Loading...
Creator
Winslow, Henry, 1903-1989
Call number
Sc MG 879
Physical description
1.87 linear feet (5 boxes)
Language
English
Preferred Citation
[Item], William Henry and Sadie Winslow papers, Sc MG 879, 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
Request an in-person research appointment.

This collection consists of personal and professional material related to both William Henry and Sadie Winslow. The material contains biograpical papers, such as resumes, personal correspondence, and obituaries; professional correspondence; documents, including printed matter and research material, related to the couple's involvement in various community and political affiliations; and in the case of Henry Winslow, some writing. The bulk of the collection relates to the couple's community affiliations.

Biographical/historical information

William Henry Winslow, better known as Henry Winslow, was born on July 14, 1903, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, where he attended elementary school, high school, and a normal school (or teachers' college). In 1930, Winslow relocated to New York where he spent the rest of his life. In New York City, Winslow held several jobs in public service, first working for the U.S. Postal Service and then as the Senior Crew Chief for the Housing and Development Agency, where he eventually became that union's (possibly now known as the Teamsters Local 237) labor negotiator. In 1940, Winslow was a candidate to the State Legislature for the American Labor Party. Winslow worked to organize African Americans in order to integrate them into segregated labor unions throughout the city. These efforts eventually led to the creation of the Negro American Labor Council's "Operation: Fight Back!" in 1964.

Winslow was a member of various organizations: the Retirees' group of District 37 in Manhattan, the Jackie Robinson Senior Citizens Center, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the Association for the Afro-American Life and History, the John Brown Memorial Group (as historian), and the Morningside Gardens Credit Union (as treasurer). In the 1980s, after his retirement, Winslow taught classes in African American history at the Jackie Robinson Daycare Center of Grant Houses. On March 29, 1969, Henry Winslow and Sadie Mills married and remained together until Henry's death on June 30, 1989.

Sadie Winslow, born in 1917, in New Haven, Connecticut, has been described as a "pillar of the Harlem community". As a child, she was influenced by the Marcus Garvey Movement meetings she attended with her uncle. Winslow received a B.A. in Education from St. Augustine College and studied early childhood education at New York University and the University of Puerto Rico. She eventually taught education as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at Hunter College and William Paterson College in New Jersey.

Winslow worked in over a dozen community service organizations: Community Board No. 9, Harlem Landmarks, Health Insurance Plan (HIP) of Greater New York, Morningside Retirement and Health Services, Louise Wise Adoption Agency, West Side Inter-Agency, The NYC Chapter of the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc., Harlem Elders, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Friends of George Bruce Library, and Riverside Church. She was also the co-founder of Seniors Helping Seniors and the co-chair of the Senior Citizen Issues Committee. She served as a representative for the New York City and State Department of Aging; this appointment led to better accessibility at the 125th St. subway station for senior citizens. In 1994, Winslow was honored as a "Distinguished Woman" by the New York Women's Foundation. Two years later, she joined the advisory council of the New York City Department of Aging, and was reappointed to the committee in 2004 by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Mills Winslow died of pneumonia on March 11, 2005. She was 88 years old.

Scope and arrangement

The William Henry and Sadie Winslow papers are arranged in two series:

  • Winslow, William Henry
    1640-1997

    The William Henry Winslow series demonstrates Winslow's strong interest in his local community, his desire to fight racism and promote fair hiring practices in labor unions, and African American history.The Personal subseries consists of a resume, obituary, and certificates from Cornell University and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (he received his real estate brokerage license from New York State in 1940). There is a small amount of correspondence to and from Winslow dealing with the New York City union and apprenticeship program, and a protest letter from Winslow about an NBC newscast he claimed created "division and animosity" between Black and Puerto Rican people. In addition, the subseries contains a collection of obituaries and programs from the funerals of such notable people as Martin Luther King Jr., Alberta Hunter, and Betty Shabazz.

