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Naomi Carrier academic career and community activism collection materials

 Collection
Identifier: MS 926
Finding aid note: Stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains educational materials such as class notes and teaching resources, as well as grant proposals and historical research. Notes and lesson plans supplement the musicals, plays, and poetry also found in the collection.

The materials are in good condition and range in date from 1936 to 2019. Researchers interested in African American Texan history, Educational strategies for the inclusion of African American History, and the research and writings of Naomi Carrier would find this collection particularly relevant.

Dates

  • 1936 - 2019

Conditions Governing Access

This material is open for research.

Stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this material must be facilitated through the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

The Woodson Research Center use policy is that researchers assume sole responsibility for any infringement of privacy, literary rights, copyrights, or other rights arising from their use of the archival materials. In addition to any restrictions placed by donors, certain kinds of archival materials are restricted for the life of the creator plus 50 years. These materials include, but are not limited to, student grades, transcripts, and any job applications or recommendations.

Biographical / Historical

Born in the Rio Grande Valley, Naomi Carrier grew up in Wichita Falls and graduated from the University of North Texas with degrees in Psychology and Education, before getting a masters in Education Leadership at the University of St. Thomas. She did her post-Graduate work at Harvard Graduate school of education, and continues her education at the University of Houston, Tulane University, and the Universities of Texas at Winedale, El Paso and San Antonio.

An experienced classroom teacher of American and Texas history, music, literature and theatre, Carrier began writing nonfiction to showcase at festivals and annual historical celebrations in order to show an African-American perspective. Her plays are frequently performed in various venues by Talking Back Living History Theatre, an organization which Carrier co-founded.

Carrier travelled all over to Texas to do extensive research before writing each of her plays, which take place in Texas between 1821 to 1865--as well as several set after the Civil war. The fifteen plays, compiled in her award-winning book Go Down, Old Hannah: The Living History of African American Texans, cover topics such as celebrations of enslaved people, family breakups, running away, the Civil War, emancipation, and reconstruction.

Naomi Carrier is the Founder and CEO of the Texas Center for African American Living History, and has been represented on the Texas Commission for the Arts Touring Roster for over 15 years. She has received grants and awards from the National endowment for the Humanities, National Park Service, The National Freedom Center, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Humanities Texas, The University of St. Thomas, The Houston Endowment, The Brown Foundation, The Meadows Foundation, and the Cities of Houston, Huntsville, Athens and Galveston.

Today, Carrier is the Head of School at St. James Episcopal School, and directs the Performing Arts Workshop at St. James School. She continues to push for historical inclusion, working with other educators, museum, and business professionals to create “A Celebration of Triumph,” a festival acknowledging the achievements and aspirations of African American Texans.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Overview

This collection contains the teaching resources and writings of renowned teacher, researcher, playwright, and actress Naomi Carrier, whose advocacy for African-American voices in history has had a profound effect on educational representation in Texas.

Arrangement

The materials are arranged by date, in six series as follows:

Series I: Class Notes

Series II: Teaching Resources

Series III: Grant Proposals

Series IV: Historical Sheet Music

Series V: Writings: Plays, Musical, and Poetry

Series VI: Historical Research

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Naomi Carrier donated the materials in 2020.

Processing Information

This finding aid was reviewed for harmful, offensive, and aggrandizing language in July 2021. Published titles and names of organizations with this language are not edited. Legacy finding aids are available by request. If you have suggestions, please email woodson@rice.edu.
Title
Guide to the Naomi Carrier academic career and community activism collection materials, 1936-2019
Status
Completed
Author
Karina Erazo and Gabby Parker
Date
2020
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA