Harriet Pickens papers

id
11231
origination
Pickens, Harriet, 1909-1969
date statement
1922-2005 [bulk 1930-1968]
key date
1922
identifier (local_mss)
25615
org unit
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
call number
Sc MG 759
b-number
b16466545
total components
16
total series
3
max depth
2
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2020-09-30 19:51:33 UTC
updated
2026-06-26 18:11:20 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

unitid
{"value"=>"25615", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"Sc MG 759", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"b16466545", "type"=>"local_b"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1922-2005", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1922/2005"}
{"value"=>"1930-1968", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1930/1968"}
unittitle
{"value"=>"Harriet Pickens papers"}
physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"2 boxes, 1 oversize folder", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"0.63 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
repository
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division</span>"}
abstract
{"value"=>"Harriet Pickens joined the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) in 1944 as a member of the Women's Reserves in the U.S. Naval Reserve. She was one of two African American women to be sworn in as an officer, and she was commissioned as a lieutenant following her training, the first to receive this high rank. The Harriet Pickens papers primarily contain documentation regarding her military service as a lieutenant in the WAVES (1944-1946) and her public service work."}
langmaterial
{"value"=>"English"}
origination
{"value"=>"Pickens, Harriet, 1909-1969", "type"=>"persname"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>Born in 1909 in Talladega, Alabama, Harriet Pickens joined the WAVES in 1944 as a member of the Women's Reserves in the U.S. Naval Reserve. She was one of two African American women to be sworn in as an officer, and she was commissioned as a lieutenant following her training, the first to receive this high rank. She served as an assistant in advanced training for WAVES recruits, which emphasized indoctrination, and she was responsible for teaching the recruits the history, organization, recent exploits, rating, and personnel of the Navy. She also was the director of the Navy Material Redistribution and Disposal Administration in New York.</p> <p>Pickens, the daughter of William Pickens, a well-known educator, orator, editor, and civil rights leader, lived in Harlem for fifty years and took a deep and active interest in improving life for residents of this community. She held several administrative positions in community service organizations. Pickens died in New York in 1969.</p>"}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>The Harriet Pickens papers primarily contain documentation regarding her military service as a lieutenant in the WAVES (1944-1946) and her public service work. They also include biographical information such as material related to her education. Mention is also made of her classmate, fellow African-American officer Frances Wills. Pickens's community service work is represented by her notes for a course she took for the training of tuberculosis workers (1940), and a 1960 article she published concerning hospital care. Most of the material concerning her other community involvements is printed matter.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Harriet Pickens papers are arranged in three series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/25615#c1594930'>Biographical</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1922-2005</div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/25615#c1594934'>WAVES military service</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1944-1994</div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/25615#c1594937'>Community activities</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1939-1968</div>\n</li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
arrangement
{"value"=>"<p>Arranged into three series: (1) Biographical; (2) WAVES military service; and (3) Community activities.</p>", "supress_display"=>true}
acqinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Gift of William Pickens III, December 2005.</p>"}
separatedmaterial
{"value"=>"<p>Transferred to the Photographs and Prints Division: photographs</p>"}
processinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Janice Quinter, March 2006.</p>"}
relatedmaterial
{"value"=>"<p>Also found in the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture:</p> <p>Harlem Neighborhood Association collection, Sc MG 364</p> <p>William Pickens papers and additions, Sc MG 2 and Sc MG 53</p>"}
revisiondesc
{"value"=>"Finding aid updated by Allison Hughes.", "date"=>"2023 September 19"}
date_start
1922
keydate
1922
date_end
2005
date_inclusive_start
1922
date_inclusive_end
2005
date_bulk_start
1930
date_bulk_end
1968
prefercite
{"value"=>"[Item], Harriet Pickens papers, Sc MG 759, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library"}

Update Collection TOP

Update from EAD XML File

Resources TOP

PDF finding aid

No PDF finding aid attached.

File attachments

No files attached.

Repository Assets

No UUIDs attached.

Living at NYPL Archives

Sign in to add or edit a living at feature for this collection.

Export Collection to ArchivesSpace