Have you seen President Ashe (UM’s first president) and President Pearson (second president) on film before? I have not because the two history videos the University of Miami created at the golden anniversary in 1975 and the 60th anniversary in 1985 only showed pictures of the first two presidents.
However, when the university will create a new documentary for the centennial anniversary in 2025, it will feature President Ashe and President Pearson in action! I and my colleague Marcia Heath could not believe our eyes to see them. Where did I find such amazing historical materials? It is the Wolfson Moving Image Archives!
Please go to the links below to see the two clips made accessible by the Wolfson.
- Gift presentation of Pan American Globe by Humphrey Toomay followed by President Ashe’s speech on April 22, 1952. [no audio]
Click Here – President Ashe in 1952
2. Inauguration of President Pearson on May 7, 1953. [with audio, he sounds so intelligent and respectable!]
Click Here – President Pearson in 1953
I am grateful for the Wolfson Archives, which provided us a clip of Dr. King speaking at the UM in 1966 and also made accessible these clips of our two presidents which I have never thought available. Please visit their website if you haven’t and explore their amazing moving image collection.
Click Here – Wolfson Archive HP
University of Miami Archives -- Let's Archive It 