Image of the Week
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As part of the Black History Month Blog, VCU Libraries’ Special Collections and Archives will post weekly images of African American life and history in Virginia from its collections. This week’s image is from the University’s photograph collection and shows Jim Elam Addressing Students in VCU’s Shafer Court, 1970. Richmond native Jim Elam (1945- ) mounted his successful “The Art of the Possible� campaign to become the first African American Student Government President in 1970. His platform included a call for equitable treatment of all students, improved University relations with residents of Oregon Hill, student input on curriculum, more minority professors, and the establishment of an Afro-American Studies program. Elam graduated in 1973 with a degree in Social Work.
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--Ray Bonis, Archival Assistant - Special Collections and Archives