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James Sharbrough Ferguson

Gender: Male

Ethnicity: Caucasian

Biographical/Historical note:

Born in Anguilla, Mississippi, in 1916, James Sharbrough Ferguson was raised various south Mississippi towns and villages where his father's ministry as a Methodist preacher took the family. Educated in the public schools of the state, he graduated from high school in Hermanville, Mississippi, and attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. After a brief career as a high school mathematics teacher, he attended Louisiana State University, earning a master's degree in 1950. In 1953, he received his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Ferguson came to Woman's College of the University of North Carolina (now The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, or UNCG) in 1962 as dean of the Graduate School. He served as acting chancellor at UNCG during the two leaves of absence of Chancellor Otis A. Singletary (1964-1965 and 1966-1967). On January 9, 1967, he was appointed chancellor and served continuously until July 31, 1979. During Ferguson's tenure, the enrollment of the university more than doubled to nearly 10,000 students; the faculty grew at a similar pace and 17 major buildings were completed or begun.

Following his retirement as chancellor, Ferguson was appointed University Distinguished Professor of History at UNCG and served in that capacity until December 1983. He died in Greensboro on September 24, 1984. In 1985, a new arts and sciences building, completed before his retirement, was named after him.

Items created by this individual or group:
Item thumbnail image Paraphrase of statement to Frank Pleasants of Greensboro Record
Date: November 15, 1967
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This is a note of statements apparently made by University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to Frank Pleasants of the Greensboro Reco...
Item thumbnail image Letters regarding the Neo-Black Society hearing
Date: March 31, 1973
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Neo-Black Society Records
These two letters written by UNCG Chancellor James Ferguson explain and justify his actions to reverse the decision of the UNCG Student Government Senate to reclassify the Neo-Black Society. The Stud...
Item thumbnail image Response Letter from Chancellor James Ferguson to Thomas L. Tedford
Date: November 17, 1967
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated November 17, 1967, is a response from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to Thomas L. Tedford, a professor in UNCG's Department o...
Item thumbnail image Response Letter from Chancellor Ferguson to Franklin D. Parker
Date: November 20, 1967
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated November 17, 1967, is a response from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to Franklin D. Parker, a professor in UNCG's Department ...
Item thumbnail image Response Letter from Chancellor Ferguson to George Watts Hill
Date: November 20, 1967
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated November 17, 1967, is a response from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to George Watts Hill of Durham. Hill had originally writ...
Item thumbnail image Response Letter from Chancellor Ferguson to Kathryn S. Ritchie
Date: November 22, 1967
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated November 22, 1967, is a response from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to Kathryn S. Ritchie, a student at UNCG. Ritchie had or...
Item thumbnail image Letter from UNCG Chancellor Ferguson to Student Government Association regarding Neo-Black Society ruling
Date: April 17, 1973
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Neo-Black Society Records
In this letter to Student Government Association Vice President Cheryl Sosnik, UNCG Chancellor James S. Ferguson acknowledges the Student Senate's request for more information from the ad-hoc faculty ...
Item thumbnail image Response from Chancellor Ferguson to Thomasine Oliver about UNCG Black Power Forum
Date: November 30, 1967
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated November 30, 1967, is University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Ferguson's response to a November 27, 1967 letter from Janyce Brewer and Thomasine Oliver of...
Item thumbnail image Response from Chancellor Ferguson to Janyce Brewer about UNCG Black Power Forum
Date: November 30, 1967
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated November 30, 1967, is University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Ferguson's response to a November 27, 1967 letter from Janyce Brewer and Thomasine Oliver of...
Item thumbnail image Memorandum from Chancellor Ferguson to potential members of a committee on racial policies
Date: November 11, 1968
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This copy of a memo, dated November 11, 1968, sent from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Ferguson to Dr. Elaine Burgess, Dr. Robert Calhoon, Dean Shirley Flynn, Miss ...
Item thumbnail image Statement of Chancellor Ferguson on the UNCG Food Service Workers' Strike
Date: March 27, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
In this statement, dated March 27, 1969, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson expresses his concern over the possibility of a strike among UNCG food service ...
Item thumbnail image Thoughts recorded Sunday, March 30, 1969
Date: March 30, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This three-page document contains University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Freguson's personal thoughts on certain aspects and events related to the UNCG food serv...
Item thumbnail image Draft of speech on the food service workers' strike,presented by Chancellor Ferguson at a student convocation
Date: April 1, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This eight page (four two-sided) handwritten document is a draft of a speech presented by University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson at a student convocatio...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Ferguson to Thornton H. Brooks thanking him for his assistance during the food service workers' strike
Date: April 4, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated April 4, 1969, from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Fergsuon, thanks Thornton H. Brooks, presumably of ARA Slater, for his assistance i...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Ferguson to Henry Frye thanking him for his manner during the UNCG food service workers' strike
Date: April 4, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This is a letter from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to Greensboro attorney Henry Frye, dated April 4, 1969. Frye was the attorney for the strik...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Fergsuon to Paul Calhoun concerning the UNCG food service workers' strike
Date: April 8, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
In this letter, dated April 8, 1969, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson expresses his gratitude to Greensboro Police Chief Paul B. Calhoun for the p...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Ferguson to Roy Alexander concering the UNCG food service workers` strike
Date: April 9, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
In this letter, dated April 9, 1969, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson thanks Chief Roy Alexander of the UNCG campus police force for the departmen...
