TATE, Merze Vernie
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Howard University Digital Howard @ Howard University Manuscript Division Finding Aids Finding Aids 10-1-2015 TATE, Merze Vernie MSRC Staff Follow this and additional works at: https://dh.howard.edu/finaid_manu Recommended Citation Staff, MSRC, "TATE, Merze Vernie" (2015). Manuscript Division Finding Aids. 190. https://dh.howard.edu/finaid_manu/190 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Finding Aids at Digital Howard @ Howard University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Manuscript Division Finding Aids by an authorized administrator of Digital Howard @ Howard University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Merze Vernie Tate Papers Collection 219-1 to 219-30 Prepared by Ida Jones October 2011 MANUSCRIPT DIVISION 1 Scope Note The papers of Merze Vernie Tate (1905-1996), educator, scholar, author and world traveler cover the time period 1906-1995. Dr. Tate served as a professor of diplomatic history at Howard University College of Arts and Sciences in the Department of History from 1942 -1975. The collection includes 12 series: personal papers, correspondence, financial records, writings by Dr. Tate, Howard University, organizational affiliations, subject files, writings by others, photographs, films and audiotapes, artifacts and oversized items. These various series contain materials documenting the life of Dr. Tate as a scholar and award-winning researcher as well as her expansive world-wide travels. There are approximately 35 linear feet of material. The papers were donated by Dr. Tate. The bulk of the materials documents the professional life of Dr. Tate in the role of pioneering scholar and academician from her honors graduation from the Battle Creek High school in Michigan to being the first African American awarded a doctorate in government and international relations from Radcliffe College now Harvard University. Of particular note are writings by Dr. Tate, photographs, correspondence, Howard University teaching materials and faculty committee involvement, as well as, subject files. These select series provide a window into the creation and development of Dr. Tate as a world-renowned scholar. Her prolific writings represent a broad interest in human development. Of note is a nearly complete manuscript of her work on a Hawaiian royal, Kamehameha IV. Other topics explored - imperialism, Australia and Australasia and African railways hold unique insight to historical and developing trends. 2 Scope Note continued There are numerous photographs chronicling the life of Dr. Tate and the Tate family. There are a number of examples where she received earned and honorary degrees, as well as, candid shots from her two worldwide tours. There are images of with Dr. Tate with Eleanor Roosevelt, Lorraine Williams, Flemmie Kitterell and Ida Van Smith. This collection contains a wealth of information pertaining to Howard University during her tenure. In the Howard University series Dr. Tate’s personal struggle with gender equality is evident in correspondence as well as involvement in the Women’s Faculty club. Her involvement at Howard contributed to the Browsing Room committee’s choice of publications. Over the course of her teaching career, she was able to nurture aspiring young talent and contributed to their evolution. A number of her students co-authored articles with her, while other select student papers she kept and referred to as source material. Moreover, there are syllabi for a number of courses she taught as well as reserved reading listing and bibliographies for select classes. Another series of interest is Organizational Affiliations. Her work on the advisory committee to the Radcliffe College Schlesinger Library’s Black Women’s Oral History is remarkable. Biographical information about potential interviewers and interviewees, as well as, regulations and guidelines about the oral history process is informative regarding this invaluable source. In this series her personality is evident in her serious involvement with the American Bridge Association as well as the regional Bridge Builders club. A trophy winning Bridge player Tate rounded out her life with recreation. Her active membership of 50 plus years in Alpha Kappa Alpha shows remarkable dedication. 3 Biographical Sketch February 6, 1905 Born to Charles Edward and Myrtle (Katora) Tate in Blanchard, MI 1918-1920 Attended Blanchard School for two years 1923 Battle Creek High School honor graduate and winner of first place in the Hynman Oratorical contest 1927 Graduated from Western Normal College/Western Michigan University with a B.A. 1927-1932 Teacher Crispus Attucks High school 1930 Graduated from Columbia University, NY with a M.A. 1931 Awarded a diploma in International Studies from Geneva, Switzerland School. 