This LibGuide is meant to help people locate information on TSU history, alumni and faculty.
Incoming Freshmen are sometimes assigned to research some aspect of TSU History as part of their orientation to TSU. The first place some choose to begin their research--not a bad way to begin--is through TSU's Wikipedia entry. (Just don't cite Wikipedia as a source, because some professors don't view it as credible or authoritative.) Please see a librarian if you need assistance finding materials.
Here are some other online resources which may be helpful to you.
Online Resources:
TSU Library Special Collection: http://www.tsu.edu/academics/library/specialcollections.html
Brief overview of TSU's history on the university's website: http://www.tsu.edu/about/history.php
Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas entry for Texas Southern University.https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/texas-southern-university
Rice University's Museum of Houston has digitized 98 historical documents and images relating to TSU History. The collection may be found here: https://scholarship.rice.edu/handle/1911/36277 but the originals reside in the Heartman Collection at the Robert J. Terry Library.
HBCU Digital History Archive. A digital collection celebrating the founding of the historically Black colleges and universities. http://hbcudigitallibrary.auctr.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/TXDC
"Historical overview of Texas Southern University and its impact" by Ozzell Taylor Johnson. http://www.uh.edu/honors/Programs-Minors/honors-and-the-schools/houston-teachers-institute/curriculum-units/pdfs/1999/the-history-economic-base-and-politics-of-houston/taylor-johnson-99-houston.pdf
The history of higher education for Negroes in Texas, 1930-1955: with particular reference to Texas Southern University / by Raphael O'Hara Lanier. LC2802.T4 L3 1957a. (Heartman) Download ProQuest Full text PDF. Off-campus access available only to authorized users.
Origin and development of Texas Southern University by William E. Terry. LC2851.T4532 T4 1978 (Heartman, 4th Floor). Also later edition LC2851.T4532 T4 1968a. (Heartman and ProQuest link) Download ProQuest Full text PDF. Off-campus access available only to authorized users.
Houston History magazine (online) has a few good articles on TSU history: https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/?s=texas+southern+University
Print Resources:
As I see Texas Southern University and the University of Houston by Bridges Alfred Turner. LC2851.T4532 T87 1986 (Heartman)Texas Southern University, from Separation to Special Designation, by John H. Lash, Thomas Freeman, and Hortense Dixon. LC2851.T4532 L3 (Heartman)
Texas Southern University: Its Antecedents, Political Origin, and Future by Ira B. Bryant. LC2851.T4532 B7 1975 (Heartman and 4th Floor)
TSU Meets the Press: White newspaper coverage of a Black University in Houston, Texas, 1947-2006, written and compiled by E. Bun Lee. LC2851.T4532 L44 2007 (Heartman, Reference and 4th Floor)
TSU Archives, located in Heartman Special Collections, houses the official records of Texas Southern University. The records include board meeting minutes, presidential papers, yearbooks, dissertations, photographs and other documents related to the history and development of the institution. These documents are not available online but are available for the public to view. TSU archives contains papers of Barbara Jordan, Mickey Leeland, TSU presidents, various documents associated with the devopment of Houston's Third Ward, and items related to the slave trade in Texas.
TSU Buildings are names after the following notable individuals:
Robert J. Terry [Old Library] -- TSU Administrator, President, 1986-1987
Mack H. Hannah [Hannah Hall]
Granville M. Sawyer [Sawyer Auditorium] -- TSU President, 1967-1979.
Jesse H. Jones [School of Business]
Barbara Jordan–Mickey Leland [School of Public Affairs]
Spurgeon N. Gray [Gray Hall -- Pharmacy Building]
Leonard H. O. Spearman Technology building
Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Thomas Freeman Honors College
NEW! TSU Digital Scholarship (Publications of current TSU Faculty) Repository: http://digitalscholarship.tsu.edu/sw_gallery.html Note that many TSU faculty have not yet contributed publications to this repository--this is a new venture.
TSU Archives houses the official records of Texas Southern University. The records include board meeting minutes, presidential papers, yearbooks, dissertations, photographs and other documents related to the history and development of the institution. These documents are not available online but are available for the public to view. To make an appointment to view documents in the archives, please contact Joyce Thomas at 713-313-4422.
Famous TSU Alumni
Barbara Jordan politician, lawyer
Yolanda Adams, record producer, singer-songwriter, radio personality
Craig Washington, politician, lawyer
Michael Strahan, media personality, football player
Al Green, politician, lawyer
Senfronia Thompson, politician, lawyer, teacher
Larry Leon Palmer, US Diplomat
Hank Johnson, politician
Oliver Celestin, football player
Rodney Ellis, Senator, lawyer
Harry E. Johnson, lawyer former president of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity
Mickey Leland, Congressman and activist;
also: http://www.blackpast.org/aaw/leland-mickey-1944-1989
Bobby Reid, football player
Kirk Whalum, songwriter, musician
Kermit Oliver renown artist, Hermes scarf designer
Bert Samples, Houston artist, muralist
Brett Maxie, coach, football player
Bobbi Humphrey, flutist, singer
Alonzo Bradley, basketball player
Byron E. Price, professor, activist, author
Musiliu Obanikoro, Nigerian politician
Bert Askson, football player
Ted Dunbar, jazz musician
Charles Philyaw, football player
Conrad O. Johnson, musician
Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, Nigerian sprinter, Olympic Gold Medalist
Clarence Bradford, politician and Houston Police Chief
Rocky Williform, publisher, entrepreneur
Jim Hines, sprinter, athlete
Kenneth M. Hoyt, US District Judge
Lloyd C. A. Wells, civil rights activist, sports photographer
Jarvis Johnson, Texas representative
Alvin Fielder, jazz drummer
Ronald C. Green, former city controller, lawyer, activist
Barrie Lee Hall, Jr., musician (played with Duke Ellington)
Kase Lukman Lawal, Businessman, CEO
James Young, football player
Belvin Perry, famous judge
Warren Bone, football player
More:
TSU Legends in their own Time Alumni Honorees Gala
Notable People Affiliated with TSU
Dr. John Biggers
Toni Morrison
TSU Dissertations can be found by going to ProQuest Dissertations (login required). Under Advanced Search, search by institution "Texas Southern University" and you will find over 700 TSU dissertations.