Found 16 collections related to American literature -- African American authors

The Melvin Dixon papers consist primarily of manuscripts, correspondence, notes, and journals reflecting his experiences as a black gay writer. Most of the collection is comprised of manuscript drafts of Dixon's published works "Trouble the Water," "Vanishing Rooms," "Ride Out the Wilderness," "Change of Territory," as well as drafts for incomplete novels and stories, the fiction he called "works in progress," and short stories, poetry and plays, both published and unpublished. In addition, there are drafts and other material for Dixon's translations of "The Collected Poetry by Leopold Sedar Senghor," Genevieve Fabre's "Drumbeats, Masks and Metaphors," and works by the Haitian writer Jacques Roumain. Some essays and academic papers he presented are also included in collection. less

Born in Sweet Home, Arkansas, in 1934, Henry Dumas was an African American poet and short story writer, and the editor and publisher of several magazines, including "Anthologist," "Untitled," "Hiram Poetry Review" and "Collection." Dumas was shot and killed in the New York City subway in 1968, by a white policeman. His work was published posthumously and is represented in many anthologies, including "black Fire" edited by Imamu Amiri Baraka (1968). One typed letter signed to LeRoi Jones (1966), accompanied by a photocopied typescript of a short story "Fon" and original typescripts of seven poems: "Cutting Down to Size," Hold on, I'm Comin!" "Knock on Wood," "Mosaic Harlem," "New Game," "Discus" and "Uplight.". less

Afro-American book collector and writer of verses and short stories. Bradley was born in Enfield, N.C. and moved to Brooklyn (N.Y.) during the 1920s. His published and unpublished works include: "Love and Mystery, a Tale in Rhyme" (1907), "A Printer's Dream" (n.d.), "Effusions of the Soul" (1917), "Marching to Berlin" (1918), "Ethiopian Women's Society of the Moon" (1926), "Out of the Depths" (1928), "In Defense, a Sketch for Broadcasting" (n.d.) and "A Catalog of Books of Modern First Editions and Old, Rare Editions" 1936. Correspondence, writings and printed matter documenting Henry Thorpe Bradley's activities as an African-American book collector and self-published author, during the first half of the twentieth century. Includes letters to the editors of several New York daily newspapers on racial biases in media reporting and the invasion of Ethiopia by Mussolini's Italian troops, typescripts of poems, short stories and essays, and a radioscript entitled "In Defense.". less

Poet, author, playwright, songwriter. Biographical information about Hughes' life and activities. Hughes' writings form the largest series in the collection and consist of manuscripts, typescripts, and drafts of books, including NOT WITHOUT LAUGHTER, FAMOUS AMERICAN NEGROES, and FIRST BOOK OF JAZZ; plays; poems; short stories; songs; and reviews of some of his published works. Material relating to programs, activities, and events in which Hughes participated or was the subject including memorial tributes, personal appearances, radio broadcasts, recordings, speeches, and television broadcasts. Papers related to programs which incorporated a presentation of Hughes' works consisting of news clippings, printed programs, and leaflets announcing or describing the programs. Also, general criticism of Hughes as a writer, and some information on sources of Hughes' material in other institutions in the United States. less

Zora Neale Hurston (1901?-1960) author of several novels, short stories, poetry and an autobiography, was a trained anthropologist who also wrote ethnographic studies. Writings consisting of nine poems and one short story entitled "The Conversion of Man", and correspondence with William Clifford and Lawrence Jordan. less

The Umbra Poets Workshop was a group of young African-American writers who met on New York City's Lower East Side from 1962 to 1965 to conduct readings and discuss writing and politics. Early members of the group included Thomas C. Dent, Calvin Hernton, Ishmael Reed, David Henderson, Joe Johnson, and Askia M. Toure (then Rolland Snellings.) They founded "Umbra," a literary magazine, in 1963. The group, known for the intensity of its readings of "street poetry," and influenced by black nationalist ideas and the African oral tradition, was among the forerunners of the Black Arts movement. The Umbra Poets Workshop collection consists of oral history interviews with fourteen of the poets, conducted by Michel Oren with one exception, Amiri Baraka, who was interviewed by fellow Umbra member, Lorenzo Thomas along with letters relating to the formation of Umbra and Calvin Hernton's activities. Lorenzo Thomas' manuscript, "Annotated Bibliography of the Umbra Workshop 1962-1982," is included. less

