Magazine cover featuring Barbara Penelton, 2001
Title
Magazine cover featuring Barbara Penelton, 2001
Description
Barbara Penelton came to Peoria in 1966 with a PhD in education from the University of Indiana to work on civil rights issues such as fair housing, school desegregation, and local politics through the Urban League. At the special invitation of the university president, Penelton joined the faculty at Bradley in 1969 as the first full-time African American female professor.
In a 2001 interview in The Peoria Woman (cover shown here), she describes the early years on campus as difficult: “It was a very hostile environment and combating the issues of racism and sexism was stressful. There was student unrest throughout the campus, and I always felt I could never do all of the things that were expected of me. African-American students needed support; help; mentoring; tutoring; academic advisement; and faculty to support their clubs, sororities, and fraternities. Their parents needed assurance that their children were safe and being treated fairly. The university needed my participation on multiple committees, task forces, searches, and the senate. I was developing a multicultural course and working with others to develop a Black Studies Program, all against the resistance of those who opposed our efforts. The Urban League needed continued support of its programs by active and committed board members. The black community needed active participation and role models in their schools, churches, clubs, and organization. This obligated me to do speeches, presentations, and lots of community service.”
Penelton started at Bradley expecting to stay for three years. She stayed for thirty-three and then continued as an emeritus professor. During her time on campus she served as chair of the Department of Teacher Education and as the university ombuds. She won the Putnam Award for Teaching Excellence, the Mergen Award for Public Service, the Martin Luther King Drum Major Award for Outstanding Educator, and the YWCA Leadership Award.
By 2001, while mindful of the work yet to be done, Penelton could also report on progress especially in regard to the preparation of college students for careers in teaching: “over the course of my career I have seen a program that provided no preparation to work with culturally diverse populations move to an inclusion model that makes diversity a theme that permeates the program for all students.”
In addition to this magazine and other material detailing her career, Special Collections holds a copy of an audio-recorded conversation Dr. Penelton had with her adult daughters in 2008 for StoryCorps.
Photo by Ching Zedric.
In a 2001 interview in The Peoria Woman (cover shown here), she describes the early years on campus as difficult: “It was a very hostile environment and combating the issues of racism and sexism was stressful. There was student unrest throughout the campus, and I always felt I could never do all of the things that were expected of me. African-American students needed support; help; mentoring; tutoring; academic advisement; and faculty to support their clubs, sororities, and fraternities. Their parents needed assurance that their children were safe and being treated fairly. The university needed my participation on multiple committees, task forces, searches, and the senate. I was developing a multicultural course and working with others to develop a Black Studies Program, all against the resistance of those who opposed our efforts. The Urban League needed continued support of its programs by active and committed board members. The black community needed active participation and role models in their schools, churches, clubs, and organization. This obligated me to do speeches, presentations, and lots of community service.”
Penelton started at Bradley expecting to stay for three years. She stayed for thirty-three and then continued as an emeritus professor. During her time on campus she served as chair of the Department of Teacher Education and as the university ombuds. She won the Putnam Award for Teaching Excellence, the Mergen Award for Public Service, the Martin Luther King Drum Major Award for Outstanding Educator, and the YWCA Leadership Award.
By 2001, while mindful of the work yet to be done, Penelton could also report on progress especially in regard to the preparation of college students for careers in teaching: “over the course of my career I have seen a program that provided no preparation to work with culturally diverse populations move to an inclusion model that makes diversity a theme that permeates the program for all students.”
In addition to this magazine and other material detailing her career, Special Collections holds a copy of an audio-recorded conversation Dr. Penelton had with her adult daughters in 2008 for StoryCorps.
Photo by Ching Zedric.
Creator
Delayne Spain
Date
2001
Subject
Faculty
Rights
For official publication permission or to request high resolution images, contact Special Collections at specialcollections@bradley.edu or (309)677-2822.
Citation
Delayne Spain, “Magazine cover featuring Barbara Penelton, 2001,” Virginius H. Chase Special Collections Center, accessed May 8, 2024, https://bradleyspecialcollections.omeka.net/items/show/96.