The UI Department of African American Studies is pleased to announce the Darwin Turner Endowment.
Goal Total - $100,000
The University of Iowa African American Studies Program was one of first African American Studies Programs established in the United States in 1968. A committee of 20, chaired by the Dean of Academic Affairs Phillip G. Hubbard, developed the African American Studies curriculum. Dr. Charles T. Davis became the first Chair of African American Studies between 1970-1972. Dr. Darwin Turner took the helm from 1972-1991. Between 1970 and 1973, African American Studies at the University of Iowa gained national fame with a series of Summer Institutes examining the Harlem Renaissance, Author Richard Wright, W.E.B. DuBois and Afro-Americans Stage/Film.
Darwin Turner (1931-1991) Turner was considered a genius. He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees by the age of 18. He received his Ph.D. in English from the University of Chicago by the age of 25. He became chair of the African American Studies Department in 1972. His research and creative work included literary critiques, poetry and essays.
Boyd, M. J. (2011). The Legacy of Darwin T. Turner and the Struggle for African American Studies. The Black Scholar, 41(4), 11-16.
The Darwin Turner AAS Endowment Fund has a goal to raise $100,000 by 2023. It will enable the African American Studies program to create:
- The Darwin Turner Scholarship - awarded in each spring to an African American Studies major.
- AAS Seminar Series - bringing distinguished speakers to campus for scholarly presentations, panel symposiums, and seminars that contribute to the growth of the field of African American Studies.
- AAS Faculty Development - assisting faculty with travel to scholarly conferences and/or archives, help with research/creative projects and other publishing efforts.
- Graduate and Undergraduate Student events - such as The Annual AAS Awards program, Graduate student mentorships, AAS major/minor outreach events.
For more information contact:
Venise Berry, DEO African American Studies
Jessica Mattes, UI Center for Advancement
Article: The Legacy of Darwin T. Turner and the Struggle for African American Studies by Melba Joyce Boyd