Browse the Collection

1966 Color Guard. (Front Row) Joe Vaughn, Cavenaugh, Ethrige, Taylor. (Back Row, Left to Right) Banks, Funderburk, File.

1966 Color Guard wearing their winter greens. Joe Vaughn is featured in the foreground

Column, entitled 'Candidly,' written by student, Chuck Graham '62, appearing in Furman's student newspaper, The Paladin, dated May 19, 1962. Graham is ending his column as he is graduating soon, but writes that the struggle for power over Furman, which 'straddles the two worlds of a narrow, denominational school and a leading educational institution,' will continue to be fought.

Photograph of the Furman Chapter of the Southern Student Organizing Committee, an organization of students committed to peace, racial equity, and participatory democracy. From the 1968 Furman yearbook: 'SSOC is convinced that society is in need of radical reform on every level, including the university level. It is our purpose to work for these reforms, both through education and direct action. Ready to organize are the members of the Southern Student Organizing Committee.

Joseph Vaughn '68 performing in the Furman Concert Choir. Vaughn became the university's first African American student on Jan. 29, 1965.

The 1969-1970 Furman University Concert Choir. A member of the choir, Sarah Reese '71, can be seen at the far right in photo, third row. Reese enrolled at Furman in 1967 as one of the university's first African American women. Sarah Reese would later become a world-famous opera singer.

The 1970-1971 Furman University Concert Choir. Members of the choir include: Sarah Reese '71, in the third row, far right, and Ronald (Rawn) Harbor '71, in the fourth row, far left. Reese and Harbor were some of Furman's first African American students.

Photograph of the 1967-68 Furman University Program Board. The Program Board was an organization that sponsored the majority of activities provided by the Watkins Student Center. The Collegiate Education Service Corps, CESC, also functioned under the Program Board. It was one of the most worthwile and unique organizations in which Furman students could participate. From left to right in photo are Ms. Betty Alverson, Julie Burts, Karen Metcalfe, Joe Vaughn, Jan Clark, Harriet Hamrick, Chris Turner, and Ms. Juanita Copleland.

An article appearing in Furman's student newspaper, The Paladin, dated February 8, 1985. In the article Joseph Vaughn '68, Furman University's first African American student, and Lillian Brock Flemming '71, one of the first two African American females to graduate Furman, reflect on their time at Furman, and offer advice to current African American students.

Joseph Vaughn '68 and Linda Friddle '69 acting in the Furman Theater Guild's production of Max Frisch's comedy, 'The Firebugs.' Vaughn became the university's first African American student on Jan. 29, 1965.