Found 3 collections related to McClendon, Ernestine, 1913-1991

The Ernestine McClendon papers contain McClendon's scrapbook of responses from ad agencies to her 1960 letter campaign urging them to hire Black actors and actresses. Included in the collection are her resumes, articles and reviews, some letters, contracts, music and lyrics written by McClendon, and a script and other production material for "Heartbreak by Midnight", a play she wrote which was later made into a screenplay. There are also jokes and other material for McClendon's comedy routine which she launched in 1984 at age 71. less

Ernestine McClendon was an actress and comedian who was best known as the first Black theatrical agent in New York City. She started her agency, McClendon Enterprises, after a one-woman 1960 letter writing campaign to acting agencies and product manufacturers, compelling them to use Black actors and actresses in commercials. McClendon's collection showcases her performances on stage, her career as an agent, and her social life with partner George Wiltshire via professional headshots, contact sheets, resumes, newspaper clippings, programs, and theatre production photographs. less