With a clear passion for African-American history, Chicago native Dr. Robert E. Weems Jr. comes to the Wichita State campus as the Willard W. Garvey Distinguished Professor of Business History in a discussion Friday, hosted by Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

While completing his doctoral dissertation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Weems knew he wanted to do something related to the history of black Chicago, whether that was political insights or economic development. Weems said he ultimately chose to do something on the economic development and said it was one of the best decisions he has made.

Thus, a passion was born.

“Early on, I found that I had a real interest in history,” Weems said, “and in high school, when I discovered African-American history, that really clicked in my mind.”

Last week, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion presented a discussion with Weems as he discussed the findings of his latest endeavor, “Wichita Black Business History Project.” He interviewed local African-American entrepreneurs and long-time black residents of Wichita. The interviews, other documents and artifacts will be housed in Ablah Library’s special collections.

“History is all about documentation, so I am providing that documentation so future scholars and students can have access to and use (it) in a variety of ways,” he said.

Weems has published three books and has written dozens of journal articles and encyclopedia entries. He specializes in African-American history, African-American business history and U.S. history. He spent 10 years at the University of Missouri, Columbia, where he taught a survey of African-American history, an upper division course on African-Americans in the 20th century, a graduate-level research course in African-American history and a graduate-level reading course on African-American business and economic history.

“I’ve made this my secular ministry by talking about the problems about African-American history and how it hasn’t been recorded,” he said. “As a historian, I’m in a position where I am able to help remedy that problem on a smaller scale.”

 Weems also said there are more great topics that can be explored than there are people potentially to research them.

ODI program director, Danielle Johnson, said Weems has presented multiple times for her organization, and she was thrilled to have him share his knowledge and wisdom.

“It’s nice to have someone such as Dr. Weems right here on our campus,” Johnson said. “We don’t have to go anywhere else to get that type of education level, so we are lucky to have him.”

Johnson said having this research printed and presented in WSU’s library contributes immensely to its impact. Weems’ work provides education on black history in Wichita, an area she feels is lacking.

Weems’ published works include “The African-American Experience,” “Black Business in the Black Metropolis” and his most recent book, “Business in Black and White: American Presidents and Black Entrepreneurs in the Twentieth Century.”

Weems’ current research project is a biographical study of Anthony Overton, a 20th century African-American businessman.