The collection documents the center's history with reports, newspaper clippings, photographic materials, and VHS videos.
The collection is organized by format into the following series: papers, mostly newspaper clippings (1 cubic ft.), photographic materials, mostly of exhibits (.5 cubic ft.), and VHS videos on a wide variety of topics (2 cubic ft.). Each series is then organized alphabetically and chronologically.
The papers consist mostly of newspaper clippings (copies), 1980s-2010, and undated as well as programmatic materials, minority equality reports, copies or original artwork, and the Center’s webpage (copies), 2011.
Photographic materials consists mostly of colored photographs as well as some negatives and contact prints, mostly documenting Center art exhibits or KCP (King / Chavez / Parks) Days or Workshops at CMU for minority students, 1993, 2008, and undated.
The VHS videos, 1987, 2006, and undated, document visiting speakers, panel discussions, soup and substance and breakfast discussions, and other events covering a wide variety of multicultural topics including Native Americans, Disabilities Act, Affirmative Action, African Americans, Ojibwa traditions, feminism, Speak, Speak Out, diversity, etc. A few are user copies of CMU media productions, CMU Minute and Editor’s Notepad. Native American topics are particularly well documented. There are also six videos covering parts 7-24 of Dealing with Diversity, 1993.
The Addition to the collection, 1981-2010, and undated, 2.75 cubic ft. (in 6 boxes) consists of the same formats and information as the original collection. Boxes 1-3 are alphabetical subject files with photographs. Boxes 4-5 are of special interest as they include correspondence, reports, and other materials relating to the Chippewa nickname used by CMU. Box 6 includes several videos and a cassette tape.
The July 2019 Addition includes Box 12 (.5 cu.ft.), 10 VHS color videotapes, 1984-1993: The Legal (Pre-Employment) Interview, 1984, an acted interview with illegal questions, copyright 1984 by CMU Office of Affirmative Action, 5 minutes 58 seconds. Handicappers Rights, 1988, Marshall Rose and the Mount Pleasant Committee on the Handicapped lead a small, inaugural discussion on accessibility, dignity and quality of life in an unidentified CMU class room, 1.5 hours. Cultural Diversity at CMU, [1988] which includes discussion of the CMU mascot, speakers Pres. Jakubauskas, Dr. Nancy Belck, Dr. Rebecca Torres-Riviera, Dr. Ulana Klymyshyn, produced by CMU Library Instructional Resources, 6 minutes 49 seconds. Sexual Issues in the University, 1989, Marshall Rose, the CMU Affirmative Action officer, leads a panel discussion of Dr. Megan Goodwin, Dr. Angela Haddad, and Dr. James Jones on the topic, 1 hour, 3 minutes, 29 seconds. Marshall Rose on Whites in Black History, 1989, a very informative, thoughtful, presentation, about 1 hour, tape is in very bad shape. Have We Finally Arrived at Educational Equity Forum, 1990, includes Dr. Rita Kissen Dr. Robert Levy, Dr. Barbara Kirk discussing race, ethnicity, how to train teachers, 1 hour 6 minutes 36 seconds, this video is in very bad shape. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom March and Commemorative Program, 1991, march of CMU students and staff from Foust to Warriner, 2 banners of note-Eta Sigma Gamma supports the dream and Barnes Hall Taking the dream into the 90s, two unidentified African American male speakers and Leticia Gary (?) in front of Warriner, 11 minutes, 29 seconds. Affirmative Action Annual Think Take, Tape 1, 1991, sponsored by Kappa Alpha Psi by two African American poets, Dr. Kenneth Zakee, and Askia M. Toure, and a presentation by Miss Lefisa (sp?) in the Theatre on the Side, 2 hours 3 minutes 36 seconds. Affirmative Action Annual Think Take, Tape 2, 1991, continues Tape 1, 24 minutes, 25 seconds. Dr. Lloyd Elm, Lincoln Address, 1993, Onadago Tribe member and Native American educator presentation in UC at unidentified conference, 37 minutes, 4 seconds.
Due to shelving issues, the Addition boxes are shelved separately from the main collection.