1932 Awarded Alpha Kappa Alpha foreign scholar award 1934-1935 Phelps-Stokes grant recipient 1935 Awarded B.Litt. from Oxford University, England. First African American woman to enroll in Oxford where she studied European diplomatic history. 1935-1936 Dean of Women, teacher of history Barber-Scotia College, Concord, NC 1936-1941 Chairman Division of Social Science Bennett College, Greensboro, NC 1939 Awarded Rosenwald fellowship 1941-1942 Faculty member Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 1941 Earned a Ph.D. from Radcliffe College/Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. First African American woman to earn a doctorate in Government and International relations Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa 1942 Published The Disarmament Illusion: The Movement for a Limitation of Armaments to 1907 1942-1975 Faculty of Diplomatic History and International relations Howard University, Washington, DC 1948 Recipient Outstanding Achievement Award, National Urban League Published The United States and Armaments Represented United States at UNESCO at seminar held at Lake Success and Adelphi College June 6, 1949 Delivered Commencement address at Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 1950-1951 Fulbright lecturer India served as a visiting professor at Rabindranath Tagore’s World University at Santiniketan, West Bengal. Lectured in eleven different Indian universities and college in Ceylon, and for the United States Information Services in Rangoon, Burma 1953 Summer Faculty Wayne State University, Indiana Distinguished Professor Service Award, Radcliffe College Alumnae Association 1953-1958 Vice president Radcliffe of Washington, DC 4 Biographical Sketch continued 1954 Listed among Who’s Who Among American Women Received Radcliffe College Alumnae Association Graduate Chapter Medal for distinguished achievement in the field of history. 1955 Visiting lecturer Western Michigan University, March 8-9, 1957 Attended the Middle East Association spring meeting in Washington, DC April 4, 1957 Attended the League of Women’s Voters, One Day School 1958-1959 Sabbatical from Howard University conducted research in Hawaii, Fiji, Australia and New Zealand 1959 Research grantee American Council of Learned Society 1960 Washington Evening Star award 1961 Rockefeller Foundation research grant 1962 Recipient of summer grant-in-aid from the President’s committee, Howard University 1963 Granted honorary LL.D from Morgan State University, MD 1965 Published The United States and the Hawaiian Kingdom 1967 Member Screening community for United Kingdom Institute of International Education 1968 Published Hawaii: Reciprocity or Annexation 1969 Named most distinguished citizen of Isabella County, MI. 1970 Distinguished Alumni award from Western Michigan University 1971 Merze Tate graduate fellowship established at Radcliffe College October 22, 1972 Listed among “Two Thousand Women of Achievement,” London, England 1973 Established trust fund for Western Michigan University Published Diplomacy in the Pacific: A Collection of Twenty-Sven Articles on Diplomacy in the Pacific and Influence of the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands Missionaries 1975 Visiting Trustee Radcliffe Graduate Institute 1976 Graduate School Council Award for Outstanding Contribution to Howard University Graduate Education Served on the advisory council for the Black Women’s Oral History Project Travelled to South Africa as the guest of select South African corporations and universities while conducting research on railways 1977 Established Merze Tate scholarship Western Michigan University Endowed annual Merze Tate Diplomatic History Seminar Howard University Retired from Howard University 1978 Awarded honorary LL.D from Lincoln University, PA. Spirit of Detroit award by the Mayor of Detroit Award American Black Artist’s Pioneer Award, Detroit, MI 5 Biographical Sketch continued 1980 Received the Radcliffe College Alumnae Association Graduate Chapter Distinguished professional achievement medal Prometheans Inc. honorary life membership award, only woman member 1981 Funded the Merze Tate Center for Research and Information Processing, Western Michigan University 1986 Awarded honorary Doctor of Humane letters from Howard University, Washington, DC 1989 Published Mineral Railways in Africa June 27, 1996 Died from cardiac arrest. Buried in Pine River Cemetery near Blanchard, MI 6 Series Description Series A Personal Papers Box 219-1 This series includes biographical information and materials such as Tate’s FBI to Box 219-2 file. There is information about her academic and professional career from her early days as a student at Western Normal College. There is a subseries of family letters between Tate and her siblings as well as her mother. Of note are travel diaries. Series B Correspondence Box 219-3