Negro World Digest

]> PUBLIC "-//The New York Public Library//TEXT (US::NN::Sc Micro R-3537::Allan Morrison Papers, 1940-1968)//ENG" "scmorisn.xml" Inventory of the Allan Morrison Papers, 1940-1968 Processed by Debra Carter; machine-readable finding aid created by Apex Data Services; revised by Terry Catapano.

Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, April 1999. Description is in English October 16, 2006 EAD v1.0 finding aid converted to EAD 2002 using UC Berkeley's eadv1to2002.pl perl script. Inventory of the Allan Morrison Papers, 1940-1968 SC Micro R 3537 (Sc MG 33) Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture The New York Public Library New York, New York Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. New York Public Library. 515 Malcolm X Boulevard New York, NY 10037-1801 (212) 491-2224 scmarbref@nypl.org http://nypl.org/research/sc/scm/marb.html Processed by: Debra Carter Date Completed: 5/1978 Encoded By: Apex Data Services; Terry Catapano

Preface

This inventory is one of several prepared as a part of the archival preservation program at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a research unit of The New York Public Library.

The Schomburg archival preservation program involves the organization and preservation of primary source material held by the Center and of significance to the study of the Black Experience. It furthermore includes the preparation of detailed inventories of these records, making the information contained therein accessible as well as available to scholars.

The necessary staff and supplies for this program were made available through a combination of Library, National Endowment for the Humanities grant, and State of New York grant funds.

Descriptive Summary Allan Morrison Papers, 1940-1968. SC Micro R 3537 (Sc MG 33) 3 reels of microfilm (5 Boxes The New York Public Library Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture English Administrative Information Source

Gift of Ruth Attaway, 1976. SCM 77-62.

Biography

Allan Malcolm Morrison was born on November 26, 1916 and died on May 22, 1968. Morrison is most widely known for his inexhaustible work as a newsman and journalist. A man of superb wit and expansive memory he also displayed a unique expertise in the world of entertainment.

Allan Morrison appears to have been born and raised in Toronto, Canada, although an undated resume in his personal file states his birthplace as Rochester, N.Y. In 1939 Morrison moved to New York City where he, along with George Norford and W. Cummings compiled the first and last issues of the short lived Negro World Digest.

During World War II he served in the U.S. Army, rising to rank of sergeant and becoming the first Negro war correspondent of Stars and Stripes. He first joined Johnson Publications in January of 1946, in Chicago. He left to return to New York in 1947 where he edited Harlem's The People's Voice. In 1948 he became the New York editor of Ebony magazine and later the Editorial Bureau Chief of Johnson Publishing Company. He was married to actress Ruth Attaway.

Morrison's other accomplishments include co-hosting a WLIB jazz program along with George Schuyler. He also served as Board Chairman of the New World Symphony. A widely known jazz and classical music authority, Morrison was a frequent contributor to Downbeat magazine. Allan Morrison was also Steering Committee Chairman of Haryou Act, Inc., a massive youth program in Central Harlem.

Morrison's various assignments took him all over the world. Among his many talents and interests he was also considered a great cricket and art buff. He was honored on many occasions by organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Overseas Press Club for his achievements in journalism as well as in the field of human relations.

Scope and Content

The papers of Allan Morrison, 1940-1968, have been divided into six series: Personal Papers, Correspondence, Writings and Speeches, Printed Material, Research File, and Photographs.

Container List 1 1 1 Personal Papers, 1961, Oct 14-1967, Mar. 16, n.d.

The Personal Papers (1961-1967, n.d.) include a resume and various certificates of merit. Morrison's private address book is also a part of this file.

Correspondence

The Correspondence, 1940-1968, consists largely of letters to Morrison from various business associates, covering all facets of his interests and career. A number of personal letters as well as several pieces of miscellaneous general correspondence are also included.

Incoming 1 2 1 1940, Dec. 19-1963, Jan. 25 1 3 1 1963, Feb. 6-1964, June 17 1 4 1 1964, June 23-1968, Jan. 25, n.d. 1 5 1 General, 1940, June 26-1967, June 9, n.d. Writings And Speeches

The Writings and Speeches, 1940-1967, include those by Morrison and other authors. Some writings appear to be anonymous but could have been written by Morrison. A piece of sheet music by Andres Witlay can also be found along with miscellaneous undated notes. The Armed Forces material included in this file consists mostly of Stars and Stripes correspondence and articles. There are also a number of typescripts.

1 6 1 By and about Morrison, 1961, June 20-1967, June 17, n.d. Other authors 1 7 1 1946-1966, Feb 20 1 8 1 1966, Oct 7-1967, May 21, n.d. 1 9 1 Anonymous Authors, 1962, Nov. 22-1966, n.d. 1 10 1 Miscellaneous Notes, n.d. Armed Forces 2 1 1 1940, Oct. 16-1957, n.d. 2 2 2 n.d. Printed Material

The Printed Material, 1955-1967, is comprised of press releases, reports and pamphlets, largely political in nature.

2 3 2 Miscellaneous Printed Material, 1956, Aug.-1965, June 24, n.d. 2 4 2 Press Releases, 1955, Dec. 22-1967, Sept 1, n.d. Research File

The Research File, 1951-1968, appears to be the result of the collection of materials by Morrison and his staff as the basis for particular stories. For the most part his subject headings have been retained, the individual folders have been arranged alphabetically, and the contents of each folder are in chronological order. The folders include printed material, newspaper clippings, and correspondence as well as some handwritten notes to and from Morrison and his associates.