    The Political and labor organizations subseries highlights Winslow's political affiliations and involvements. Included here are a fact sheet on American Negro Labor, a copy of Winslow's Certificate of Election to the Judicial District Convention, and his essay titled, "Why a 3rd Party? History of the American Labor Party, 1936-1956". The essay describes America's need for a third political party and the purposes and aims of the Progressive-American Labor Party (ALP) and the Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO). This subseries also contains materials on Operation Fight Back! (originally called the Harlem Unemployment Center), an organization which fought to improve job rights of African American and Spanish speaking workers in the construction trades, and combat racism, particularly among workers and in labor unions. The collection includes Fight Back's Statement of Purpose; newsletters featuring many articles by the founder of "Fight Back!", James Haughton; flyers for protests; rallies and demonstrations; correspondence between Winslow and Haughton; and related news articles and clippings.

    The Community organizations subseries contains assorted local community information such as: Partisan Planning: Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs memorandum, the Active Retiree newsletter, General Grant Houses Community News, Harlem Seniors flyers, Morningside Heights bulletins, and meeting minutes.

    The Historical and educational organizations subseries documents, primarily through correspondence and newsletters, Winslow's participation in a number of organizations such as: the African American Historical Society, where Winslow served as Journal Chairman; the Schomburg Collection Endowment Fund, where he was a Board Member; Association of Afro American Life and History; and the John Brown Memorial Association.

    The Research materials and essays subseries is comprised of news articles and notes dealing with the ongoing struggle for equality in construction jobs and labor unions, protests and strikes, territory jurisdiction, mandatory minority hiring, and the Davis-Bacon Act. The series contains a number of essays authored by Henry Winslow, but it is undetermined if these were written for publication, his college education, or teaching. The essays focus on various topics ranging from social services, unemployment, trade unions, Harlem, racism, and African Americans in construction. Included with the essays are related article clippings and notes. In addition, news articles on race relations, the failed Kawaida Towers housing project, Granville T. Woods, and the Civil Rights movement are included.

    The Printed matter subseries contains magazines, pamphlets, bulletins and articles on African American history, Harlem, labor unions, and popular culture. Included is a theater guide titled Paul Robeson as Othello, the Moor of Venice from 1945, and a Golden Legacy comic book titled The Black Inventors, Latimer and Woods.

  • Winslow, Sadie
    1949-1985

    Through its biographical information and personal and professional correspondence this series documents Winslow's life as a teacher, her professional affiliations, and her commitment to community service.

    The Personal subseries contains several curriculum vitae describing her general background, education, and years of experience in early childhood education in Connecticut, New York, and Puerto Rico, along with her Pi Lambda Theta membership card. Personal correspondence includes letters from friends, greeting cards and notes, and letters about her brother's estate, along with professional related correspondence regarding employment and property in Morningside Gardens.

    The Political and community organizations, Children's organizations and Educational institutions subseries all contain correspondence and bulletins related to organizations with which Winslow was involved, such as church and community groups, political organizations, the New School, and Hunter College. The correspondence contains letters regarding her service as term member on the Community Planning Board, representative of the Human Affairs Research Center, and Early Childhood Consultant to the New York City Board of Education Summer Head Start Program. A number of thank you letters for her contributions and assistance at benefits and luncheons, including a Champagne Christmas party for Shirley Chisholm and a number of parties benefitting children's organizations (such as Neighborhood Children's Center, Louise Wise Services Child Adoption Center, Springfield Day Nursery, and UNICEF) can be found here.

    The Printed matter contains unrelated magazines and news clippings. Included are a 1966 copy of Newsweek, Uncle Spike the Negro Detective, and "The Stone Churches of Ethiopia".

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift of Denise Liburd, 2008.

Revision History

Finding aid updated by Lauren Stark. (2021 January 4)

Processing information

Processed by Salome Jeronimo, June 2013. This finding aid was prepared as part of an archival processing project arranged through support of New York University's Department of English, in collaboration with the Schomburg Center.

Separated material

Transferred to the Photographs and Prints Division: photographs

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