Collection Guide
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Smith (Mary Perry) papers
BANC MSS 2016/195
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: Mary Perry Smith papers
Creator:
Smith, Mary Perry
source:
Autin, Kathryn
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 2016/195
Physical Description:
13.1 Linear Feet
(10 Cartons, 2 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1950-2014
Date (bulk): 1964-2010
Abstract: The Mary Perry Smith papers document her career as an educator and advocate for Black filmmakers. The bulk of this collection
consists of records from two organizations Smith co-founded, the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement Program (MESA)
and the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, but there are also materials related to her career as a teacher at Oakland Technical
High School.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English.
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Cartons 1-9 and Boxes 1-2 are open for research. Carton 10 includes restricted personal information and is closed to researchers
until 2053.
No future additions are expected.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Mary Perry Smith papers were given to The Bancroft Library in 2016 by Kathryn Autin.
Mary Perry Smith was born in Evansville, Indiana in 1926. She attended Ball State University as an undergraduate, earned a
Master's from Purdue University, and began her teaching career in Texas. While in Texas, she met her husband, educator and
community leader, Norvel L. Smith. The couple moved to the Bay Area and settled in Oakland, where Smith began her long career
as an educator, community activist, philanthropist, and an advocate for Black filmmakers and African American cultural institutions.
In 1969, while teaching geometry at Oakland Technical High School, she helped launch the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement
(MESA) Program. Smith left teaching in 1977 to work on MESA full time, eventually becoming a board member. She co-founded
the Black Filmmakers' Hall of Fame in Oakland in 1974 and served on the board of the Oakland Museum. Smith died in 2015.
There are no alternative forms of this collection.
[Identification of item], Mary Perry Smith papers, BANC MSS 2016/195c,The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Arranged to the folder level.
Processed by Beatrix Scolari and Marjorie Bryer in 2017
An interview with Mary Perry Smith, co-founder of MESA (BANC MSS 2005/247c)
Norvel L. Smith papers (BANC MSS 2016/199)
The Mary Perry Smith papers document her career as an educator and advocate for Black filmmakers. The bulk of this collection
consists of records from two organizations Smith co-founded, the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement Program (MESA)
and the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. The collection is divided into three series: MESA, Oakland Technical High School, and
Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. Original groupings of records and folder titles were retained when possible.
Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the
Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720-6000. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Smith, Mary Perry, 1926- -- Archives
African American teachers -- California -- Oakland
Mathematics, Science, Engineering Achievement Program
Minority Students -- Vocational Guidance -- California
Mathematics -- Vocational Guidance
Engineering -- Vocational Guidance
Science -- Vocational Guidance
Mathematics -- Study and teaching.
Education -- California -- Oakland
Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, Inc.
Smith, Mary Perry
Autin, Kathryn