The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Walter E. Massey


Overview of the Item
	Repository:	The HistoryMakers
		1900 S. Michigan Avenue
		Chicago, Illinois 60616
		(312) 674-1900
		info@thehistorymakers.com
		http://www.thehistorymakers.com
	Interviewer:	Julieanna Richardson
	Videographer:	Scott Stearns
	Title:	Video Oral History Interview with Walter E. Massey
	Dates:	July 10, 2002
	Abstract:	(ABSTRACT)
	Quantity:	8 Betacam SP videocassettes, 1 half-Hollinger box containing (NUMBER) folders of accompanying materials.
	Identification:	A2002.023
	Language:	The interviews and records are in English

Biographical Note

Scientist and educator Walter Massey balances the responsibilities of trained scientist and university administrator with remarkable skill. Beginning his education in his hometown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Massey completed high school at sixteen, at which time he began undergraduate studies. Born on April 5, 1938, to Chester and Essie Massey, he went on to complete the highest levels of education, earning a B.S. from Morehouse College in 1958 and later his M.S and Ph.D. degrees in physics at Washington University in 1966.

Diversity and distinction aptly characterize Massey's career. In 1995, Massey returned to Morehouse College, where he serves as the college's president. One of many hallmarks in a long career in higher education, Massey has also held physics professorships at numerous universities, including the University of Illinois, Brown University and the University of Chicago. In 1993, he was appointed provost and vice president for academic affairs for the University of California system, where he served until he assumed the presidency at Morehouse College in 1995.

Along with distinguishing himself as an educator, Massey has had a longstanding relationship with Argonne National Laboratory, where he served as vice president for research between 1984 and 1991, and as the founding chairman of the University of Chicago Development Corporation between 1986 and 1991. In 1991, he was appointed director of the National Science Foundation, where he served until 1993. His career illuminates a commitment to diversity and expanding opportunities for minorities in the sciences.

In recognition of his many accomplishments, Massey has been awarded more than twenty honorary doctorates and numerous awards for excellence in teaching. In addition, Massey is active in several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Massey maintains a commitment to service through his affiliation with a number of civic, cultural and community organizations. He is married to Shirley Anne Massey and is the father of two sons, Keith and Eric.

Biographical Note by The HistoryMakers®

Scope and Contents

This life oral history interview with Walter E. Massey was conducted by Julieanna Richardson on 2002-07-10 in Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia and is recorded on 8 30-minute Betacam SP videocassettes. Access copies exist on Betacam SP, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1. The interview contains information on (COMPLETE ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF INTERVIEW). Accompanying materials in the collection include Walter E. Massey's correspondence with The HistoryMakers® related to the interview; a copy of the signed release form and the production report; the biographical information used by the interviewer to prepare for the interview (DETAILS); paper copies of the interview transcripts, 3 1/2" floppy disks with electronic copies of the transcripts; selected quotes for video clips; photocopies of photographs captured on video; XML files with metadata created in editing and cataloguing the interview for The HistoryMakers Digital Video Library; and paper copies of these XML files.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Access to paper records is restricted. Other restrictions may be applied on a case-by-case basis.

Restrictions on Use

All use of materials must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers® and appropriate credit must be given. All use credits must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers®. Copyright is held by The HistoryMakers®.


Index Terms
	This record series is indexed under the following controlled access terms.
	Contributors:
		Massey, Walter E., 1936-
		Richardson, Julieanna
		Stearns, Scott
	Persons:
		(PERSONS)
	Corporate Bodies:
		(CORPORATE BODIES)
	Family Names:
		Massey
	Places:
		(PLACES)
	Subjects:
		(SUBJECTS)
	Document Types:
		Video oral history interview
	Titles:
		The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Walter E. Massey

Related Material

Accompanying materials: Accompanying materials are filed in (NUMBER) folders in a half-Hollinger box and shelved at The HistoryMakers® Archives and Collection Library by accession number, separately from the videos.

