Alexander, Ray A., 1927- .

ARRANGEMENT: The collection is arranged alphabetically by folder title, with the contents of each folder arranged chronologically.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The collection contains a variety of information relating to Ray A. Alexander's role as the executive director of the Afro Urban Institute and the small businesses that the Afro Urban Institute supported during the 1970s and the late 1980s. The collection contains annual Afro Urban Institute board meeting minutes and reports, including the executive director's report and news clippings; Business Insight newsletters (1976-1977) published by the Afro Urban Institute; correspondence; various donation solicitations; an evaluation of the Career Opportunities Preparation program; executive committee meeting minutes; National Black Economic Development conference workshop supplements; quarterly narrative reports, which include news video transcripts, articles, and correspondence; a booklet summarizing the Afro Urban Institute's 1974 activities; the Tal-N-Art Consortium, Inc. Times newsletter and other published materials, which highlight Afro Urban Institute initiatives and also touch on a variety of businesses and programs that the Afro Urban Institute supported to increase positive economic development within Milwaukee's north side community.

Aside from information regarding the Afro Urban Institute's assistance to various north side Milwaukee Businesses, some documents pertain to Ray A. Alexander's role in the Senate Small Business Administration Committee investigation and hearings (folder 10). This investigation took place during 1975 and 1976 when Congress learned that the Madison and Milwaukee SBA branches made improper loans after the Peoples Brewing Company folded. The Peoples Brewing Company was one of the many businesses that the Afro Urban Institute supported. (Alexander was also on this company's board of directors.) After the October 14, 1975 testimony of Alexander and others, the Senate Committee looked into improprieties in the operations of the SBA as well as a small number of government agencies with which the Peoples Brewing Company transacted business.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Ray A. Alexander began work as the executive director of the Afro Urban Institute, Inc. in 1970. Prior to that time, Alexander was employed in various capacities in the city of Milwaukee after obtaining a B.A. in Sociology (1950) at the University of Wisconsin--Madison, and a M.A. in Urban Affairs (1969) at the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. His occupations included Employment Interviewer (1955-1964), Housing and Sanitation Inspector I (1955-1964), and Community Relations Director (1965-1969), where he participated in the planning of the National Black Economic Development Conference, the Milwaukee Economic Development Institute, and helped organize and develop the Afro Urban Institute.

Alexander's role extended beyond the financial and educational support of minority business owners. He also helped design and implement the Career Opportunity Preparation program, aimed at children between seventh and ninth grade, to create awareness of career opportunities for African Americans, and was a part-time lecturer at the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee School of Business Administration beginning in 1973.

The Afro Urban Institute continues to exist in Milwaukee. During the 1970s the Afro Urban Institute's goals included promoting positive economic development of Milwaukee's inner city north to expand economic opportunities and employment. They did this through assisting minority entrepreneurial development and coordinating services with the Small Business Administration and the Office of Minority Business Enterprises, and its two Milwaukee affiliates, the Economic Development Center and the Northside Community Design Center. In addition, they supported funding for northern Milwaukee redevelopment groups including Third and North Coalition, Halyard Park, Misericordia Community Hospital, the Southeastern Minority Purchasing Council, and Tal-N-Art, an advocacy group for African American artists.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Alexander, Ray A., 1927- . Papers, 1972-1988. UWM Manuscript Collection 192. University Manuscript Collection. Archives. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS:

Barbee, Lloyd A., 1925-2002. Papers, 1933-1982. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 16 and Milwaukee Micro Collection 42)

Crosby, Henry. Papers, 1969-1976. (UWM Manuscript Collection 188)

Halyard, Ardie Clark, 1900- . Speech, 1980. (Milwaukee Small Collection 111)

Milwaukee Urban League. Records, 1919-1979. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EZ, Milwaukee Micro Collection 20, and Milwaukee Tape 6)

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Milwaukee Branch. Records, 1917-1989. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EP)

Reuss, Henry S. Papers, 1839-1982. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 112)

University of Wisconsin--Extension. Records, 1896-[ongoing]. (UWM Archival Collection 71)

University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. College of Letters & Science. Office of the Dean. Records, 1948-1995. (UWM Archival Collection 1)

University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. School of Business Administration. Office of the Dean. Records, 1947-[ongoing]. (UWM Archival Collection 15)

ACQUISITION: Ray A. Alexander donated this collection to the Archives in October 2002 (accession number 2002-034).

PROCESSING: This collection was processed in November and December 2002 by Emily Castle. Jacqueline Frank completed the finding aid in January 2003.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

• African American business enterprises--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
• African American business people--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
• African American executives--Wisconsin.
• Afro Urban Institute, Inc.
• Apex Cab Company, Inc.
• Cheops Construction Company, Inc.
• Economic Development Center (Milwaukee, Wis.).
• Halyard Park (Milwaukee, Wis.).
• Industries--Social aspects--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
• Misericordia Community Hospital (Milwaukee, Wis.).
• Northside Community Design Center (Milwaukee, Wis.).
• Peoples Brewing Company.
• Southeastern Minority Purchasing Council (Milwaukee, Wis.).
• Tal-N-Art, Inc.
• Third and North Coalition (Milwaukee, Wis.).
• United States. Office of Minority Business Enterprises (Milwaukee, Wis.).
• United States. Small Business Administration (Milwaukee, Wis.).
• United States. Small Business Administration (Madison, Wis.).

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URL: http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/arch/findaids/uwmmss192.htm
Last edited on Monday, July 12, 2004.
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