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Creator
Hill, Nelam L., 1926-1992
Call number
Sc MG 466
Physical description
12.0 linear feet (12 boxes)
Language
English
Preferred Citation
[Item], Nelam L. Hill papers, Sc MG 466, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library
Sponsor
Home to Harlem Project, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Repository
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

The Nelam L. Hill Papers document his activities as a filmmaker and producer, his extensive career as an urban planner, and affiliations he maintained with a variety of organizations. Correspondence with friends and colleagues is also included. Papers pertaining to The Cry of Jazz (written by Hill, Edward O. Bland, and Mark Kennedy) and Hill's production company, KHTB Productions include scripts, notes, correspondence, distribution and publicity material, reviews and financial records. The American Hero written by Hill and Edward O. Bland, is documented by a filmscript, treatment, notes on the characters and story idea, analysis of the script and financial records.

Biographical/historical information

Nelam L. Hill (1926-1992), urban planner specializing in housing, management, zoning, ecology and general community development. He held many positions in the field, and in the 1970's was Assistant Director for the Borough of Brooklyn, New York State Urban Development Corporation (UDC), where he was responsible for initiative to renew residential units. He then became project director for the newly developed UDC subsidiary, Harlem Development Corporation. In 1978, Hill was instrumental in founding the Vanguard Urban Improvement Association, Inc. a community group committed to improving the physical and social conditions of the Bedford Stuyvesant community in Brooklyn. He also served as Coordinator of the Master Plan Task Force for Newark, New Jersey (1977).

In the 1960's to early 1970's, Hill held several urban planning positions, including Director of Planning with Lucas & Edwards, a planning consultant firm. He was also Director for the Model Cities Program, Jersey City, New Jersey. From 1979, until his death in 1992, he managed his own consulting firm, Nelam L. Hill & Associates.

Hill's primary other interest was filmmaking, and under KHTB Productions he was one of the producers and writers of The Cry of Jazz (1958) and of The American Hero (1971).

Scope and arrangement

The Nelam L. Hill Papers document his activities as a filmmaker and producer, his extensive career as an urban planner, and affiliations he maintained with a variety of organizations. Correspondence with friends and colleagues is also included. Papers pertaining to The Cry of Jazz (written by Hill, Edward O. Bland, and Mark Kennedy) and Hill's production company, KHTB Productions include scripts, notes, correspondence, distribution and publicity material, reviews and financial records. The American Hero written by Hill and Edward O. Bland, is documented by a filmscript, treatment, notes on the characters and story idea, analysis of the script and financial records. Significant amounts of material document Hill's activities as an urban planner with several agencies and companies including the Urban Development Corporation (1970-1973) and the Harlem Urban Development Corporation (1970's). HUDC material includes minutes, correspondence, proposals and reports for many projects such as the 125th Street Corridor, Harlem-Manhattan North Development Study, a hotel and convention center and housing projects. Additional records represent Hill's position as Coordinator for the Task Force that completed the 1978 Master Plan for Newark, New Jersey and planning for Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn with the Vanguard Urban Improvement Association and Lucas & Edwards, Inc. His work became more diverse upon establishing his own consulting firm, Nelam L. Hill and Associates. Among the documents from that company is a proposal for a laboratory and manufacturing plant to make intravenous fluids and allied products for a health service system in Nigeria. Personal papers are represented by his journal, correspondence with Edward O. Bland, a script for a film entitled The Cool World, and transcriptions of interviews with Brigadier General David M. Hall for a biography Hill was preparing. There is also significant correspondence with Hansel C. Hall, Equal Opportunity Director for Housing and Urban Development and brother of David Hall.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift, Hill, Martin, 1993

Revision History

This finding aid was updated by Allison Hughes. (2020 August 17)

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