April 7, 1969, letter from Hugh Smythe to Albert Bowker declining the offer of the presidency of Community College 7
Item
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICAY |
April 7, 1969 a ey
ae Valletta ‘
Nalta
Dr. Albert Powker, Chancellor
The City University of New York .
535 East 80th Street
New York, New York 10021, U. S. A.
—-—Deir Dr. Powker:
As yet President Richazd
not wish me,jasione of
“ixon his not indicated he does
Suly Tour black ambassadors the
United States his cut of 14, to onr.tinue rendering public
service in this cavncity. Thus I must assume the President
expects me to continue to suculder nu, current responsibil-
ities for the present.
istee to find a president
Ye) ri-Stuyvescnt Community
College VII sel the position. However,
in view of vhet vt said above, I write to say that
I would not be uvailstle to accept vhe position.
I feel honored
for the propos
It did occur to =e, however, that in Brooklyn itself there is
a person who could fill ade uutcly the presicency of this nex,
experimental colieze. I know that ne is very conversant
with the community needs and nuances, and understands the
character and tenper of the people and times there. This
uw will aduit, is most important and
i launching of this new institution
1 York. His name was mentioned
on in the news item carried in
h 28. 2 refer specifically to Mr.
cdnisiitrator of the Ocean Hill-Brownsvillé ;--
sort of understandins
neces ary to tne
of tne City Univ
@s a candidate i
Phe New York
Rhody incloy,
oad
c
Gis Cue C ba oe mete : a i ’
Asking tact .5@ CX7!..2 bot ny reo>'ts e:4 thanks to
the Seare: Sy GS) O22 (aS peo eyOUrse= the privil- -
ege aecce Ceintecoemepne wena deine -dacy, with ‘
LOS tLwit
Very sdncerely | Yrs,
flvah WS ued
Hugi’ H. Smyvis
- Ambassador
UNITED STATES OF AMERICAY |
April 7, 1969 a ey
ae Valletta ‘
Nalta
Dr. Albert Powker, Chancellor
The City University of New York .
535 East 80th Street
New York, New York 10021, U. S. A.
—-—Deir Dr. Powker:
As yet President Richazd
not wish me,jasione of
“ixon his not indicated he does
Suly Tour black ambassadors the
United States his cut of 14, to onr.tinue rendering public
service in this cavncity. Thus I must assume the President
expects me to continue to suculder nu, current responsibil-
ities for the present.
istee to find a president
Ye) ri-Stuyvescnt Community
College VII sel the position. However,
in view of vhet vt said above, I write to say that
I would not be uvailstle to accept vhe position.
I feel honored
for the propos
It did occur to =e, however, that in Brooklyn itself there is
a person who could fill ade uutcly the presicency of this nex,
experimental colieze. I know that ne is very conversant
with the community needs and nuances, and understands the
character and tenper of the people and times there. This
uw will aduit, is most important and
i launching of this new institution
1 York. His name was mentioned
on in the news item carried in
h 28. 2 refer specifically to Mr.
cdnisiitrator of the Ocean Hill-Brownsvillé ;--
sort of understandins
neces ary to tne
of tne City Univ
@s a candidate i
Phe New York
Rhody incloy,
oad
c
Gis Cue C ba oe mete : a i ’
Asking tact .5@ CX7!..2 bot ny reo>'ts e:4 thanks to
the Seare: Sy GS) O22 (aS peo eyOUrse= the privil- -
ege aecce Ceintecoemepne wena deine -dacy, with ‘
LOS tLwit
Very sdncerely | Yrs,
flvah WS ued
Hugi’ H. Smyvis
- Ambassador
Title
April 7, 1969, letter from Hugh Smythe to Albert Bowker declining the offer of the presidency of Community College 7
Description
On April 7, 1969, Hugh Smythe, United States Ambassador to Malta, wrote to Dr. Albert Bowker, Chancellor of the City University of New York (CUNY) declining his offer of the position of president of Community College 7. Smythe specifically recommended that the Presidential Search Committee consider Rhody McCoy, then Unit Administrator of the experimental Ocean-Hill Brownsville School district, whose role in that struggle would soon become the flashpoint for a controversy that shaped the fate of the new college.
In February 1968, the City University of New York (CUNY) announced plans to establish a new “Community College 7 in or near Bedford-Stuyvesant. . . oriented to the Bedford-Stuyvesant Community and operated in consultation with the community.” Representatives of a broad network of Central Brooklyn community organizations engaged in an 18 months-long negotiation with CUNY Board of Higher Education officials over CUNY’s plans for its newly announced “Community College 7,” including discussions about the proposed school’s curriculum, who would lead it, and what role the community would play in the school’s governance. The role of the Bedford-Stuyvesant community in planning and determining the leadership of the college remained a central point of controversy between Central Brooklyn’s educational and civil society leaders and CUNY officials in the negotiations that followed.
Date
April 7, 1969
Language
English
Creator
Smythe, Hugh
Source
Donald Watkins Collection (Brooklyn Public Library)
Contributor
Woodsworth Michael
Smythe, Hugh. “April 7, 1969, Letter from Hugh Smythe to Albert Bowker Declining the Offer of the Presidency of Community College 7.”, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 10, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/2038