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John T. Washington collection, 1962-2017

 

Summary

Creator:
Washington, John T. (John Thomas), 1940-1983
Abstract:
The John T. Washington collection, 1957-1980, documents UCF professor John T. Washington's life outside of his affiliation with UCF and his legacy. It chiefly consists of church sermons and materials, photographs, programs, minutes, agendas, and awards relating to John T. Washington's community service and role as a pastor as well as the scholarship award and honor society established in his name after his death. The collection provides insight into John T. Washington's life as the founder and pastor of the First Church of Peace and the efforts to maintain his legacy after his death with the John T. Washington Community Service Awards and Scholarship and the John T. Washington Honor Society. John Thomas Washington was born in 1940 in Immokalee, Florida. He was an associate professor of sociology at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and one of UCF's first Black faculty members. Washington worked to promote diversity at UCF, serving as one of the first advisors for the Black Student Union as well as other student organizations. He also aided in developing UCF's Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action and the Office of Multicultural Academic and Support Services. Before his time at UCF, Washington served as an airman in the United States Air Force from 1962-1964. He went on to earn his bachelor's and master's degrees at Rollins College and his Ph.D. at the University of Florida. In addition to his work at UCF, Washington founded the First Church of Peace in Orlando and served as the church's pastor. Washington died in 1983 at the age of 42 from a sudden heart attack. Following his death, the Student Services Building was renamed the John T. Washington Center in 1984. The John T. Washington Community Service Awards & Scholarship were also founded in his honor. In 1996, the John T. Washington Honor Society was established to uphold Washington's values of public service.
Extent:
1.05 Linear Feet 3 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], John T. Washington collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

The John T. Washington collection, 1957-1980, documents UCF professor John T. Washington's life outside of his affiliation with UCF and his legacy. It chiefly consists of church sermons and church materials, photographs, programs, minutes, agendas, and awards relating to John T. Washington's community service and role as a pastor as well as the scholarship award and honor society established in his name after his death. The collection provides insight into John T. Washington's life as the founder and pastor of the First Church of Peace and the efforts to maintain his legacy after his death with the John T. Washington Community Service Awards and Scholarship and the John T. Washington Honor Society.

Series I: Documents and Photographs, 1962-2017 contains Washington's personal files and files related to the John T. Washington Service Awards and Scholarship. Personal files include church sermons, programs, letters to his wife Alma, military identification cards, and other personal information. Files related to the John T. Washington Service Awards and Scholarship include programs, flyers, brochures, newspaper clippings, meeting minutes and agendas, and photographs.

Series II: Awards, 1977-2003 contains certificates, awards, and plaques received by Washington or the John T. Washington Honor Society.

Biographical / historical:

John Thomas Washington was born May 9, 1940 in Immokalee, Florida. He was an associate professor of sociology at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and one of UCF's first Black faculty members. Washington worked to promote diversity at UCF, serving as one of the first advisors for the Black Student Union as well as other student organizations. He also aided in developing UCF's Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action and the Office of Multicultural Academic and Support Services.

Before his time at UCF, Washington served as an airman in the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1964. He earned his bachelor's degree in general studies in 1970 and master's degrees in Guidance and Counseling in 1973 at Rollins College. In 1977, he received his Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Florida. In addition to his work at UCF, Washington founded the First Church of Peace in Orlando and served as the church's pastor. He volunteered with several community organizations in Orlando, such as Meals on Wheels, Orlando Crime Prevention Commission, Central Florida Committee of United Negro College Fund, and the Mayor's Minority Business Task Force. He was presented with a Jefferson Award for his public service in 1978.

On March 10, 1983, Washington died at the age of 42 from a sudden heart attack. The following year, the Student Services Building on the UCF campus was renamed the John T. Washington Center. The John T. Washington Community Service Awards & Scholarship were also founded in his honor. In 1996, the John T. Washington Honor Society was established to uphold Washington's values of public service.

Acquisition information:
UCF History Department transferred these materials to the University of Central Florida Special Collections University Archives in 2018 (Accession no. CFU2018_25). An unknown source gifted additional materials (CFM2021_18).
Processing information:

Collection processed by and finding aid prepared by Candice Sedano in 2019. Staples and paper clips were removed from documents and replaced with plastic clips. Paper materials were placed into acid free folders and in an acid free box. Photographs were sleeved. Additional materials were processed by Asmara Cortes-Caba in 2024. Finding aid updated by Asmara Cortes-Caba in 2024.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in two series.

  • I. Documents and Photographs, 1957-2017
  • II. Awards and Plaques, 1977-2003

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The entire collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], John T. Washington collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Location of this collection:
John C. Hitt Library
12701 Pegasus Drive, Building 2
Orlando
FL
32816-8030
USA