3 10 24 https://memory.richmond.edu/files/original/178456f7aa611a0bc13e4740127e213f.JPG afbaec3fa56254bec9baa45ee8d344a6 https://memory.richmond.edu/files/original/80162de15a2b3d0090088227f846734c.mp3 3f09c52369c4ee72d430203211630a81 Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Johnnette Johnson Cole Richard Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed James "JR" Reed Location The location of the interview Boatwright Memorial Library Seminar Room 1 University of Richmond 261 Richmond Way, Richmond, VA 23173 Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound <a href="https://memory.richmond.edu/files/transcripts/ReedJames_Johnson-Richard_Transcript_20190611.pdf" target="_blank">Click here for the transcript file.</a> Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 01:17:11 Date of Interview June 11, 2019 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History with James "JR" Reed (R'81) Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource interviews Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Richmond (Va.) Description An account of the resource In this oral history interview, James Reed (R’81) sat down with Johnnette Johnson (’20) and Cole Richard (’21) on June 11, 2019, in Boatwright Memorial Library. Over the course of the one-hour interview, Reed spoke about his time as a football player and founding member of the University of Richmond’s first black fraternity Phi Beta Sigma. A DC native, Reed reflects on the mindset he carried upon matriculation and the lessons he learned upon graduation. He also searches to connect his experience to current students’ lived experience in terms of cultural inclusion. <img src="https://memory.richmond.edu/files/misc/ReedJames_1981-01.JPG" alt="" /> James "JR" Reed, Jr. was born at Andrews AFB, right out of Washington DC. JR grew up in the Southeast section of Washington DC, in the Hillcrest neighborhood. He attended Archbishop Carroll High School, located in the Northwest section of DC. He played football and ran track during his four years there. JR graduated from Carroll in 1977 with a scholarship to play football at the University of Richmond (U of R). During his 4-year tenure at the U of R, he played football, he was a four-year ROTC cadet, and he started the first predominately Black fraternity at the U of R, (Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, INC.). He graduated in 1981 with a undergraduate degree in Business Economics and a US Army commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps. During his 22 years of service, Reed also earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Information Systems from Troy State University. After retiring from service, Reed worked another 14 years within the Department of Defense, as a Contractor and Civil Servant. Presently, JR owns his own business as a Real Estate Investor. Currently, he resides in the Chesapeake, VA. Subject The topic of the resource Alumni and alumnae Athletics Black people Black studies Business schools Classism College athletes College athletics College fraternity members College sports College students College students, Black College students--Attitudes Football teams Greek letter societies Minority college students--Recruiting Race Race relations Racism Richmond (Va.) Social life and customs Stereotypes Student housing Student life Student organizations United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps Universities and colleges--Faculty Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia State University Virginia Union University (Richmond, Va.) Language A language of the resource English Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ReedJames_Johnson-Richard_Public_20190611.mp3 Relation A related resource Race & Racism at UR Project Oral History Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This oral history is available for academic purposes--including but not limited to research by students, faculty, and staff--by permission from the interviewee (James "JR" Reed). The interviewee maintains the copyright, and must be contacted via the Race & Racism Project (urraceproject@gmail.com) for permissions for use outside of academic purposes. https://memory.richmond.edu/files/original/453b70f5821f1ccd76e62ece01d7de33.JPG 6d0b40973b34face1676f7cc91e531a8 https://memory.richmond.edu/files/original/40356b06e6250f63c2318b5e414b7446.mp3 95c719b498dc895963855b319519e75b Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Eden Wolfer Rena Xiao Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Rayford L. Harris, Jr. Location The location of the interview Boatwright Memorial Library Seminar Room 2 University of Richmond 28 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA 23173 Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound <a href="https://memory.richmond.edu/files/transcripts/HarrisRayfordL_Xiao-Wolfer_Transcript_20180701.pdf" target="_blank">Click here for the transcript file.