... "where do we go from here;" as a group, as possibly an organisation, and as a positive force that will make a difference in the mathematical sciences community in the USA, and indeed, in the world. This force would be a clear and omnipresent voice for issues, ideas, perspectives and for persons that did not enjoy such a voice in the past. This force would advocate inclusion and not exclusion. This force would sit around the conference tables and the banquet tables of the mathematical services community and not permit itself to be isolated or separated from the mainstream. This force's ultimate mission ... : To promote excellence in the mathematical sciences; and To promote the mathematical development of under-represented American minorities.

The purpose of the Conference was to discuss matters relating to curriculum, with a view toward improving the effectiveness of the individual mathematics programs at black colleges.

Approximately thirty mathematics professors were present with great capability to enhance research, advance curricula, and influence change in private and public sectors, as well as the scientific community in general. Not even knowing of the existence of other Ph.D. mathematicians, many of these professors were happy to meet each other and have discussions as kindred scientists. However, others who were not African-American, Richard Anderson and R Creighton Buck of the Mathematical Association of America, were in attendance at the conference as representatives from the MAA's Committee on the Undergraduate Program in Mathematics.

My first national mathematics meeting was in San Antonio in 1970. What an experience. I was a part of a very large professional group. I was fascinated by the many short talks and the major talks. I was amazed at how people lounged around outside the meeting rooms and just talked. I did not realise at first how mathematically productive this was. I was unaware of the committee meetings that were also being held. It was enough that I could hear a lot of mathematics and meet my new friends again.

1. Lifetime Achievement Award. The Award is to honour distinguished mathematical professionals whose professional lives over a period of twenty-five years or longer have been exemplary - par excellence and worthy of emulating. Winners of this award are
   David Blackwell (1994)
   J Ernest Wilkins, Jr. (1994)
   Lee Lorch (1995)
   Evelyn Boyd Granville (1996)
   Charles Bell (1997)
   Clarence Stephens (1998)
   Johnny L Houston (1999)
   Eleanor Dawley Jones (2001)
   Jacqueline Brannon Giles (2015)
   William A. Hawkins (2016)
   Nagambal Shah (2017)
   Rudy Lee Horne, Jr. (2018)
   Carolyn Mahoney (2018)
2. David Harold Blackwell Lectures. The MAA-NAM David Blackwell Lecture was established in 1994 with an inaugural address by David Harold Blackwell himself. Each year National Association of Mathematicians invites a mathematical researcher who exemplifies the spirit of Blackwell in both personal achievement and service to the mathematical community. The Blackwell Lecturer gives an hour-long lecture, suitable for an audience of undergraduate students with a strong interest in conducting research in the mathematical sciences, which will promote an understanding of mathematics. It is delivered at the Mathematical Association of America's MathFest meeting.
   
   For details of the David Blackwell Lecture, see THIS LINK.
   
   
3. J Ernest Wilkins Lectures. The J Ernest Wilkins Lecture series, inaugurated by the National Association of Mathematicians in 1994, was named in honour of Jesse Ernest Wilkins who gave the first lecture in the series. It is given annually at the NAM Undergraduate MathFest, the first lecture being at the fourth such conference.
   
   For details of the J Ernest Wilkins Lecture, see THIS LINK.
   
   
4. Albert Turner Bharucha-Reid Lecture. The Albert Turner Bharucha-Reid Lecture series was inaugurated by the National Association of Mathematicians in 1994 during their year-long "Twenty Fifth Year Observance." It is named in honour of Albert Turner Bharucha-Reid. The inaugural lecture was given by Professor Tepper Gill of Howard University who had written his Ph.D. dissertation under the direction of Professor Bharucha-Reid. The Lecture is given annually at the Faculty Conference on Research and Teaching Excellence.
   
   For details of the Albert Turner Bharucha-Reid Lecture, see THIS LINK.

1. Conducts an annual National Meeting in January in conjunction with the Joint Mathematics Meetings.
   
2. Supports an annual invited address at the Joint Mathematical Summer Meetings.
   
3. Sponsors an Undergraduate MATHFest; an annual conference for underrepresented minorities supported by a grant from the National Security Agency.
   
4. Sponsors an annual faculty conference on research and teaching excellence.
   
5. Sponsors a Summer Institute in Computational Science for undergraduate mathematics majors and selected faculty.
   
6. Publishes a quarterly newsletter.

During the Golden Anniversary Campaign, NAM hopes to achieve significant membership increases, doubling the number of Regular Members and increasing the number of Life Members by at least 50% as well as increasing abundantly student membership!

NAM is important because its birth is rooted in an enduring question for African Americans in general and for underrepresented mathematicians, as a community, in particular: "where do we go from here?" For me the response of those gathered there in 1969 echoes and resonates across the decades: We must promote excellence in the mathematical sciences in the United States and the world and we must embrace our role as a voice for issues, ideas, perspectives and for persons that did not enjoy such a voice. We must aim to be part of the mainstream and be an advocate for inclusion; we must be advocates for all who desire to learn mathematics and to contribute to the community of mathematical scientists.