2 5 2 Ailey, Alvin, 1964, Oct. 6-1965, June 3, n.d. 2 6 2 Aldridge, Ira, 1960, Feb. 20-1966, Mar. 31 n.d. 2 7 2 Art, c. 1964 2 8 2 Ba'Hai, 1966, Apr. 18-29 2 9 2 Baker, Josephine, 1951, Dec. 10-1951, Dec., n.d. 2 10 2 Barnes, Ernie, 1966, Nov. 18-26 2 11 2 Bearden, Romare 1960, Jan. 24 1967, Oct. 27, n.d. 2 12 2 Birkett Laboratories, 1964, Feb. 4 2 13 2 Black Power (typescript), 1967, Oct. 6 2 14 2 Black Power, 1960, July 28-1966, July 22, n.d. 2 15 2 Blackburn, Robert, 1964, May 22 2 16 2 Braithwaite, William Stanley, 1955, July 1, n.d. 2 17 2 Burton, Alton A., 1964, Mar. 2 2 18 2 Cambridge, Godfrey, 1967, Aug. 23 2 19 2 Celestial Choral Ensemble, 1966, Nov. 1 - c. 1966 2 20 2 Computronics, 1963, Oct. 31, n.d. 3 1 2 Conductors, 1964, Dec. 13-1966, May 25, n.d. 3 2 2 Coordinated Community Service, 1963, Apr., n.d. 3 3 2 DeBronce, Mario, 1952, Mar. 30-1967, Feb. 23, n.d. 3 4 2 Drum (magazine), 1960, May 12-1966, July 15, n.d. 3 5 2 Expo '67, 1967, Jan. 23-1967 3 6 2 Harlem: Planning the End of the Ghetto, 1963, Dec. 11-1967 3 7 2 Housing, 1967, Feb. 5, June 19 3 8 2 Jackson, Jesse, 1968, Mar. 21 3 9 2 Kennedy, Jay Richard, 1965, July 16-1966, Apr. 2, n.d. 3 10 2 Lady Trucker, 1960, Dec. 29-1961, July 13, n.d. 3 11 2 Ledbetter, Huddie (Leadbelly), 1964, July 31 3 12 2 McDonald, Henry, 1964, Aug. 6, c.1964 3 13 2 Makeba, Miriam, 1964, July-1965, Oct. 28, n.d. 3 14 2 Malcolm X, 1964, Mar. 8-1966, May 22, n.d. 3 15 2 Montgomery, Wes, 1967, June 28 3 16 2 Negro Poets, 1963, Mar.-1965, June, n.d. 3 17 2 Negro Press, 1956, June 23-1960, Jan. 22, n.d. 3 18 2 Negro Revolution, n.d. 3 19 3 114th Street Project, 1965, Feb. 11-1967, Jan. 15 3 20 3 117th Street, N.Y., N.Y., 1963, Aug.-1964 3 21 3 Operation Reclaim, 1966, Nov. 3-1967, Jan. 3 22 3 Oxtoby, David, 1964, Mar. 28-post 1965 4 1 3 Pioneer Tutorial Program, 1966, May 19 4 2 3 Police Athletic League, 1966, Apr. 20-1967 4 3 3 Prince Thunder, 1966, Apr. 2 4 4 3 Private Preparatory Schools, 1964, Feb. 1-c. 1964, n.d. 4 5 3 Project Headstart, 1967, May 5-Aug. 1, n.d. 4 6 3 Rooney, Pat, Sissle, Noble, and Blake, Eubie, 1961, Oct. 21-29, n.d. 4 7 3 Simpson, Merton, n.d. 4 8 3 Stay 'Til Morning, 1961, June 9-1964, Aug. 26 Stockbridge 4 9 3 1963, May 3-1964, n.d. 4 10 3 n.d. 4 11 3 Symphony of the New World, 1965, Mar. 16-1966, n.d. 4 12 3 Theater in the Street, 1963, Sept. 6-1967, July 29, n.d. 4 13 3 United States Information Agency, 1964, Apr. 13-1964, Sept. 24, n.d. 4 14 3 University Settlement House, 1966, July 29-Aug. 19 4 15 3 Utterbach, Clinton, 1964, June 24-July 7 4 16 3 Young Black Athletes, 1966, Mar. 7-May 6, n.d. 4 17 3 Young, Whitney, 1963, June 3-1964, Nov. 14 Photographs

The Photographs are a miscellaneous collection, dealing mostly with the entertainment industry. One folder is devoted to Cannonball Adderley. In addition, a folder of photographs devoted to cricket illustrates Morrison's avid interest in that sport. The photographs have not been microfilmed and have been transferred to the Photographs and Prints Division at the Schomburg Center.

5 1 3 Adderley, Cannonball 5 2 3 Cricket 5 3 3 Miscellaneous Entertainment 5 4 3 Miscellaneous Separation Record

The following items were removed from:

Name of Collection/Papers Allan Morrison

Accession Number SCM 77-62 (MG 33)

Donor: Ruth Attaway

Date received: 1976

Date transferred: May 15, 1978

The item (s) listed below have been sent to the division indicated, either to be retained or disposed of there. Any items that should receive special disposition are clearly marked.

Schomburg Library:

Three cartons and one archives box of newspaper clippings and one carton of printed material and pamphlets to the Vertical File, concerning politics and race relations.

Schomburg Art and Artifacts Division:

One Harlem for Quality Education button.

Schomburg Photographs and Print Division:

One (1) box of photographs