Research Catalog

Title

Gerri Major papers, 1927-1985.

Author

Major, Gerri, 1894-1984.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

1 lin. ft. (2 archival boxes, 2 vols.)

Summary

The Gerri Major papers reflect some aspects of the career of this journalist and writer. Much of the collection consists of biographical information in the form of news clippings about her worldwide travels, her achievements, and other activities. Major's writings include her columns for the "New York Amsterdam News," 1939-1944, a couple of issues of "Jet" Magazine, reports and articles written during her employment with the New York City Health Department, Bureau of Public Health Information and Education, and early submissions to "Opportunity" and other journals. The balance of the collection consists of materials relating to her 80th and 85th birthday celebrations, in 1974 and 1979, respectively. Her 80th birthday is acknowledged with news clippings, and for her 85th, celebrating sixty years in the writing field, there are news clippings describing the festivities, and two scrapbooks containing numerous letters, telegrams, and greeting cards.

Subjects

• African Americans in the newspaper industry > New York (State) > New York
• African Americans > New York (State) > New York
• Upper class > New York (State) > New York > African Americans
• New York (N.Y.) > Department of Health
• Scrapbooks
• Major, Gerri, 1894-1984
• African American authors
• African Americans > Social life and customs
• Black author
• African American women authors
• African American women journalists
• African American journalists

Genre/Form

Scrapbooks.

Note

• Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints

Source (note)

• Gerri Major

Biography (note)

• Geraldyn "Gerri" Hodges Major, journalist and writer, was raised and educated in Chicago. Known then as Geraldyn Dismond, she pursued a professional career as a writer, journalist and editor for several African American newspapers including the "New York Amsterdam News." Black society was Major's primary journalistic interest, and she wrote about society fashion, food and style, frequently traveling around the globe as she covered social events. From 1934-1946, Major worked for the New York City Health Department's Bureau of Public Health Information and Education as an administrative assistant. In 1953, then known as Gerri Major, she began a 25 year career at the New York office of the Johnson Publishing Company where she served as society editor and associate editor for "Ebony" Magazine, and later, "Jet" Magazine. She became senior staff editor for "Ebony" in 1967 and briefly was a European correspondent. She wrote and lectured on aspects of black society, and co-authored a book, "Black Society," published in 1976. Major died in New York City in 1984.

Call Number

Sc MG 147

OCLC

607091028

Author

Major, Gerri, 1894-1984.

Title

Gerri Major papers, 1927-1985.

Biography

Geraldyn "Gerri" Hodges Major, journalist and writer, was raised and educated in Chicago. Known then as Geraldyn Dismond, she pursued a professional career as a writer, journalist and editor for several African American newspapers including the "New York Amsterdam News." Black society was Major's primary journalistic interest, and she wrote about society fashion, food and style, frequently traveling around the globe as she covered social events. From 1934-1946, Major worked for the New York City Health Department's Bureau of Public Health Information and Education as an administrative assistant. In 1953, then known as Gerri Major, she began a 25 year career at the New York office of the Johnson Publishing Company where she served as society editor and associate editor for "Ebony" Magazine, and later, "Jet" Magazine. She became senior staff editor for "Ebony" in 1967 and briefly was a European correspondent. She wrote and lectured on aspects of black society, and co-authored a book, "Black Society," published in 1976. Major died in New York City in 1984.

Source

Gerri Major Gift 1981 SCM 80-17

Connect to:

Finding Aid

Local Subject

Black author.

Research Call Number

Sc MG 147