Robert Span Browne papers, 1957-1995.

ArchivalResource

Robert Span Browne papers, 1957-1995.

Robert Span Browne papers, 1957-1995.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122626615

Browne has been a prolific writer within his areas of expertise, i.e. American involvement in the Vietnam conflict, especially its impact on African-Americans, economics as it pertains to African Americans and to a lesser extent, to Africans. Most of his writings have been in the form of articles, letters to the editor and book reviews as well as writing and co-authoring several books. The Robert S. Browne Papers document Browne's role as an important African-American economist whose ideas helped shaped the discourse on Black America during the 1960's, as well as his active involvement as an early outspoken critic of the American military campaigns in Vietnam. The Browne Papers consist primarily of professional correspondence relating to all aspects of his career as an economist and black activist with the National Conference on Black Power and National Black Political Convention; his campaign for the United States Senate in 1966 and other political activities. The collection is divided into five series and two subseries. The Personal Papers series consists of biographical information including resumes and autobiographical sketches, Browne's letters to family and friends, job applications, and tributes. The two subseries within General Correspondence: Fairleigh Dickinson University (1966-1974) and Black Economic Research Center (1969-1981) consists principally of correspondence Browne kept at FDU and BERC pertaining to his speaking engagements, conference participation, writings, and other professional and personal matters. These files do not relate to his teaching responsibilities at FDU or to his administrative role at BERC. Correspondence from the 1980's reflects Browne's positions as a senior research fellow at Howard University and as the staff director of the banking subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives. In addition to the correspondence pertaining to economic issues as they affect African Americans, other themes in these files include monetary and fiscal policies of the United States and its relationship to other countries. Options for American policy on economic development regarding Africa, especially southern Africa, and the Caribbean are discussed. Other subjects include the African famine of the mid 1980's, South African apartheid, and international finance. The series Political Activities documents Browne's 1966 political campaign for the United States Senate seat from New Jersey. Material from the National Conference on Black Power includes reports on sessions and Browne's workshop on economic empowerment, and correspondence between Browne and Amiri Baraka (one of the conference's co-chairs) dealing with their participation in meetings regarding the conference. The series also contains material for the 1972 National Black Political Convention including drafts of the National Black Political Agenda and drafts of papers by others concerning a variety of topics as they relate to African Americans including human development, communications, foreign policy, rural development, and political empowerment, as well as Browne's paper on economic empowerment. The Vietnam series reflects Browne's long-term commitment to influence United States policy on Vietnam. Correspondence with officials and others detail Browne's position, especially his conviction that the U.S. followed an erroneous course in supporting Vietnam's President Diem. Diaries document two trips Browne took to Vietnam in 1967 and 1978 to observe the changes that had occurred in the country. In addition there is material about African-American involvement both as soldiers and protesters. The Writings Series includes speeches Browne delivered at conferences nationwide concerning the economic policies of the United States, especially as they relate to African Americans and economic empowerment, manuscripts for published articles, book reviews, and letters to the editor about the same topics. Copies of his numerous publications are also included in this series, including "Race Relations in International Affairs" (1961) and responses generated by Browne's controversial 1967 article, "The Case for Black Separatism."

9.6 lin. ft.

New York State Historical Documents Inventory