May 2013

Barthe: A Life in Sculpture

The Margaret Rose Vendryes collection dates from 1949-2008 and measures 2.8 linear feet. The majority of the collection consists of photocopied documents and photographic prints gathered by Vendryes as part of her research. Bibliographic and source files contain information on various libraries, museums, and archives with Barthe-related holdings, as well as biographical files on Barthe related to his education and career. Topical files include Vendryes' research on themes related to Barthe's work, such as Harlem, race, homosexuality, Creoles, etc. Files focusing on individual works of art by Barthe are also present. Original documents of note in the collection include a series of letters, dated 1949-1980, written by Barthe to his godson, Herschel Shohan, and members of the Shohan family; an undated fairy tale written by Barthe; a copy of Barthe's unpublished autobiography, which he sent to Herschel Shohan; a 1947 portrait of Barthe by Carl Van Vechten; and photographs of Vendryes and Errol Brown in Jamaica in 1994.

The Collins papers are being unpacked and inventoried.

Due, in part, to its work in organizing the records of the American Committee on Africa and The Africa Fund (see article below), the Center recently received 30 linear feet of records documenting the work of activist and writer Carole J.L. Collins. The donation was made by Collin's husband, independent journalist and writer Steve Askin, and facilitated with the help of former ACOA staff member Richard Knight of the African Activist Archive Project.

Carole J.L. Collins was an activist and writer who concentrated her work on global economic justice and apartheid in South Africa. Her writing often appeared in the National Catholic Reporter, where she served as an Africa Correspondent (1985-1986), UN/Diplomatic Correspondent (1991-1992), and a freelance contributor (1970s-1990s), as well as in other publications. Collins was the national coordinator for the Campaign to Oppose Bank Loans to South Africa (COBLSA) from 1981-1983, the National Coordinator of Jubilee 2000/USA in 1998-1999, and held positions in the American Friends Service Committee, the Interfaith Action for Economic Justice, and the Africa Faith and Justice Network. Collins passed away on September 23, 2006. 

A sampling of the books from the Carole J.L. Collins papers.

The Carole J.L. Collins papers consist of collected research materials in the forms of articles, book chapters, conference and presentation papers, news clippings, press releases and statements, publications, speeches, and reports with occasional correspondence and drafts for works authored by Collins and Steve Askin. The papers mainly focus on the African country of Zaire (1971-1997), its banking and economy, diamond and ivory trade, human rights violations, health and welfare, and military; as well as governmental corruption, the country's relationship to the United States and the Soviet Union, and the political developments that led to the country adopting the name Democratic Republic of the Congo (1998-). The papers also thoroughly document Zaire's President Mobutu Sese Seko, the regime's corruption, and Mobutu's relationships with supporters. The papers also provide documentation regarding civil war and conflict of the Great Lakes region of Africa, which includes the countries of Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania (1990s-2000s). Other topics covered include the First Congo War (1996-1997), the Rwandan genocide (1994), and the Second Congo War (1998-2003).

A more thorough description of the collection can be found in Amistad's online finding aid database. Container lists have been prepared for the collection, which is open to researchers. A number of books received with the collection will be cataloged in Amistad's library collection.

The ACOA Addendum is on the shelves and ready for researchers.

The American Committee on Africa (ACOA) records addendum consists of 138 linear feet of primary source documentation, dating from 1949 to 2001 and covering the era of Africa's liberation movements against British, Dutch, French, German, and Portuguese colonial powers and their imperialistic policies toward the continent. Researchers will find materials that focus on aspects of both settler and exploitation colonialism, mainly in the African countries of Angola, Guinea Bissau, Namibia, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), and South Africa. The ACOA records are also very strong in documenting the relationship of the United States with these colonial powers, as well as the government's policies toward the many minority regimes, political parties, and indigenous peoples in the region. The strengths of the records generated by ACOA's many "campaigns" is the documentation not only collected from the continent, but also the reporting and testimony done by the organization on the conditions within Africa and its networking activities within the United States and at the United Nations as part of the anti-apartheid movement of the mid-to-late 20th century.

Topics covered within the collection include: anti-apartheid sanctions; consumer and cultural boycotts, demonstrations, and protests; economic conditions and trade; detention, treatment, and release of African political prisoners; human rights violations throughout Africa; liberation movements and post-independence civil wars; and the United States' policies and legislative actions. Many African political parties and organizations are represented in the records including, Angola's MPLA (People's Movement for Liberation of Angola), FNLA (National Front for the Liberation of Angola), and UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola); Mozambique's FRELIMO (Front for the Liberation of Mozambique); Guinea Bissau's PAIGC (African Party for the Independence of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde); Rhodesia's ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union), ZAPU (Zimbabwe People's Union), and UANC (United African National Council); and South Africa's ANC (African National Congress) and PAC (Pan Africanist Congress).

The Chicago Friends of the Amistad Research Center recently hosted a church archival training workshop at the West Pullman Branch Library, 830 W. 119th Street, Chicago, IL. Lisa Calahan, Archivist with the Black Metropolis Research Consortium, was on hand to assist with the presentation of "The Church as a Preserver of Our History and Protector of Our Heritage." Principles and procedures for establishing a church archive and preserving valuable church and community historical documents were discussed. Ms. Willie Lee Hart, President of the Friends organization, was "pleased with the number of church representatives that attended the meeting," and referred to the project as "an excellent opportunity to provide information about preserving historically significant church documents, and to introduce the Amistad Research Center as a permanent repository for the papers."

An alumna of Spelman College, Taronda Spencer served as the college's archivist from 1998 until her recent passing. She had served as a student assistant in the Spelman College Archives while earning her bachelor of art degree in history. In addition, she was appointed college historian in 2000.

Ms. Spencer was a second generation archivist. Her mother, Emanuella Spencer, was an archivist at the Amistad Research Center, and it was at Amistad that Taronda learned the importance of preserving original documents. She also worked at the Historic New Orleans Collection and the Walter P. Reuther Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs at Wayne State University in Detroit. Ms. Spencer's dedication and experience as an archivist made her well-respected by student, faculty, and alumnae of Spelman. Ms. Spencer passed away on May 19, 2013.