The Amherst Student issue from February 23rd, 1970

“Blacks Take Books From Frost”

“Over three hundred books related to black studies were removed from Frost Library as it was evacuated Wednesday afternoon…

Afro-Ams Explain Book Removal:

Our reasoning stems directly from the rationale of our larger motion (the seizer of the four Amherst buildings) and our desire to use that act in such a way as to focus attention upon the unresponsiveness of the white community to the needs of black folk… We cannot understand why books that have been ordered from anywhere between six months and a year have not been placed with us.”

 

The Amherst Student issue from February 26th, 1970

“Blacks Returns Books Early Last Night, No Questions Asked”

“Last evening the Five College Black Community quietly returned the books taken from Robert Frost Library. Mrs. Gertrude B. Weir, the library’s Head of Circulation, reported that at around 7:45 p.m. the first of ten ‘very large cartons of books’ was brought in.”

 

“Book Blunder”

“The temporary loss of the books to the Amherst community was a provoking snub at that community, besides creating a critical situation to at least one black student needing those books for his thesis.”

 

“Letters to the Chairman: Sophomore Embittered By Seizure Of Books”

Written by Carl Howard Manstein.

“As far as I am concerned, no one has the right, no matter who he is or who he thinks he is, to prevent the educational process of this or any school from proceeding in as ‘normal’ a realm as possible… [T]here is no justification for any action which prohibits a student or faculty member from participating in the entire educational scheme.”

 

 

The Amherst Student issue from March 5th, 1970

“Letters to the Chairman: Librarian Corrects Statement About Missing Files”

Written by Gertrude B. Wier.

“When a STUDENT representative called, I was not able to give him any final answer, only conjectures, even at the time of the second call when most of the books had been unpacked. However, it was apparent by then that most, if not all, of the books had been returned…”

 

 

 

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