Program Box 38 - Folders (Board of Trustees) Box 30 - The Levi Watkins Papers (Hard Bound): Introduction Documents (1958-1968) (4 copies) Box 31 - Various Pictures Box 32 - From President Office Box 33 - Correspondences (1982 - 1992) Box 34 - President's Office Box 35 - Levi Watkins Box 36 - Levi Watkins (Court Cases) Box 37 - Funeral Wrath Box 39 - Levi Watkins (Court Cases) Box 40 - Levi Watkins (Civil Actions) Box 41 - Levi Watkins (ASU Material) Box 42 - Board of Trustees Meeting: Annual Budget Box 43 - Dr. Levi Watkins Photos Box 44 - Friendship Manor Box 45 - Student Unrest at Alabama State University (1969) Box 47 - Unbound Book, "ASU: A History of the First 114 Years" Box 48 - Tribute to Dr. Watkins in the Congressional Record Box 49 - Plaque: Parish of LaFayette: Honorary Citizen Box 50 - Plaque Box 51 - Resolution (State of Alabama House of Representatives) Box 52 - Resolution (Alabama State University) Box 53 - Plaques Box 54 - Plaque Item 62 - Memorial of the late Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr Box 46 - Levi Watkins Papers, Magazines Box 55 - Legislation Act, Library Complex to be named Levi Watkins Learning Center: 1976 Box 56 Box 57 - Cassette Case Box 58 - Scrapbook Box 59 Box 60 Box 61 |