Item thumbnail image Chancellor Ferguson's response to Harry Fesperman concerning the UNCG food service workers' strike
Date: April 9, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated April 9, 1969, is University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson's response to a March 28 letter from Harry B. Fesperman of Thomasville, NC. ...
Item thumbnail image Memorandum from Chancellor Ferguson to H.L. Ferguson on food service contract renegotiation
Date: April 24, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
In this memorandum from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to H.L. Fergsuon, the chancellor inquires about student input into the negotiation of a n...
Item thumbnail image Chancellor Ferguson's response to student letter concerning UNCG food services
Date: May 9, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated May 9, 1969, is University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson's response to an April 30 letter from UNCG student Nancy Kay Highfill. In her ...
Item thumbnail image Chancellor Ferguson's response to Student Government resolution on Food service
Date: May 15, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated May 15, 1969, is University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson's response to a copy of a Student Government Association resolution on univer...
Item thumbnail image Memorandum from Chancellor Ferguson about UNCG food service contract bidding
Date: June 20, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
In this memorandum, dated June 20, 1969, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson expresses concern to Dean Thomas J.G. Smyth that no real open bidding se...
Item thumbnail image Response from Chancellor Ferguson to student letter about UNCG food service contract
Date: June 20, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated June 20, 1969, is University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson's response to a June 12 letter from two members of the UNCG Town Student Leg...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Ferguson responding to a petition for a black student lounge
Date: February 18, 1971
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This February 18, 1971 letter from UNCG Chancellor James S. Ferguson to the coordinators of the school's Neo-Black Society responds to the group's petition for a Black Student Lounge on campus. Fergu...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Ferguson regarding creation of a black student lounge at UNCG
Date: March 1, 1971
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This March 1, 1971 letter from UNCG Chancellor James S. Ferguson to the coordinators of the school's Neo-Black Society outlines the creation of a lounge in the campus student center to be used primari...
Item thumbnail image Letter from UNCG Chancellor Ferguson to Dr. John Griffin
Date: December 16, 1969
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
In this December 16, 1969, letter, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson expresses his support for a December, 1969, proposal for a racial awareness tr...
Item thumbnail image Student strike - a chancellor reflects
Date: 1979
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: University Archives Subject Files
This article from the Fall, 1979, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Alumni News contains reminiscences by James Sharbrough Fergsuon, former chancellor of UNCG, about the cafeteria work...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Ferguson regarding the request for a black student lounge
Date: February 18, 1971
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This February 18, 1971 letter from UNCG Chancellor James S. Ferguson is in response to the Neo-Black Society's request and petition for the university to create a black student lounge. Ferguson's res...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Ferguson to UNCG Student Government invalidating its decision on recognition of the Neo-Black Society
Date: March 31, 1973
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated March 31, 1973, from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to UNCG Student Government Association (SGA) Vice President Jacqueline Co...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Ferguson to Neo-Black Society announcng that reclassification was invalid
Date: March 31, 1973
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated March 31, 1973, from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to Neo-Black Society Co-ordinator Leon Chestnut, announces Ferguson's dec...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Fergsuon to UNCG Student Government Association Vice President Cheryl Sosnik
Date: April 10, 1973
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
In this April 10, 1973, three-page letter from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to UNCG Student Government Association (SGA) Vice President Cheryl...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Ferguson to SGA Vice President Cheryl Sosnik
Date: April 12, 1973
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This is a draft of an undated letter from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to UNCG Student Government Association (SGA) Vice President Cheryl Sos...
Item thumbnail image Report of Chancellor Ferguson regarding action taken by the Student Senate in reclassification of the Neo-Black Society
Date: April 10, 1973
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This eleven-report by University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson includes a time line of all events surrounding the controversy between the UNCG Student Gov...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Ferguson to SGA Vice President Cheryl Sosnik
Date: April 17, 1973
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This is a two-page letter dated April 17, 1973, from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to UNCG Student Government Association (SGA) Vice President ...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Ferguson to Robert Morgan on the Neo-Black Society case
Date: May 1, 1973
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This May 1, 1973, letter from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to Robert Morgan, Attorney General of the State of North Carolina notifies Morgan t...
Item thumbnail image Letter from Chancellor Ferguson to Cathy Krinick and other signers of a letter relating to the Neo-Black Society appeal
Date: May 2, 1973
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This letter, dated May 2, 1973, from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson is a response to twelve student senators and consuls at the University of No...
Item thumbnail image Notice that an appeal has been filed with the Board of Trustees on the Neo-Black Society incident
Date: May 8, 1973
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This May 8, 1973, memorandum from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to the UNCG Board of Trustees is a notification that an appeal of Ferguson's de...
Item thumbnail image Memorandum from Chancellor Ferguson to UNCG Board of Trustees on the status of the Neo-Black Society case
Date: May 17, 1973
By: James Sharbrough Ferguson
From: Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson Records
This May 17, 1973, memorandum from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Chancellor James Sharbrough Ferguson to the UNCG Board of Trustees states that a request for dismissal of a suit fi...