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Conference Proceedings

 Sub-Series

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Betty Brown-Chappell papers document the academic, genealogical, and professional life of African-American social worker, educator, and social policy advocate Dr. Betty Brown-Chappell. The collection relates her lifetime experience in the sectors of family and student life as a first generation collegian, as an African American Ph.D. of Social Work, professor, and academic administrator. There are additional materials that focus on Brown-Chappell’s work as a social work advocate who impacted state, national, and international policymaking.



The Betty Brown-Chappell papers contain documents and printed materials of mostly an academic nature from her educational and professorial/administrative career, obituaries, records, extensive family photograph albums and other genealogical material, books, visual media, and three-dimensional objects.



The collection is comprised of six series and multiple subseries. Series include COURSE MATERIALS, HUMAN RESOURCES/PERSONNEL, PERSONAL AND FAMILY PAPERS, RESEARCH, SERVICE, and VISUAL MATERIALS.



The COURSE MATERIALS series includes syllabi, handouts, overheads, advising materials, grade sheets, letters of reference, and transparencies, as well as examples of student work. This series also includes documents created while maintaining a collegiate school. This series is arranged in two subseries, Teaching and Administrative Release Work. The Teaching subseries incudes teaching materials, resources, and class perparation documents. The Administrative Release Work subseries documents the work of Brown-Chappell separate from teaching. This subseries details her work in the Bachelor of Social Work British Exchange Program and includes information regarding the Bachelor of Social Work Program’s students recruitment, retention, and graduation. Materials also focus on Brown-Chappell's McNair Scholars Program administrative duties.



The HUMAN RESOURCES/PERSONNEL series includes actions taken by Dr. Brown-Chappell to further her career in higher education and in the direct practice of social work within organizations such as the National Association of Social Workers. This series is divided into three subseries: Eastern Michigan University, the University of Michigan, and Nonacademic Organizations. Materials include binders full of Brown-Chappell’s application for tenure, as well as administrative reports, basic employee information, actions taken by the department, and criteria of the department, college, university, or union in regards to promotion, retention, and discipline. A few records document EMU’s inaugural Ronald McNair Scholars Program (supporting low income, first generation, or underrepresented undergraduates who plan to pursue a PhD) under the direction of Dr. Brown-Chappell.



The PERSONAL AND FAMILY PAPERS series is divided into two subseries - Personal Papers and Family Papers. The Personal Papers subseries includes biographical information, resume and curriculum vitae, personal notes and correspondence, certificates and awards. Materials inclide Brown-Chappell's 2009 and 2011 service in the Democratic National Convention, correspondence from President Obama and his White House, a southern cookbook, and ephemera from past events. The Family Papers subseries is comprised of the papers of Brown-Chappell’s nuclear family: husband Michael James Chappell, son Michael Jahi Chappell, and daughter Aisha Chappell. Also inclided are obituary programs and Brown-Chappell’s paternal family tree. This series features Brown-Chappell's newest publication, Open Secrets - A Poor Person's Journey in Higher Education.



The RESEARCH series is arranged in three subseries: Pre-Doctoral, Doctoral and Post-Doctoral, and Professorship. The series contains research on class outcomes, teaching methods, original design work for articles, data sets, participant observation, grant application, journal drafts, literature collected for articles, conference programs, power points, and final articles. The series also contains Brown-Chappell’s research for her Ph.D. thesis as well as the thesis, "The Black Movement Model of Mayoral Policy Leadership."



The SERVICE series is divided into two subseries - Eastern Michigan University and External and Community Service. It contains committee minutes, faculty minutes, committee reports, attendance rosters, and graduation materials. Special features include material on the international Ambassador Program, the Social Work Licensure project, political advocacy work, and Dr. Brown Chappell’s service as a leader of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).



The VISUAL MATERIALS series includes photgraph albums, oversized photographs, and audio visual materials. Oversize photographs feature a composite photograph of the EMU Class of 1997, a large caricature of Brown-Chappell and her husband Michael Chappell, as well as a family photograph the Chappell family. The U-matic was a joint production effort of Betty Brown-Chappell and Michael Chappell discussing sexual harassment in the workplace, revolutionary in 1981. The 1995 DVD, featuring friend, fellow social worker and Detroit Council President Maryann Mahaffey, was produced by Dr. Betty Brown-Chappell. Dr. Brown-Chappell curated a series of books that document the seven descendents of Ada Mae Metcalf and other relatives. These books include personal narratives, photographs, and vital records.

Dates

  • 1946 - 2021
  • Majority of material found within 1992 - 2013

Conditions Governing Access

Researchers are asked to request materials 24 hours prior to visiting the the University Archives.

Extent

From the Collection: 80.4 Linear Feet (6 record center cartons, 51 archive boxes, 10 halfsize archive boxes, 29 clamshell boxes, 2 disk boxes, 1 tray, 8 objects, 4 oversize boxes, 5 oversize folders, 34 volumes, 4 DVD disks)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Eastern Michigan University Archives Repository

Contact:
Bruce T. Halle Library, Room 310
955 West Circle Drive
Ypsilanti Michigan 48197
734-487-2673