The Barnard Organization of Soul & Solidarity (BOSS) collection documents the work of BOSS, a student group formed to support, empower, and establish sibilnghood between Black students at Barnard. Originally formed as the Barnard Organization of Soul Sisters, on February 24, 1969 BOSS issued a list of ten demands to the Barnard College Administration. These demands included an interdepartmental Afro-American studies major implemented by a committee of students and faculty; flexible and transparent financial aid policies for black students; a targeted nationwide recruitment program driven by black students and working towards increased enrollment of black women at Barnard; lounge and office space in BHR and Plimpton with an eventual guarantee of permanent space in the Student Union Building; selective housing options that would allow black students to live together; student input in the collection of periodicals, books, and records about black culture by the Barnard College Library; reconstruction of the “Special Student Program” geared towards students’ cultural, academic, and financial needs; inclusion of soul food in campus food service; and an end to harassment of black students by campus security. BOSS has continued its work on Barnard's campus to this day.
Currently digitized materials from this collection include only photographs; additional materials from this collection can be viewed in the archives reading room. Additional photographs of Barnard students may be found in the Barnard Photography Collection.
