Dr. Bettye Collier-Thomas

Professor, Temple University

Bettye Collier-Thomas is Professor of History at Temple University. She earned the PhD from George Washington University and has taught at Temple since 1989. She served as the inaugural director of the Temple University Center for African American History and Culture (1989-2002). Appointed by Joseph Duffy, head of the National Endowment for the Humanities, as a Special Consultant to the division of Public Programs (1977-1980), she developed NEH’s first program of technical assistance to black museums and historical organization; became a founder and officer of the National Association of Black Museums and organized the” First National Conference on Black Museums.” She is also the founder and served as the first executive director of the Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial Museum and the National Archives for Black Women’s History (designated by Congress a National Historic Site and now managed by the National Park Service). With the support of NEH, Collier-Thomas organized the much praised conference — “Black Women: A Research Priority: The First National Scholarly Research Conference on Black Women in America,” which was held in Washington, D.C., November 12-13, 1979.