John H. Hewitt was a writer, editor, instructor, and a collector of Black art. The collection consists of one film and two audio recordings. The audio items are interviews Hewitt conducted with artist Hale Woodruff.
Born in 1924 in New York City, John H. Hewitt was a writer, editor, instructor, and a collector of Black art. Hewitt attended Harvard College and New York University where he obtained his master's degree in 1949. He taught English at Morehouse College and was co-chairman for the Division of Humanities. Hewitt was a medical staff writer for the journals Frontiers of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine. He also served as associate editor for the newspaper Medical Tribune, and managing editor of Hospital Practice, a monthly magazine.
Hewitt held memberships in professional organizations including the American Medical Writer Association and National Association of Science Writers. He was a trustee with the Manhattan Country School and the Schomburg Corporation, which advises the Schomburg Center. He has written on Black artists including Hale Woodruff, Ernest Crichlow, Alvin C. Hollingsworth, and Luce Turnier.
Hewitt died at home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on February 25, 2000.
The John H. Hewitt audio and moving image collection consists of two audio recordings and one film, arranged chronologically. The audio recordings are of interviews Hewitt conducted with artist Hale Woodruff. Since the collection's original formats include audio cassettes, the audio items contain two parts, one for each side of the cassette. The film is unavailable pending digitization and its title reflects the transcribed label.
Gift of John H. Hewitt, March 1997.
Collection inventoried by Nathan Evans. Collection processed and described by Ornella U. Baganizi, archivist; and Shola Lynch, curator. Finding aid published in 2024.
See the Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Division for the John H, Hewitt writings, Sc MG 612.
See the Photographs and Prints Division for the photographs.
At the time of publishing, one film is not available pending digitization.