Papers reflecting Schomburg's endeavors as a writer and researcher, and collector and curator of books and manuscripts pertaining to black history and culture. Personal and professional papers, including correspondence and writings, and writings of others. Includes material relating to Schomburg's position as curator of the Schomburg Collection, and to black literature, art, and history. Correspondents include John Bruce, Henrietta Buckmaster, W.E.B. Du Bois, Nicolas Guillen, W.C. Handy, Langston Hughes, Charles S. Johnson, James W. Johnson, Claude McKay, J.A. Rogers, Albert A. Smith, Stenio Vincent (President of Haiti), Walter White, and Carter G. Woodson. Other papers include programs, news clippings, invitations, announcements, and minutes of a variety of organizations, such as the New York Urban League, New York Public Library, Young Men's Christian Association, and several black cultural and educational groups. Also, transcriptions of 18th and 19th century historical documents pertaining to black history and culture. less

The Larry Neal Papers document his role as a writer/editor and seminal figure in the Black Arts Movement, and consists principally of Neal's diverse forms of writings, including essays, scripts, screenplays, poems, short stories and anthologies. Published copies of some of his writings are included in the collection, as are writings by colleagues and publishers. less

Files of the Board of Directors containing correspondence, agendas, minutes, and records of three board committees; administrative records including materials on the founding of the Academy, nominations for awards, and records relating to daily operations; and annual meeting files which encompass planning and programing for annual meetings, 1970-1972. less

Author, poet. Born in Jamaica. Correspondence and manuscripts of McKay's works, both published and unpublished, including "Banjo," "Banana Bottom," "Harlem Glory," and "Romance in Marseilles." Included are letters with Max Eastman, from Louise Bryant, Arrack Johns, director of the Federal Writers' Project, and to Carl Van Vechten, 1941. less

Composer, pianist, arranger. Brown worked as Paul Robeson's accompanist for thirty-eight years. The Lawrence Brown papers encompass correspondence reflecting Brown's wide-ranging travels, and his friendships (mostly letters written by his friends and business associates); personal papers; travel file consisting mostly of itineraries for tours; financial records comprised largely of royalty and earnings statements; programs for Brown and other artists; scrapbooks of news clippings and telegrams covering the Brown and Paul Robeson concert years (1928-1968); news clippings of concert reviews; and original scores and sheet music written by Brown and other composers. Papers relate to Brown's life and times, including World War I, Harlem Renaissance, World War II, spirituals, and his collaborator, Paul Robeson. Correspondents include Amanda Aldridge, Ethel Gardner Dingle, Jannett Hamlyn, Roland Hayes, Langston Hughes, Zaidee Jackson, William Lawrence, John Payne, Paul and Eslanda Robeson, Clara Rockmore, Robert Rockmore, Mrs. Corinne Sawyer (Brown's landlady), and Greta and I. W. Sequeira. less

The Joseph Beam Papers consist of correspondence, conference materials, prison letters, writings by Beam and other authors, files of the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays and its organizational journal Black/Out, and printed matter. The Correspondence series is divided into five subgroups: Family, General, Individuals, Organizations and Prison Letters. Significant correspondents include Barbara Smith, Essex Hemphill, Daniel Garrett, Renee McCoy, Assoto Saint, Colin Robinson, Craig Harris, Isaac Julien. Beam's writings and correspondence dealt with issues of gay life and civil rights for blacks and other minorities, and with contemporary developments in Philadelphia, including the police bombing of the MOVE headquarters in 1985. Other writings in the collection were destined for publication in the two anthologies conceived by Beam and the journals Black/Out and Other Countries. Contributors included Audre Lorde, Pat Parker, Samuel Delany, Melvin Dixon, Gilberto Gerald, Michelle Parkerson, Michael J. Smith, and Alice Walker. Also included are minutes of board meetings, financial reports, correspondence, memoranda, conference papers, and printed matter of the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays, and subject files on AIDS awareness and prevention, prisoners' support groups, gay and lesbian entertainers and South Africa. The collection also documents activities of Black and White Men Together, Blackheart Collective and other black gay organizations. less

The collection documents Julian Mayfield's career as a writer, educator and actor, and his activities as a political expatriate in West Africa and Guyana. Significant correspondents include fellow African-American expatriates and friends Maya Angelou, Herman Kofi Bailey, Sylvia Boone, William Branch, Tom Feelings, David DuBois, Preston King, Jim Lacy, Calvin and Elinor Sinnette, and Alice Windom. Other correspondents are John Henrik Clarke, Jules Dassin, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, James Forman, Richard Gibson, Gloria Joseph, Woodie King, Paul Mann, William Marshall, Truman Nelson, and Conor Cruise O'Brien. less