</a> Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 01:41:36 Date of Interview July 1, 2018 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History with Rayford L. Harris, Jr. (R'77) Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource interviews Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Richmond (Va.) Description An account of the resource In this oral history interview, Rayford L. Harris, Jr. (R’77) sat down with Rena Xiao (’20) and Eden Wolfer (’20) on July 1, 2018, in Boatwright Memorial Library. Over the course of the one hour and forty minute interview, Harris shares about how he ended up at the University of Richmond via his orthodontist William Tyler Haynes; his first experiences on campus; being one of 12 Black students in his incoming class; interactions with fraternities, the baseball team, and intramural sports; the experience of forming social circles as a commuter student; the organization of the first Black student organization SOBA; the first attempt to bring a Black fraternity (Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.) to campus; some of the first Black History Weeks at the university; dating and friendships with white women on campus; switching from pre-med to a math major; interactions with other students of color on campus; attending the university during the Vietnam War and the sexual revolution; relationships with staff members; dealing with stereotypes about Black students on campus; his contributions to the university as an alum; reflects on the changes at the university since his time on campus; friendships and interactions with Black women on campus; gives advice to current students of color; his career in the City of Richmond government; and finally shares a story about his father, Rayford L. Harris, Sr., a lifelong friend of civil rights attorney Oliver Hill. <img src="https://memory.richmond.edu/files/misc/HarrisRayford_1975-01.JPG" alt="" /><<img src="https://memory.richmond.edu/files/misc/HarrisRayford_1977-01.JPG" alt="" /> Rayford L. Harris, Jr. is a native of Richmond and a proud product of Richmond Public Schools.  He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and matriculated at the University of Richmond, Richmond College in the fall of 1973.  After visiting the campus at the insistence of Dr. William Tyler Haynes, his orthodontist, Rayford selected Richmond over Hampton University, Virginia Tech, and the University of Virginia, among others. Starting as a Pre-Med student, he eventually followed his true calling and majored in Mathematics.  During his time at UR, he was on the baseball team and coached by Chuck Boone.  Other activities included intramural basketball and being a member of SOBA – the Student Organization for Black Awareness.  He graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts.  <img src="https://memory.richmond.edu/files/misc/HarrisRayford_1974-01.JPG" alt="" /> After graduating, there was a brief four-year teaching career with Richmond Public Schools where Rayford taught Mathematics at Henderson Middle School, John Marshall and Maggie Walker High Schools, and the Marshall-Walker (combined) High School.  During that time he also coached Girls’ Basketball, Softball, and Baseball. In 1981, Rayford began a 33-year career with the City of Richmond.  He began as a Programmer Trainee and advanced to Lead Programmer.  He ended the Information Technology part of his tenure as a Lead Systems Developer having been involved with most of the City’s automated systems.  The other half of his City Career was with the Department of Budget and Strategic Planning where he began as a Senior Budget & Management Analyst.  Over the years, he was promoted to Deputy Director and ultimately appointed by Mayor L. Douglas Wilder as the Director of Budget and Strategic Planning.  After serving under a second Mayor, Dwight C. Jones, Rayford retired from the City in December of 2013. After retirement, Rayford served as the CFO for a small Non Profit Agency, Quin Rivers Inc. – A Community Action Agency and “re-retired” June 30, 2019. Other activities include being a CIGNA Mentor, a Spider Club Member, serving on the Boards of the North Richmond YMCA, the RVA Financial Federal Credit Union, the Richmond First Club, and multiple Foundations of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Rayford also has a niece who graduated as a Spider in 2017.  They both look forward to sharing the same reunion years that end in 2 and 7. Subject The topic of the resource Alumni and alumnae Athletics Baseball teams Black History Week College athletes College fraternity members College presidents College sports College students, Black College students, Men College students, White College students--Attitudes Commuting college students Curricula Drugs Greek letter societies Hazing Heilman, E. Bruce (Earl Bruce), 1926- Hill, Oliver W., 1907-2007 Race relations Racism Richmond (Va.) Social life and customs Student activism Student life Student movements Student Organization for Black Awareness (SOBA) Student organizations United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps Universities and colleges--Employees Universities and colleges--Faculty Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia State University Virginia Union University (Richmond, Va.) Women college students Language A language of the resource English Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context