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Creator
McMillan, Allan W., 1900-1991
Call number
Sc MG 206
Physical description
4.9 linear feet (4 record cartons, 1.5 archival boxes, 1 print box)
Preferred Citation
[Item], Allan W. McMillan public relations files, Sc MG 206, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library
Repository
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
Access to materials
Some collections held by the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture are held off-site and must be requested in advance. Please check the collection records in the NYPL's online catalog for detailed location information. To request access to materials in the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, please visit: http://archives.nypl.org/divisions/scm/request_access Request access to this collection.

The Allan W. McMillan Public Relations Files document the public relations work McMillan did on behalf of his clients. The collection consists primarily of information he maintained about his clients, most of whom were in the entertainment business. Nearly all the clients were individuals, but he also represented events sponsored by organizations. Client files include newspaper and magazine clippings of articles and advertisements for the performers, promotional flyers and postcards, itineraries, resumes, correspondence and contracts, press releases, notes about the clients, photograph captions, and a few layouts McMillan prepared.

Biographical/historical information

Allan W. McMillan, a longtime columnist for The Amsterdam News and the first black syndicated columnist, made his reputation as an entertainment writer, Broadway columnist and publicist. His column for The Amsterdam News "Allan's Alley," was syndicated in the late 1930's; he wrote a similar gossip column entitled "On Broadway" in the 1970's for the weekly The New York Voice, which billed itself as "New York's fastest growing interracial newspaper.".

McMillan headed several public relations firms primarily for black entertainers, with the bulk of his clients being singers and musicians. The companies, all in New York City, were Allan McMillan and Associates, D'Or Recording Company, Jay-R-Jay Magazine and News Publishing Corporation, and T. P. Productions. He was also a personal press representative and president of the New York Business, Civic and Cultural Association as well as editor-in-chief of the International News and Picture Syndicate.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift, Marlene McMillan, March 1990

Using the collection

Location

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10037-1801
Second Floor

Access to materials

Some collections held by the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture are held off-site and must be requested in advance. Please check the collection records in the NYPL's online catalog for detailed location information. To request access to materials in the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, please visit: http://archives.nypl.org/divisions/scm/request_access Request access to this collection.