Administrative Information

Location of Originals

Betacam, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1 access copies are held for in-house use at The HistoryMakers®; Betacam SP, VHS and DVD playback hardware is provided for in-house viewing of the access copies; MPEG-1 copies are searchable and viewable via a digital video database.

Preferred Citation

The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Walter E. Massey, July 10, 2002. The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection, 1900 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois.

Detailed Description/Tape Listings

Video Oral History Interview with Walter E. Massey, Tape 1, March 13, 2002, TRT: 00:29:58.

Morehouse College president and physicist, Walter E. Massey, shares stories from his segregated childhood in Hattiesburgh, Mississippi. Adopted by his stepfather at the age of 4, Massey recalls a fairly idyllic life inside the circumscribed existance of segregated Hattiesbug

Video Oral History Interview with Walter E. Massey, Tape 2, March 13, 2002, TRT: 00:30:57.

Morehouse College president, Walter E. Massey, details a trial program sponsored by the Ford Foundation which allowed him to matriculate at Morehouse without graduating from the 12th grade. Shocked by the high level of intellectual acheivement, Massey was at first daunted. But he also found his experieince highly enrinching, with exposure to great ideas, world religions and music.

Video Oral History Interview with Walter E. Massey, Tape 3, March 13, 2002, TRT: 00:29:08.

Morehouse College president and physicist, Walter E. Massey details his educational career while at Morehouse. He recalls his close friends, who all matriculated as early admits and joined Omega Psi Phi fraternity together. Massey also describes the encouragement from his professors like S.H. Christansen, and President Benjamin Mays, who encouraged him to pursue physics carefully mentored by these academic heavyweights, Massey landed fellowships and teaching positions. But while at Howard University, he saw he was not receiving a high level of education and left to attend Washington University.

Video Oral History Interview with Walter E. Massey, Tape 4, March 13, 2002, TRT: 00:28:53.

Educator and scientist, Dr. Walter E. Massey details his early experiences as a faculty member. He describes the rowdy atmosphere at the University of Illinois- Urbana/Champaign during the late 1960s. He recalls a black student body angered by the dearth of black faculty and overwhelmed by a sense of frustration due to their lack of academic preperation. Massey served as student advisor for a time, but even an offer of tenure couldn't keep him at the school. Massey jumped to Brown University for 10 years and was offered the directorship at Argonne National Laboratory.

Video Oral History Interview with Walter E. Massey, Tape 5, July 10, 2002, TRT: 00:29:42.

Educator and physicist, Dr. Walter E. Massey details his life as head of the Argonne National Laboratory. He recalls the internal and external pressures from other universities, the federal government and the Lab employees. After a round of deep cuts from the Reagan administration, Massey was forced to lay off more than 1000 employees, an experience from which he drew a great deal of praise for his fairness in making the cuts.

Video Oral History Interview with Walter E. Massey, Tape 6, July 10, 2002, TRT: 00:30:47.

Educator and physicist Dr. Walter E. Massey, details his realtionship with various federal bodies, including the White House. He recalls his close relationship with George H.W. Bush, despite their different political affiliations. Massey also discusses clashes with Congress of funding for the National Science Foundation, of which he became director in the early 1990s.

Video Oral History Interview with Walter E. Massey, Tape 7, July 10, 2002, TRT: 00:30:42.

Educator and physicist, Dr. Walter E. Massey, details his tenure as director of the National Scinece Foundation and his jump back to academia as provost in the University of California system. Taking the second in command position, Massey joined at an inopportune time-- Prop 209 ending affirmative action in admissions, huge state cutbacks among other problems, cast a large shadow over him. But just as he was poised to become the president of the UC system, he received word that Morehouse's president resigned amidst scandal.

Video Oral History Interview with Walter E. Massey, Tape 8, July 10, 2002, TRT: 00:20:12.

Morehouse College president Walter E. Massey describes the fortuitious set of circumstances which arose and allowed him to pass up the chance to be president of the huge University of California system and instead return to his alma mater, Morehouse.