HarrisRayfordL_Wolfer-Xiao_Public_20180701.mp3 Relation A related resource Race & Racism at UR Project Oral History Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This oral history is available for academic purposes--including but not limited to research by students, faculty, and staff--by permission from the interviewee (Rayford L. Harris, Jr.). The interviewee maintains the copyright, and must be contacted via the Race & Racism Project (urraceproject@gmail.com) for permissions for use outside of academic purposes. https://memory.richmond.edu/files/original/d53bcacd984e97bcd9e4284e8b352715.PNG 7a5edfbf7907f3f742bf115afeec5bcf Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Metadata Creator Joy Lim Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Article "Talk Show To Go Beyond WDCE" Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Payne, Holly Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Collegian, University of Richmond Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1992-03-19 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource newspapers Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Richmond (Va.) Description An account of the resource A forum talk show known as College Talk, previously called UR Talks, entertains callers and listeners as juniors Allan Young and Todd Flora co-host the show together. Their talk show tackles difficult discussions such as homosexuality and sex, while also addressing activities around campus and the Richmond community. There is no structure to the show as Young and Flora go with the flow. Listeners tune in from The University of Richmond campus all the way to the Virginia Commonwealth University. Through vigorous advertising on behalf of Young and Flora, College Talk is a popular radio show which draws-in its listeners through chances to win prizes, in addition to the controversial topics that are discussed. During a comical part of the interview with the two co-hosts, Young and Flora both agreed that they enjoyed the female callers compared to the male callers because, “they offer more varied and individual responses than most of the men.” College Talk is an expanding passion of both Young and Flora. Subject The topic of the resource College radio stations College students College students, Men Freedom of speech Public opinion Public relations Richmond (Va.) Social life and customs Student life Virginia Commonwealth University Women college students Language A language of the resource English Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Collegian78.21.2-19920319.PNG Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Payne, Holly. "Talk Show To Go Beyond WDCE." The University of Richmond Collegian 78, no. 21, (March 19, 1992): 2. <a href="https://collegian.richmond.edu/?a=d&d=COL19920319.2.15&srpos=85&e=-------en-20--81--txt-txIN-" target="_blank">https://collegian.richmond.edu/?a=d&d=COL19920319.2.15&srpos=85&e=-------en-20--81--txt-txIN-</a> https://memory.richmond.edu/files/original/b5e9bff052ebb13f7cffaa112047bf1b.PNG 8074e031ad361e8bb7bafc5b16b659f1 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Metadata Creator Joy Lim Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Article "Lambda Coalition Fights Stigma" Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Gallagher, Kathleen Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Collegian, University of Richmond Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1994-10-06 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource newspapers Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Richmond (Va.) Description An account of the resource This article describes the Lambda Coalition and the purpose of the organization to create a space for the LGBTQ community on the University of Richmond campus. Members of the organization share testaments of how the coalition works to raise “awareness on issues of sexuality” throughout the campus and greater Richmond community. The Lambda Coalition joins hands with many other organizations around the community including the Virginia Commonwealth University’s sexual support group, the Sexual Minority Student Alliance, the Richmond Organization of Sexual Minority Youth, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The goal of the organization on the university’s campus is to “stop being such a taboo,” and to become an organization that individuals don't shy away from. Subject The topic of the resource College students College students--Attitudes Homosexuality Lambda Coalition LGBTQ people LGBTQ students Organizations Richmond (Va.) Social justice Student activism Student life Student movements Student organizations Virginia Commonwealth University Language A language of the resource English Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Collegian81.6.4-19941006.PNG Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Gallagher, Kathleen. "Lambda Coalition Fights Stigma." The University of Richmond Collegian 81, no. 6, (October 6, 1994): 4. <a href="https://collegian.richmond.edu/?a=d&d=COL19941006.2.20&srpos=31&e=-------en-20--21--txt-txIN-" target="_blank">https://collegian.richmond.edu/?a=d&d=COL19941006.2.20&srpos=31&e=-------en-20--21--txt-txIN-</a>