Family, friends, colleagues, current students and alumni gathered on Saturday, Oct. 21, in the MSC ballroom to recognize Dr. Purvis M. Carter for 50 years of service at the university. The event was monitored by master of ceremonies Dr. Danny R. Kelly, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and opened with a prayer by Reverend Charles H. Lewter, IV, dean of the Johnson-Phillip All Faiths Chapel. The occasion was given by Dr. E. Joahanne Thomas -Smith, provost and senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs, and continued with many thanks and congratulations from colleagues of the university and family.
Mayor Frank Jackson proclaimed Oct. 21, 2006 as “Dr. Purvis M. Carter Day” in the city of Prairie View, Texas.
The evening closed with a tribute from the Carter family and remarks given by Carter himself.
Carter is a native of Columbus, Texas. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Tillotson College, master of arts degree from Howard University and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Carter studied under world renowned historian Dr. John Hope Franklin, while acquiring his degree from Howard.
Carter served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and in June 1946, he was honorably discharged for his service. Prior to joining the faculty at Prairie View A&M University in 1956, he taught American history in the Harlingen Independent School District for four years.
Carter has received many honors and awards during his academic career including Columbus High School salutatorian, United States Marine Platoon 410 Honor Award, Tillotson College Academic Scholarship, Social Science Foundation Scholarship, Danford Liberal Arts Education Fellowship, University of Colorado Fellowship, Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation Professor Award, Texas Historical Commission and Texas Historical Foundation Award, and the W.R. Banks Library Certificate and Merit Award and PVAMU Teacher of the Year Award.
Carter is included in several biographical publications including Personalities of the South, Outstanding Educators of America and Who’s Who in the South and Southwest. Carter is the author of Congressional and Public Reactions to Woodrow Wilson’s Policy: 1912-1917 and many other scholarly articles in American history.
During his 50 years at PVAMU Carter presented more than 20 articles at professional conferences, compiled the first 54 volumes of the Journal of Negro History, served as a consultant on many projects devoted to the higher understanding and knowledge in the field of history, and was involved with the Boys Scouts of America.
Carter is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, The Organization of American Historians, Southwestern Social Science Association, Waller County Historical Society, National Social Science Association and served as sponsor of the Phi Epsilon Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta International Honor Society in History.
Carter is married to Mrs. Gwendolyn Marie Burns Carter, a retired educator. They are parents to two sons: Purvis M. Carter, III of Dallas, Texas, Frederick Earl Carter of Washington, D.C., and one daughter, Brunest Denise Carter of Houston, Texas. They have five grandchildren.